Abstract: An unwinding apparatus associable with a wrapping machine for delivering films comprises a supporting frame to rotatably support a first reel of a first film; adjustment elements to rotatably support a second reel of a second film and to arrange it in one of a plurality of operative positions, in which the second reel is staggered with respect to the first reel; guiding rollers to guide and partially overlap the first film and the second film at a longitudinal partial overlapping band; joining assembly for joining the first film and the second film along a longitudinal joining band made inside a width of the longitudinal partial overlapping band so as to obtain a single-body composite film; the joining assembly comprises a welding device or a gluing device.

Abstract: A method determines a wrapping configuration of a film wrapped around products to form a palletized load to be moved along a path. The method includes using a defined wrapping configuration, measuring physical quantities acting on the load as a result of movements and/or stresses when the load is moved along different test paths, obtaining a path as a suitable composition of base elementary path stretches, obtaining physical quantities acting on the load along the path as physical quantities associated to the base elementary path stretches, positioning the load on a motion platform, operating the motion platform based on the physical quantities to simulate movements and/or stresses acting on the load moved along the path, checking if the load has remained stable and/or compact, modifying the wrapping configuration if the load did not remain stable and/or compact, and repeating the steps.

Abstract: A measuring system associable with a group of products wrappable with a plastic film to form a palletized load. The system includes a supporting frame provided with a supporting plane for the group, first and second detecting modules housed inside the supporting frame and provided with first and second sensor units to detect and measure first and second physical quantities acting on the palletized load when it is moved and/or transported, a processing module having first and second computing units and first and second memory units positioned on the supporting plane, inserted among the products and having dimensions and weight comparable to that of one of the products. The first and second computing units, first and second memory units and first and second detecting modules form first and second measurement chains of the first and second physical quantities.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a load with a film of stretchable plastic material, comprises unwinding a first film of stretchable plastic material from a first reel and at least one second film of stretchable plastic material from a respective second reel; superimposing the at least one second film to the first film so as to form a longitudinal overlapping band of the two films; stretching by a couple of pre-stretching rollers the first film and the at least one second film superimposed along the longitudinal overlapping band with a definite stretching percentage so as to obtain a single composite film formed by the first film and the at least one second film joined and sticking tightly to each other at the overlapping band due to the effect of said stretching; wrapping the load with a plurality of bands of the composite film.

Abstract: A measuring system associable with a group of products wrappable with a plastic film to form a palletized load. The system includes a supporting frame provided with a supporting plane for the group, first and second detecting modules housed inside the supporting frame and provided with first and second sensor units to detect and measure first and second physical quantities acting on the palletized load when it is moved and/or transported, a processing module having first and second computing units and first and second memory units positioned on the supporting plane, inserted among the products and having dimensions and weight comparable to that of one of the products. The first and second computing units, first and second memory units and first and second detecting modules form first and second measurement chains of the first and second physical quantities.

Abstract: A method determines a wrapping configuration of a film wrapped around products to form a palletized load to be moved along a path. The method includes using a defined wrapping configuration, measuring physical quantities acting on the load as a result of movements and/or stresses when the load is moved along different test paths, obtaining a path as a suitable composition of base elementary path stretches, obtaining physical quantities acting on the load along the path as physical quantities associated to the base elementary path stretches, positioning the load on a motion platform, operating the motion platform based on the physical quantities to simulate movements and/or stresses acting on the load moved along the path, checking if the load has remained stable and/or compact, modifying the wrapping configuration if the load did not remain stable and/or compact, and repeating the steps.

Abstract: Apparatus with facing bell members for modified-atmosphere packaging of products contained in trays, comprising at least three circuits: a first circuit and a second circuit (24, 25) which are connected to the main chamber (P) enclosing the internal volume of the trays and open out in different positions (23, 23?) of this volume and a third circuit (17) connected to the internal chambers (2, 9) of the bell members (1, 8) and these circuits are intercepted by respective valve means (28, 128, 18, 118) so as to be initially all connected to the vacuum means (21, 121) and then the said first circuit (24) is closed, while the said second circuit (25) is connected to the means (26) for introducing the service gases which, entering into the tray, force the remaining air out so as to occupy a small buffer formed by the said second closed circuit (24, 28).

Abstract: When the opposing housings (1, 8) of the apparatus are closed, they form between them a small main chamber (P) delimited above by the film (H) for covering the tray and below by the tray (V) itself containing the product (M), and laterally by any suitable mechanical interface structure which surrounds the perimeter of said film and connects it to the perimeter of the upper edge (B) of the tray, this interface structure having holes (22) which are suitably distributed, are located outside the perimeter of the tray, and communicate with said main chamber (P). One or more of these holes (22) open(s) on at least one side of the tray and is/are connected to a first circuit (23, 24), while another one or more of said holes (22?) open(s) on at least one opposing side of the tray and is/are connected to a second circuit (17) which in turn is connected to the inner chambers of the two housings (1, 8).

