Abstract: Apparatus for emptying containers filled with horticultural products and comprising a basin with an open top side and filled with water, operating means of the containers, and arranged at a level higher than the top liquid level in the basin, in order to move the containers over a defined area and to rotate them to offload its content, collecting means placed in the lower part of the basin and partially outside of it, and that collect the horticultural products from the bottom of the basin and lift them up to an emersion level, and that uses means apt to deviate the leaves from the central surface of the liquid towards a surface area adjacent to a definite wall of the basin, and to remove them from that area.

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of agricultural or vegetable product, with a fixed structure having two parallel horizontal side members, a plurality of cutting modules equipped with a common rotating shaft (32A, 32B, 32C, . . . ) having a plurality of rotating blades (11,12,13, . . . ) in fixed position along its length, said shafts (32A, 32B, 32C, . . . ) being parallel to each other and mounted GP above conveying means suitable to carry the products placed thereon toward said rotating blades (11,12,13, . . . ), a plurality of positioning ramps (11-1,12-1,13-1, . . . ) mounted in a position corresponding to a respective rotating blade (11,12,13, . . .

Abstract: Plant for manual packaging of crates with fruit and vegetable products includes a first mobile horizontal belt conveyor on which products are placed, and which moves with a controllable motion and a second mobile conveyor on which is placed a plurality of crates. The two conveyors are arranged on parallel and horizontal but planes. The upper surface of the second conveyor is arranged at least partially overlying the position of the first conveyor. A return conveyor is arranged on the same horizontal plane as the first mobile conveyor, and moving in a direction opposite to the same. A third mobile conveyor may be provided, similar to the first conveyor, oriented and provided with a movement like the first conveyor and arranged, with respect to a median vertical plane of the upper belt of said return conveyor, in a position opposite and preferably symmetrical to said first conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for singularizing and separating cherries includes a product line defining a V-shaped slot and motorized belts installed on opposite walls defining the slot and arranged on the bottom thereof. The cherries are separated from their stems by circular blades rotating around axes preferably orthogonal to the direction of said “V” slot. Preferably, in the position corresponding to said rotating circular blades, on the upper edges of said opposite walls is installed a respective rising face, oriented upwardly and preferably inclined and lying on the same plane of the respective said opposite wall, parallel to the direction of said “V” slot, provided with a front edge that is downwardly oriented and inclined toward the direction of origin of the vegetable products.

Abstract: Plant for the selection of crates, in particular for vegetable products, comprising: transferring means, preferably a continuous conveyor suitable for suitable for transferring said crates in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner, a station for measuring the degree of cleanliness of said crates, comprising measurement and control means suitable to detect the cleanliness degree of said crates, and arranged in an intermediate position in the path of said transferring means. Loading means are provided suitable to reassemble said crates in respective stacks based on their degree of cleanliness measured on each of them, wherein said loading means are arranged downstream of said measuring station and wherein said transfer means supply said loading means, without intermediate stations or processes. In addition, the plant includes a station for aligning the crates on said transfer means in a position stacked upstream of said measuring station.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for opening pairs of opposed reclined walls of a plurality of crates, comprises carrying a first stack to a first working station, raising opposed walls of the upper crate by rotation with respect to the bottom plane, raising the other two front walls by rotation, blocking at least one of the side walls to an adjacent side wall, horizontally transferring the open crate into a position where it is lowered onto an adjacent second stack opened crates.

Abstract: Method for measuring the hardness of agricultural products includes: implementing a test program suitable for identifying and selecting one or more indices (S3, S4) which can be measured with a non-destructive test on a respective product/fruit, correlated with the hardness (Du) of the same product/fruit, measured by a respective penetration test; and calculating the coefficients that define the straight line representative of the linear correlation between said indices and the hardness for the respective product. The method is implemented with the operations of: applying on the product a dynamic force, preferably of impulsive type; detecting the mechanical reaction through at least a piezoelectric transducer capable of generating an electric signal based on the application or transmission of said dynamic force through the respective kiwi fruit; and analyzing said electric signal relative to the fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for singularizing and separating cherries, includes a product line defining a V-shaped slot and motorized belts installed on opposite walls defining the slot and arranged on the bottom thereof. The cherries are separated from their stems by circular blades rotating around axes preferably orthogonal to the direction of said “V” slot. Preferably, in the position corresponding to said rotating circular blades, on the upper edges of said opposite walls is installed a respective rising face, oriented upwardly and preferably inclined and lying on the same plane of the respective said opposite wall, parallel to the direction of said “V” slot, provided with a front edge that is downwardly oriented and inclined toward the direction of origin of the vegetable products.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating objects, such as cherries, that are joined together by removable links, includes a collecting vessel having a water inlet and into which the objects are conveyed by means separate from the water inlet. One or more conduits extend downstream from the collecting vessel and have respective inflow mouths situated downstream of the collecting vessel. Water pumps within the conduits cause liquid to whirl about with the products taken in therewith, and pump them into the respective outflow mouths so as to eject them. The collecting vessel is a tank whose wall facing the inflow mouths has an upper edge adapted to perform as a horizontal spillway. The upper edge is situated higher than the inflow mouths, and a chute between the upper edge and the inflow mouths causes the liquid and the objects to converge towards the inflow mouths. Preferably, water ejected from the conduits is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: A bin cleaning plant includes a bin destacking and overturning station, a plurality of bin washing stations, the whole being connected to a conveyor that transfers the bins in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner through the stations; and means that sense and measure the level of dirt present in each of said bins and that modify the washing process selectively for each of said bins according to the level of dirtiness detected. Preferably, the measurement and control means are connected to optical devices oriented toward the internal surfaces of the bins, and detect the optical/luminous/chromatic image reflected from their internal surfaces. The image is converted into one or more electrical signals with representative characteristics, which signals are compared with corresponding levels selectively predetermined and previously memorized. The measuring and control means control actuators suitable to control/drive one or more of the operating parameters of the washing station.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating objects, such as cherries, that are joined together by removable links, includes a collecting vessel having a water inlet and into which the objects are conveyed by means separate from the water inlet. One or more conduits extend downstream from the collecting vessel and have respective inflow mouths situated downstream of the collecting vessel. Water pumps within the conduits cause liquid to whirl about with the products taken in therewith, and pump them into the respective outflow mouths so as to eject them. The collecting vessel is a tank whose wall facing the inflow mouths has an upper edge adapted to perform as a horizontal spillway. The upper edge is situated higher than the inflow mouths, and a chute between the upper edge and the inflow mouths causes the liquid and the objects to converge towards the inflow mouths. Preferably, water ejected from the conduits is recovered and recycled.

