Abstract: A crimping unit (1) having a first plate (10); a first lever (50) equipped with a winding wheel (54), a second lever (60) equipped with a crushing wheel (64), a winding actuator connected to the first lever (50), and a crushing actuator connected to the second lever (60). The winding actuator and the crushing actuator are governed by an electronic control unit (7) to vary the distance between the winding wheel (54) and/or the crushing wheel (65) of the first axis according to the angular position of the first plate (10) around the first axis.

Abstract: A crimping unit (1) having a first plate (10); a first lever (50) equipped with a winding wheel (54), a second lever (60) equipped with a crushing wheel (64), a winding actuator connected to the first lever (50), and a crushing actuator connected to the second lever (60). The winding actuator and the crushing actuator are governed by an electronic control unit (7) to vary the distance between the winding wheel (54) and/or the crushing wheel (65) of the first axis according to the angular position of the first plate (10) around the first axis.

Abstract: Metering machine (1) including a frame (2) on which are mounted a feed hopper (3) and a metering sleeve (5) mounted between an outlet (6) of the feed hopper (3) and a discharge pipe (72), characterized in that the metering sleeve (5) includes a radial window (12) and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis (X) by rotation drive means (40, 41) adapted to position the metering sleeve (5) selectively in a first position in which the radial window (12) faces the outlet (6) of the feed hopper (3) and a second position in which the radial window (12) faces a feed end of the discharge pipe (72).

Abstract: A device for metering product, includes a stationary stand, at least one block (6) mounted to pivot about an axis on the stand, and at least one metering chamber (8) having an axis that is transverse relative to the pivot axis of the block and that opens out laterally to the outside of the block, a delivery piston (10) being mounted in the metering chamber to slide parallel with the axis of the chamber. The piston is secured to a rack (11) engaging a pinion (12) that is mounted on the block to rotate about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the block. Drive elements for rotating the pinion are connected to the stand, and the device includes holder elements for holding the piston in a position that is substantially constant during pivoting of the block.

Abstract: A metering machine comprising a frame receiving a hopper, at least one duct opening out into the hopper in the vicinity of a bottom thereof and receiving firstly a portion of a transfer screw extending at the bottom of the hopper, and at least one metering cylinder which slidably receives a suction and delivery piston and which is connected to the duct via a plug valve, wherein the metering cylinder and the duct have axes forming an angle of approximately at least 90° between them.

Abstract: A metering machine comprising a frame receiving a hopper, at least one duct opening out into the hopper in the vicinity of a bottom thereof and receiving firstly a portion of a transfer screw extending at the bottom of the hopper, and at least one metering cylinder which slidably receives a suction and delivery piston and which is connected to the duct via a plug valve, wherein the metering cylinder and the duct have axes forming an angle of approximately at least 90° between them.

Abstract: A metering machine comprising a frame on which a hopper is mounted that is organized to receive a food to be metered out, and that has a bottom in the vicinity of which at least one feed duct opens out for feeding food to a metering device, and at least one drum. According to the invention, the drum is mounted on the frame to pivot about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the feed duct so as to bring the chamber of said drum into a suction position in alignment with the feed duct, and into a delivery position offset angularly relative to said feed duct. The central hub of the drum is further equipped with a suction piston and with a delivery piston, which pistons slide between a deployed position inside the chamber in register and a retracted position out of said chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crimping head that comprises at least one crimping roller for crimping the lid of a food can. The roller is guided along a path that surrounds the can by means of a support piece that includes a hub rotatable about the axis of the crimp head, together with a head carrying a stub axle on which both a cylindrical wheel running on a cam surface and a bulging wheel running on a counter-cam surface are mounted about a common axis, the counter-cam surface being inclined at a small angle. The position of the stub axle together with the wheels is adjustable along the axis so as to take up any slack in guidance.

Abstract: The device includes a compression stand on which a food can is placed and which is driven with vertical translation motion by a telescopic rod under the control of a cam-follower roller engaged in a cam track. During the upstroke of the rod, its two component elements are hydraulically locked together by the presence of oil in an intermediate chamber that is closed. At the top end of the stroke, the oil can escape through a passage, thereby releasing a spring which determines the force with which the can is pressed against the stationary mandrel while the lid is actually being crimped thereon.

