Abstract: A folding unit for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from respective packs, each having a main portion folded into a desired shape, and opposite end portions to be folded to form respective folded ends of a relative finished package. The unit has a first folding station, in turn having a first retaining mechanism for securing each pack by a relative first end portion, and a first folding mechanism for folding a relative second end portion of the pack. The unit also has a second folding station located downstream from the first folding station in the traveling direction of the packs, a second retaining mechanism for securing each pack by the relative folded second end portion, and a second folding mechanism for folding the relative first end portion.

Abstract: A forming member for controlling the volume of packages of pourable food products formed from a tube of packaging material and sealed at a number of sections of the tube crosswise to an axis of the tube; the forming member having: a main wall which cooperates cyclically with a first portion of the tube extending between two consecutive sections; and at least one flap extending alongside the wall. The flap is movable, with respect to the wall, between a first position, in which it cooperates with a second portion of the tube, extending between the two consecutive sections, to control the volume, between the two consecutive sections, of the package being formed, and a second position, in which it is detached from the second portion.

Abstract: A folding unit for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from respective packs, each having a main portion folded into a desired shape, and opposite end portions to be folded to form respective folded ends of a relative finished package. The unit has a first folding station, in turn having a first retaining mechanism for securing each pack by a relative first end portion, and a first folding mechanism for folding a relative second end portion of the pack. The unit also has a second folding station located downstream from the first folding station in the traveling direction of the packs, a second retaining mechanism for securing each pack by the relative folded second end portion, and a second folding mechanism for folding the relative first end portion.

Abstract: A folding assembly for producing a gable portion of a sealed package of pourable product, wherein the gable portion has first and second walls sloping with respect to each other and joined at a seal, and a flap connecting lateral edges of the first and second walls. The folding assembly is supplied with packs, each having an axis and, at one end and on opposite sides of the axis, two end portions which are folded to form the gable portion, with the end portions having, respectively, a first and a second portion to be folded, which are joined by a lateral face of the pack. The folding assembly includes a folding mechanism which interacts, on opposite sides of the axis, with the first and second portion of the pack to fold the second portion onto the lateral face, and the first portion onto the second portion to form the flap.

Abstract: A gable top package for pourable food products produced by folding and sealing a sheet packaging material and provided with a gabled top portion including front and back sloping top walls joined together at a top transversal seal, and a pair of side top walls connecting respective lateral edges of the front and back sloping top walls and obtained by folding respective portions of the sheet packaging material along predetermined crease lines delimiting a number of panels. The crease lines are determined among a plurality of possible crease lines designed so as the forming of the side top walls is performed by rotations of the panels as rigid bodies about their respective crease lines.

Abstract: A method is described for sterilizing, filling and closing packaging containers open on one side, in which the packaging container is exposed to a sterilizing agent during a clock-controlled transportation in a processing line through different processing stations, which is then removed with sterile hot air. Then, the packaging container is filled with sterile fluid and with a sterile closure.

Abstract: A reject device (1) for a high-speed packaging machine (2), the device having an input opening (23) for a succession of packages (3) containing pourable food products and traveling along a supply path (A); a first guide surface (18) for guiding the packages (3) along a transfer path (B) to an output station (13, 30); a second guide surface (19) for guiding the packages (3) along an expulsion path (C) intersecting the supply and transfer paths (A, B); and a selecting member (22) located at the intersection of the supply, transfer and expulsion paths (A, B, C), and which has a first and a second wall (32, 33) facing and connected integrally to each other, and rotates, about a fixed hinge axis (E) crosswise to the supply path (A), between a first operating position wherein the first wall (32) is substantially aligned with the first guide surface (18) to direct the packages (3) along the transfer path (B), and a second operating position wherein the second wall (33) is substantially aligned with the second guide

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal the tube at successive cross sections by means of induction heating elements (29) on the jaws (12); and each counter-jaw (13) has a push bar (35) fitted to a main body (20) of the counter-jaw via the interposition of springs (75) defining the gripping pressure exerted on the packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product and fed along a vertical supply path (A); the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with the tube (14) to grip and heat-seal the tube at successive cross sections and so define a strip (25) of packages (2) connected to one another by respective transverse sealing bands (26); and the unit (1) also has a first and a second cutting member (54, 55) located beneath the conveyors (10, 11) and symmetrically on opposite sides of the supply path (A), rotating synchronously and in opposite directions about respective axes of rotation (G, H) crosswise to the supply path (A), and cooperating with the strip (25) of packages (2) to cut the strip (25) along the sealing bands (26) and draw the packages (2) away from the chain conveyors (10

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal cross sections of the tube; and the chain conveyors (10, 11) also have half shell elements (38) for controlling the volume of the packages (2), and which are connected to respective jaws (12) and counter-jaws (13) and cooperate with a relative cam (44) for controlling the relative movement of the half shell elements to and from the supply path (A) of the tube (14) of packaging material.

Abstract: The improved filling pipe (1) is for use in liquid food packaging machines of the type wherein a longitudinally-sealed continuous tubular container (2) is formed from a web (3) of packaging material, and members successively clamp the tube at regularly spaced intervals for forming and transversely sealing packages filled with product. The filling pipe (1) is locatable axially of the continuous tubular container and has a rigid damper member (4) affixed to and surrounding a portion of the filling pipe (1). The rigid damper member (4) is locatable at a position which is radially spaced from the inner wall (2a) of a continuous tubular container (2) and entraps an air pocket (5) surrounding a portion of the filling pipe (1) for dampening motion of liquid product (20) relative to the filling pipe (1) in a packaging material tube (1) during operation of a liquid food packaging machine.

Abstract: A high-speed folding unit (1) for producing, from pillow-pack packets (3), sealed parallelepiped packages (2) containing pourable food products, the unit having a continuous conveyor (21) for feeding the packets (3) along a forming path (B); a number of folding devices (24, 25, 26) located along the forming path (B); a heating device (27) acting on fold portions (15, 16) of each packet (3) to melt and seal the fold portions (15, 16) onto respective walls (12, 11) of the packet (3); and a final pressing device (28) cooperating with each packet (3) to hold the fold portions (15, 16) on the respective walls (12, 11) as the fold portions (15, 16) cool; the folding devices (24, 25, 26) and the final pressing device (28) having a number of interacting members (44, 50, 55, 58, 70, 71, 72) interacting with the packets (3), and which are of fixed size, and cooperate with the packets (3) by virtue of the movement of the conveyor (21).

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a liquid includes a holding tank for holding a quantity of liquid and a plurality of filler pipes connected to the holding tank. A plurality of filler valves are provided, each filler valve corresponding to one of the plurality of filler pipes. A flowmeter is provided, located between the holding tank and one of the filler valves in one of the plurality of filler pipes, for generating a signal after a predetermined amount of liquid has flowed through the filler pipe. A device, responsive to the signal generated by the flowmeter, is provided for closing the plurality of filler valves.

Abstract: A method of pumping a product by means of a dosing pump unit entails that two individually driven pump chambers, which are connected with a common outlet, are controlled in such a way that the suction phases of the pump chambers overlap each other so that the total inflow to the pump unit is maintained constant. A pump unit includes two pump chambers which have a common inlet and outlet. Communication between the pump chambers and the inlet and outlet is controlled by a valve body, having an inlet passage that is formed such that it can be oriented to connect both pump chambers with the inlet.