Abstract: Microspheres, having a size lower than 1&mgr; and comprising a biocompatible polysaccharidic polymer, are prepared with a process comprising the precipitation of polymer induced by means of a supercritical antisolvent (SAS). These microspheres are used as vehicling agents or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions administrable by oral, nasal, pulmonary, vaginal or rectal route. These microspheres can also be advantageously used as vehicling agent or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of human diseases associated with genic defects, for the preparation of diagnostics and in the agro-alimentary industry.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an acidic polysaccharide and/or a derivative thereof, a gaseous vehicle, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Said acidic polysaccharide or derivative thereof can be hyaluronic acid, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of hyaluronic acid, a partial or total ester of hyaluronic acid with an alcohol, a partial or total intermolecular ester of hyaluronic acid, a partial or total intramolecular ester of hyaluronic acid, a cross-linked ester of hyaluronic acid, an alginic acid ester, an ester of carboxymethylcellulose, an ester of carboxymethylchitin, an ester of carboxymethyl starch, a gellan ester, a cross-linked gellan ester, a pectic acid ester, and a pectinic acid ester. The composition can contain one or more topical drugs, and can be in the form of an aerosol or liquid spray, a foam, or a dry spray.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an acidic polysaccharide and/or a derivative thereof, a gaseous vehicle, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Said acidic polysaccharide or derivative thereof can be hyaluronic acid, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of hyaluronic acid, a partial or total ester of hyaluronic acid with an alcohol, a partial or total intermolecular ester of hyaluronic acid, a partial or total intramolecular ester of hyaluronic acid, a cross-linked ester of hyaluronic acid, an alginic acid ester, an ester of carboxymethylcellulose, an ester of carboxymethylchitin, an ester of carboxymethyl starch, a gellan ester, a cross-linked gellan ester, a pectic acid ester, and a pectinic acid ester. The composition can contain one or more topical drugs, and can be in the form of an aerosol or liquid spray, a foam, or a dry spray.

Abstract: Microspheres, having a size lower than 1&mgr; and comprising a biocompatible polysaccharidic polymer, are prepared with a process comprising the precipitation of polymer induced by means of a supercritical antisolvent (SAS). These microspheres are used as vehicling agents or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions administrable by oral, nasal, pulmonary, vaginal or rectal route. These microspheres can also be advantageously used as vehicling agent or carriers in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of human diseases associated with genic defects, for the preparation of diagnostics and in the agro-alimentary industry.

Abstract: Processes are provided for coating the surfaces of objects with hyaluronic acid, its derivatives or other natural or semisynthetic polymers, for applications in the fields of surgery, health care and diagnostics. The processes make it possible to bind such polymers in a stable manner to the surfaces of objects made of a wide range of materials. Surfaces treated according to the processes are characterized by a high degree of wettability, and are able to inhibit the adhesion of cells or bacteria present in the biological fluids.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microsphere for the controlled release of a biologically active molecule which comprises a biologically active molecule and an ester of hyaluronic acid or mixtures of said esters of hyaluronic acids, and wherein said biologically active molecule is surrounded by or adhered to said ester of hyaluronic acid, and wherein said microsphere has a diameter of between 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microsphere for the controlled release of a biologically active molecule which comprises a biologically active molecule and an ester of hyaluronic acid or mixtures of said esters of hyaluronic acids, and wherein said biologically active molecule is surrounded by or adhered to said ester of hyaluronic acid, and wherein said microsphere has a diameter of between 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m.