Patents by Inventor Stefano Molinari

Stefano Molinari has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10040590
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container handling machine (1) having at least one operative unit (18) comprising first support means (21) to support a base (12) of a filled and closed container (3), second support means (24) cooperating with an end (17) of the container (3) opposite the base (12), a plunger (31) selectively moved along its axis (E) to perform a deformation operation on the base (12) of the container (3) from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and actuator means (35) selectively activated to move the plunger (31) along its axis (E) between a first position, detached from the base (12) of the container (3), and a second position, in which the plunger (31) defines the second configuration of the base (12); the machine (1) further comprises a control unit (41) configured to selectively activate the actuator means (35) for moving the plunger (31) along its axis (E); the second support means (24) are maintained at a constant distance from the first support means
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sidel S.p.A. Con Socio Unico
    Inventors: Raffaele Pace, Stefano Molinari, Matteo Vignali
  • Publication number: 20180065769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container handling machine (1) having at least one operative unit (18) comprising first support means (21) to support a base (12) of a filled and closed container (3), second support means (24) cooperating with an end (17) of the container (3) opposite the base (12), a plunger (31) selectively moved along its axis (E) to perform a deformation operation on the base (12) of the container (3) from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and actuator means (35) selectively activated to move the plunger (31) along its axis (E) between a first position, detached from the base (12) of the container (3), and a second position, in which the plunger (31) defines the second configuration of the base (12); the machine (1) further comprises a control unit (41) configured to selectively activate the actuator means (35) for moving the plunger (31) along its axis (E); the second support means (24) are maintained at a constant distance from the first support means
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Raffaele PACE, Stefano MOLINARI, Matteo VIGNALI
  • Publication number: 20180037355
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a forming apparatus for forming a base of a container filled with a pourable product and closed with a closure element. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a first conveyance device advancing the container along a first path, a second conveyance device arranged below the first path and configured to advance the deformation device along a second path, an upper retainer arranged above the first path and cooperating in use with a top part of the container, and at least one deformation device arranged below the first path, advanced in use to follow the container moving along the first path, and configured to interact with the container to deform its base. The first conveyance device may include two parallel first linear conveyors arranged side by side, defining a gap between the conveyors, and having respective horizontal linear transport branches lying in a common horizontal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Stefano MOLINARI, Raffaele PACE
  • Patent number: 9873536
    Abstract: A container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis and to deform a base of a container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration. The container handling machine further includes a control unit configured to selectively activate the actuator for producing a first stroke of the plunger along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position, in order to deform the base of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SIDEL S.P.A. CON SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Raffaele Pace, Stefano Molinari, Matteo Vignali
  • Patent number: 9828130
    Abstract: A container handling machine including at least one operative unit comprising support means to support a shaped container, and a plunger selectively moved along a given axis to deform a base of the container from a first swollen configuration to a second configuration, in which the base is in part retracted inwardly of the container with respect to the first configuration so as to form a recess delimited by a boundary surface defining an internal volume of the container smaller than that in the first configuration. The plunger is provided with a shaped head interacting with the container base and comprising: first engaging means and an interacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SIDEL S.P.A. CON SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Godet Florian, Stefano Molinari, Raffaele Pace
  • Publication number: 20160167820
    Abstract: An article-handling machine for carrying out an operation on an article is disclosed. The article-handling machine includes a carousel configured to convey the article along a path. The carousel includes one of at least one seat or at least one pin. The article-handling machine further includes a modular operative group configured to carry out the operation on the article. The modular operative group includes the other one of at least one seat or at least one pin. The at least one pin is configured to engage the at least one seat, so as to dock the modular operative group to the carousel. The article-handling machine further includes at least one constraining assembly for constraining the at least one pin inside the at least one seat. The constraining assembly is configured to move towards and away from the at least one seat between a rest configuration and an operative configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Davide UGOLINI, Stefano MOLINARI
  • Patent number: 9296507
    Abstract: There is described a vacuum transfer element for transferring a tubular label having a first axis (A) form a first to a second position, comprising a first surface which may reciprocate along a second axis (E) parallel to first axis (A), comprises a plurality of ports and is adapted to cooperate with an outer side, opposite to first axis (A), of said tubular label; first ports are selectively connectable to a vacuum source to establish a vacuum suction action on outer side, at least when first surface moves from first to second position; surface is angularly fixed relative to said second axis (E); first surface is angularly fixed relative to second axis (E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIDEL S.p.A. con Socio Unico
    Inventors: Mattia Giuliani, Mirko Rossi, Stefano Molinari, Andrea Bocchi, Gastone Piazza
  • Publication number: 20160059982
    Abstract: A container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis and to deform a base of a container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration. The container handling machine further includes a control unit configured to selectively activate the actuator for producing a first stroke of the plunger along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position, in order to deform the base of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Raffaele PACE, Stefano Molinari, Matteo Vignali
  • Publication number: 20160059981
    Abstract: A container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a first support unit configured to support a base of a filled and closed container, a second support unit configured to cooperate with an end of the container opposite the base, a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis to deform the base of the container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Raffaele PACE, Stefano MOLINARI, Matteo VIGNALI
  • Publication number: 20150075117
    Abstract: A container handling machine is disclosed. The machine includes at least one operative unit comprising support means to support a shaped container, and a plunger selectively moved along a given axis to deform a base of the container from a first swollen configuration to a second configuration, in which the base is in part retracted inwardly of the container with respect to the first configuration so as to form a recess delimited by a boundary surface defining an internal volume of the container smaller than that in the first configuration. The plunger is provided with a shaped head interacting with the container base and comprising: first engaging means; and an interacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Godet FLORIAN, Stefano MOLINARI, Raffaele PACE
  • Publication number: 20150040515
    Abstract: A labelling machine for applying labels on respective containers is disclosed. The labelling machine is provided with at least one operative unit, adapted to receive a relative container to be labelled and having a support element for supporting a base portion of the container, with a conveyor device for transferring the operative unit from a feeding station of the containers to an outlet station, and with feeding means for providing at least one label to be applied on the container borne by the operative unit The operative unit also comprises an actuator element borne by the conveyor device on the opposite side of the support element with respect to the receiving position of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Sidel S.p.A. con SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Stefano Molinari, Godet Florian
  • Publication number: 20140048206
    Abstract: There is described a vacuum transfer element for transferring a tubular label having a first axis (A) form a first to a second position, comprising a first surface which may reciprocate along a second axis (E) parallel to first axis (A), comprises a plurality of ports and is adapted to cooperate with an outer side, opposite to first axis (A), of said tubular label; first ports are selectively connectable to a vacuum source to establish a vacuum suction action on outer side, at least when first surface moves from first to second position; surface is angularly fixed relative to said second axis (E); first surface is angularly fixed relative to second axis (E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: SIDEL S.P.A. CON SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Mattia Giuliani, Mirko Rossi, Stefano Molinari, Andrea Bocchi, Gaston Piazza