Abstract: A rotary unit, of an FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) machine, for ultrasound sealing a continuous tubular strip housing an orderly succession of products and fed along a feed path extending through a sealing station; the rotary unit having two substantially identical rotors located on opposite sides of the feed path, and which rotate in opposite directions about respective axes, and have respective pitch surfaces tangent to each other and to the feed path; and an ultrasound sealing head, forming part of one of the two rotors, cooperates at the sealing station with a corresponding anvil forming part of the other rotor, to close the tubular strip along a transverse seal line located at a respective portion of the tubular strip extending between two respective adjacent products.

Abstract: Containers (2) are closed with screw caps (3) by a unit (1) of the type comprising a carousel (7) on which to advance the containers (2) and the relative caps (3), driven by a motor (6) about a respective primary axis (5a) and equipped with a plurality of capping assemblies (11) each positioned above a relative container (2) and capable of movement vertically between a first position, distanced from the container (2), and a second position of active engagement with the container (2). Each capping assembly (11) presents a gripping mechanism (17) positionable so as to engage a relative cap (3) when the assembly (11) is in the second position, and rotatable about a respective secondary axis (17a) in such a way as to screw the cap (3) onto a threaded neck (4) of the relative container (2).

Abstract: A labelling and/or marking machine (3) comprises a carousel (4) rotatable about a vertical axis (5), equipped peripherally with a set of pedestals (8) driven by respective motors (37) and supporting single containers (2), also applicator and/or marker devices (26, 27) occupying positions along a conveying path (17) followed by the containers (2). Each pedestal (8) is flanked by a corresponding CCD image sensor (31) such as will scan the lateral surface (29) of the container (2) to detect and recognize a known outline (32) presented by the surface (29), whereupon the pedestal (8) is made to rotate through a predetermined angle and thus bring the relative container (2) into the position required by the applicator and/or marker devices (26, 27).

Abstract: Products (2) presenting bevelled or rounded corner edges (35) are advanced singly and in succession along a predetermined path (P), each enveloped in a wrapper (11) of parallelepiped box-like shape, and directed ultimately into a station (15) where each product (2) is subjected to a finishing step that consists in deforming at least one part of the wrapper (11) and causing it thus to adhere to the surface of the relative product (2), in particular at the bevelled or rounded corner edges (35); thereafter, the finished products (2) are stacked and wrapped in respective stick packs (36) of which the longitudinal corner edges (38) will hug the corner edges (35) of the stacked products (2), adapting to the contours of the bevelled or rounded profile.

Abstract: Groups of products stacked on edge are wrapped in sealed stick packs by a method that involves passing a sheet (4) of heat-sealable wrapping material around each group (1) of products (2) and sealing the two side edges (8) in such a way as to fashion a tubular wrapper (12) with end portions (14) projecting axially from the assembled group (1), then spreading each end portion (14) flat by inserting a tongue (16) and heat-sealing each relative pair of flattened edges to render the wrapper airtight. Thereafter, the sealed ends are subjected to a cold crimping action from which each end portion (14) emerges with two impressed crease lines (24) positioned to delimit a central portion (25) that will be folded directly against the corresponding end face of the group (1), and two lateral portions (26) that will be folded inwards over the central portion (25).

Abstract: Containers (2) for food products are manufactured on a machine (1) equipped with a feed station (4) supplying a single file of tubular elements (2a), a first heat sealer (10) by which a first open end (2b) of each tubular element (2a) is closed and secured, and a first rotary conveyor (3) capable of movement between a first operating position in which the tubular elements (2a) are taken up from the feed station (4), and a second operating position in which the tubular elements (2a) are offered to the first heat sealer (10).

Abstract: Containers (2) having a threaded neck (3) and a mouth (4) are capped by a unit (1) appearing as a carousel (5) equipped with capping heads caused to advance along a circular path (P) and capable of axial movement toward and away from the containers in such a way that each one can be fitted with a relative cap (11); each capping head of the unit (1) incorporates a gripper (31) furnished with two jaws (30) presenting relative conical surfaces (26), and respective cylindrical surfaces (27) designed to locate against the neck (3) of the container. When the cylindrical surfaces (27) register against the outer surface of the neck (3), the conical surfaces (32) are positioned with the lower edges (28) encroaching on the area compassed by the mouth (4) in such a way that the cap (11) can be gathered and aligned with the neck (3) of the container (2) before being tightened, thereby ensuring a precise fit.

Abstract: Containers (2), typically bottles (3), are filled by equipment (1) incorporating a fixed frame (6) and a rotating carousel (7) fitted with a plurality of filler units (8) distributed around the periphery, each comprising a first and a second dispensing outlet (9, 10) connected to respective first and second tanks (11, 12) holding first and second packageable substances, a supporting structure (13) on which to stand a container (2), and an actuator mechanism (15) associated with the supporting structure (13). The supporting structure (13) is caused to alternate by the associated mechanism (15) between a first filling position, in which the first outlet (9) is placed in alignment with a mouth (5) of the respective container (2), and a second filling position in which the second outlet (10) is placed in alignment with the mouth (5) of the container (2), so that the container (2) can be filled with two different substances in the course of a single pass around the carousel.

Abstract: A method and machine for labelling a succession of containers, whereby each container is identified to assign to the container one of a number of possible types, and the container is then fed along a labelling path through a number of labelling stations, each of which applies respective labels to containers falling within a respective category, and is activated to apply the label to the container if the container falls within the respective category.