Abstract: A machine with a packaging station, at which trays having products are sealed. Opposed parallel sets of belts move in synchronism with each other transversely to the direction of movement of the trays along the packaging station. Each set of belts has an upper belt and a lower belt adjacent to each other and moving in the same direction at the same speed. One end of the adjacent runs receives a sheet of film. A plurality of jaws are located on each of the opposed sets of belts, each set of jaws receiving adjacent runs and an edge of the film. The opposed sets of belts are moveable relatively towards and away from each other, such that the jaws can hold films of different widths and such that the film held therebetween can be stretched and relaxed. A clamp is connected to each set of jaws. The clamp is spring biased to the separate the top and bottom thereof. A power element exerts a selective force onto the bottom of the clamp to close the adjacent runs onto the film.

Abstract: A machine with a series of three operating stations, of which the first station arranges the full trays in a predetermined pattern while the second station closes the full trays with a film and in which the third station discharges the full trays. The stations are equidistant from each other. A transfer structure has combs that have a length such as to occupy simultaneously two consecutive such stations and that are provided with the teeth that can grasp the trays, lift the groups of trays and then move longitudinally to transfer the groups of trays from one station to the next, then lower the tray to deposit the groups of trays in the new stations.

Abstract: Between the two housings each having a recess and below and parallel to the film, there is provided a frame having openings greater in plain view than the underlying trays to be packaged, supported such that, during the closure of the housings the frame interacts with seal and contributes to the formation of a main chamber delimited by the upper edge of the tray and by the film above this edge. Air is removed from these recesses to form the desired level of vacuum therein, while, in the main chamber is isolated from the recesses of the two housings, so that the process gases can be injected directly into the main chamber, while a corresponding quantity of atmospheric air is directed into the recesses to balance the pressures on the opposite faces of the film When the process gases have been fed in, the film is welded to the edge of the tray and is cut outside this edge.

Abstract: Apparatus with facing bell members for modified-atmosphere packaging of products contained in trays, comprising at least three circuits: a first circuit and a second circuit (24, 25) which are connected to the main chamber (P) enclosing the internal volume of the trays and open out in different positions (23, 23?) of this volume and a third circuit (17) connected to the internal chambers (2, 9) of the bell members (1, 8) and these circuits are intercepted by respective valve means (28, 128, 18, 118) so as to be initially all connected to the vacuum means (21, 121) and then the said first circuit (24) is closed, while the said second circuit (25) is connected to the means (26) for introducing the service gases which, entering into the tray, force the remaining air out so as to occupy a small buffer formed by the said second closed circuit (24, 28).

Abstract: When the opposing housings (1, 8) of the apparatus are closed, they form between them a small main chamber (P) delimited above by the film (H) for covering the tray and below by the tray (V) itself containing the product (M), and laterally by any suitable mechanical interface structure which surrounds the perimeter of said film and connects it to the perimeter of the upper edge (B) of the tray, this interface structure having holes (22) which are suitably distributed, are located outside the perimeter of the tray, and communicate with said main chamber (P). One or more of these holes (22) open(s) on at least one side of the tray and is/are connected to a first circuit (23, 24), while another one or more of said holes (22?) open(s) on at least one opposing side of the tray and is/are connected to a second circuit (17) which in turn is connected to the inner chambers of the two housings (1, 8).

Abstract: Between the two housings (1, 18), and below and parallel to the film (F), there is provided a frame (7) having openings (8) with shapes and dimensions suitably greater than the shapes and dimensions in plan view of the underlying trays (V) to be packaged, supported by any means such that, during the closure of the housings (1, 18), this frame (7) interacts with sealing means and contributes to the formation of a main chamber (29) delimited by the upper edge of the tray and by the film above this edge, which is initially connected to the inner chambers (19, 2, 102) of the two housings (1, 18), to enable the air to be removed from these chambers and to form the desired level of vacuum therein, while, in the next step, said main chamber (29) is isolated from the inner chambers of the two housings, so that the process gases for preserving the product can be injected directly into this main chamber, while a corresponding quantity of atmospheric air is directed into said inner chambers of the housings (1, 18) to co

Abstract: A machine for the automatic packaging of loose products or products placed in trays, with a usually heat-weldable stretch film, comprises means for unrolling sections of stretch film from a supply reel, separating said sections of film (F) into lengths appropriate for the dimensions of the product to be packaged, by transverse cutting, and positioning the sheet of film thus obtained, horizontally, in a packaging station (C), holding said sheet by the opposite longitudinal sides by means of parallel pairs (G1, G2) of superposed, synchronized belts (1, 3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine with a series of three operating stations (S1, S2, S3), of which the first station (S1) arranges the full trays in a predetermined pattern in one or two parallel rows, while the intermediate station (S2) closes the full trays with a cover of film heat-sealed onto their top edge, optionally after conditioning the atmosphere inside said trays, to preserve the products packed inside them and also performs the operation of cutting off the sealed trays from the continuous web from which said closing cover is taken, and in which the final station (S3) discharges the full trays, closed and separated, as they come from said intermediate station.