Abstract: A two-stage apparatus for measuring quantities of constituents of a product for canning includes a quantity measuring chamber which is substantially vertical and mounted on a support which rotates about an axis. The chamber comprises a tubular enclosure inside which slides a first piston. A lower part of the chamber is connected by supply conduits to a respective one of a pair of tanks, each of which is for holding a different one of the constituent products. The chamber is also connected by a delivery conduit to a filling nozzle, in which slides a secondary piston. A control valve selectively opens and closes the passages through the supply conduits to the measuring chamber in a predetermined order, and for a predetermined period of time to thereby control the relative quantities of the constituents supplied to the chamber. The control valve is adjustable to vary the ratios of constituents introduced into the chamber.

Abstract: A cylindrical seal assembly adapted for sliding or rotary movement within a cylindrical chamber comprises first and second body elements having substantially cylindrical shapes. The body elements are secured together with their respective cylindrical sidewalls being coaxially aligned. A cylindrical seal means is mounted between the body elements, such that the seal means makes continuous sliding contact with the cylindrical chamber when the seal assembly is received within the cylindrical chamber.

Abstract: A valve removal and cleaning system for flowable material filling devices includes a hopper for holding the material, a plurality of spaced-apart filling assemblies, each of which includes a cylinder mounted on the hopper and into which the material flows from the hopper, and a piston movable in the cylinder to force the material from the cylinder into containers. A plurality of valve housings interconnect the hopper with the cylinders, with each valve housing having an opening at the bottom thereof for receiving a valve element. A plurality of valve elements are provided for disposition in a respective valve housing, with the valve elements being mounted on a valve holder which in the form of a plate or a bracket located below the hopper. A frame support is positioned below the valve holder, and a locking mechanism operates to selectively lock the valve holder plate either to the frame support or to the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a flowable material filling device composed of a hopper for holding the material, a plurality of spaced-apart assemblies, each of which includes a cylinder into which material flows from the hopper and a piston movable in the cylinder to force material from the cylinder into containers, and a piston support structure for causing the pistons to move in the cylinders. The apparatus includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the piston support structure and responsive to a first signal for moving the piston support structure in a first direction to thereby move the pistons out of the cylinders, and responsive to a second signal for moving the piston support structure in a second direction to thereby move the pistons back into the cylinders. Valve controlled liquid spray nozzles are positioned to spray liquid into the cylinders and against the pistons when they are removed from the cylinders in response to a third signal.

Abstract: Improvement to devices for measuring the quantity of products for canning comprising a quantity-measuring chamber which is substantially vertical and mounted on a support rotating about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the chamber, the latter consisting of a tubular enclosure inside which slides a piston and having its lower part connected via a supply conduit, to a tank containing the product for canning and via a delivery conduit to a vertical cylindrical filling nozzle, in which slides a secondary piston, the delivery conduit issuing into the nozzle through a lateral opening entirely situated above the orifice by which the conduit communicates with the chamber. A controlled valve opens or closes a passage between at least the supply conduit and the measuring chamber. The delivery conduit is entirely situated inside the cylinder described by the axis of the measuring chamber during the rotation of the support. The invention finds an application in canning installations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for crimping in a controlled atmosphere constituted by a frame forming a support for a crimping head rotated about a vertical axis and for a device for supplying and evacuating the sub-assemblies to be assembled, said device and the frame cooperating to constitute an enclosure surrounding the crimping head and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum or of neutral gas. According to the invention, the said enclosure is shaped at least for one part in an element in the frame mobile with respect to the rest of the support structure about a lateral pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the crimping head forming door adapted to be closed in sealed manner on a front surface of join arranged on the said fixed structure. The head is mounted on a pivoting bracket. The invention is more particularly applicable to packing food products.

Abstract: A device for filling a container comprises an endpiece provided with an inner conduit equipped at its end with a ball-valve having a through passage and pivotable in the endpiece about a diametral axis transverse to the passage. An annular member having an external face coplanar with the frontal surface of the endpiece, has an inner spherical surface held in permanent contact with the external face of the ball-valve. The annular member is mounted for rotation with respect to the endpiece about the longitudinal axis of the conduit. At least part of the intersection line between the passage and the external surface of the ball-valve cooperates in cutting relationship with an edge of the external face of the annular member while the latter is rotating and the valve is pivoting to close the conduit.