Abstract: In a machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products, a stacking plate, having a number of radial seats for relative stacks of products, rotates in steps about a respective axis to feed each seat along an annular path extending through a loading station for loading individual products, a reject station, and an unloading station for unloading stacks; the reject station being controlled by a sensor activated selectively by counter-pushers, each of which is moved along a relative seat by the individual products fed successively through an inlet of the seat at the loading station.

Abstract: A filler head (1) carried by the carousel of a rotary powder filling machine comprises a dispensing element (3) by which a predetermined quantity of powder material is directed into a container (2) positioned on a platform assembly (7, 5) carried by a hollow frame (13); the dispensing element (3) is interlocked to a dynamometer (15) housed in the cavity (14) of the frame (13) and controllable thus during the step of filling the container (2). The platform support (5) is associated with a first actuator (18) mounted at the bottom of the frame (13) and designed to separate the selfsame support (5) from the dynamometer (15), also with a second actuator (21) by which the container (2) is caused to shake in a direction (B) that causes the powder material to settle in the container (2) during the filling operation.

Abstract: In a machine (1) for filling containers with fluid products, different fluid substances are directed by means of a rotary valve assembly (19) into a tank (7) furnished with separate compartments (12, 13, 14, 15), isolated one from another and equipped each with at least one filler valve (8) by which a given quantity of one of the fluid substances is dispensed from the tank (7) into each container.

Abstract: A machine (1) for filling containers (2) has a carousel conveyor (5) having a vertical axis (6) and in turn having a number of filling heads (7), and an equal number of seats (8), each of which houses a respective container (2), is associated with a respective filling head (7), and is connected to the carousel conveyor (5) via the interposition of a weighing device (9) supported in a fixed position by the carousel conveyor (5). Each seat (8) has a frame (10), which supports a gripper (11) for engaging a top portion (4) of a respective container (2), and a plate (12) defining a horizontal supporting surface for the bottom of the respective container (2), and an adjusting device (13) for adjusting the vertical position of the plate (12), while maintaining the gripper (11) in a given vertical position close to the respective filling head (7).

Abstract: A system (1) for manufacturing containers (5) is designed around a supporting structure (2) with which all the stations (7, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25) and the devices (14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 26) needed to produce the containers are associated. The system (1) is equipped with a feed station (7) supplying a forming material (9), a scoring station (18) by which crease lines (4a) are generated, and a cutting station (19), combining to prepare a succession of blanks (4). The system (1) also includes a prefolding station (21) where each blank (4) is bent initially along the creases lines (4a), a folding station (24) where the single blank (4) is fashioned to the shape of the container (5), and a sealing or welding station (26) at which the shape of the container (5) is fixed definitively.

Abstract: Containers (2) for food products are manufactured employing a system that includes a feed station (4) supplying a succession of tubular elements (2a), and a heat sealer (10) positioned to close and secure a first open end (2b) of each tubular element (2a) that coincides with the base of the container. The sealing operation occurs at a station associated with a conveyor (3) consisting in a wheel (11) rotatable in a feed direction (B) along a path (P) passing both through the feed station (4) and through the station occupied by the heat sealer (10). The tubular elements (2a) are carried by radial elements (13) of the wheel (11) such as can be indexed between a first operating position, where the tubular elements (2a) are taken up from the feed station (4), and a second operating position in which the open end (2b) is offered to the heat sealer (10).

Abstract: A container (1) for food products is fashioned in such a way that there are no interstitial spaces or stagnation traps on the inside. The bottom end (8) of the container is fashioned by bending and flattening one end portion (7) of a tubular blank in such a way as to produce two triangular stiffening folds (10) of double thickness, each penetrable along one open side coinciding with the base (10a) of the triangle; before the folds (10) are turned inward, the open sides are sealed by bonding the two triangular thicknesses together along the base (10a) so that the folds remain isolated from the inside of the container (1).

Abstract: Containers are transferred from a first conveyor operating at a first height to a second conveyor operating at a second height by a rotary unit equipped with a plurality of grippers designed to take up and support each successive container by the neck. The grippers are carried by respective slides mounted to corresponding vertical guide elements making up the main frame of the unit, on which they are made to move up and down cyclically by a first roller following a first track that extends around a fixed C-shaped tubular element, and by a second roller running on a second track presented by the top surface of a sector rail placed with the concave side directed toward the lateral opening in the C-shaped tubular element. The tubular element is easily replaced in the event of a size changeover.

Abstract: Confectionery products (2) are packaged singly in double twist wraps (1) prepared from a strip (3) coated with first longitudinal bands (4) and second transverse bands (5) of adhesive, the transverse bands spaced apart to create adhesive-free zones (6) offered in direct contact to the products (2), and caused to advance along a set path (P) in a given feed direction (D). The strip is prepared with an easy tear point (A) on each second adhesive band (5), consisting of a first notch (7) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip (3) and a second notch (8) superimposed on the first notch (7); the strip (3) is then cut transversely along the second bands (5) to generate single leaves (11), each presenting an indentation (12) and a projection (13) generated by the second notch (8). The leaf (11) is folded around the product (2) to produce a hermetically sealed wrap (1) designed to tear open from the notches.