Abstract: An apparatus for feeding pasta sheet into a pasta-making machine, includes a feed device for feeding a strip of pasta sheet along a predetermined path, and a punching device designed to operate on the strip in the stop condition so as to punch the strip and obtain from the strip cut pieces of pasta sheet intended to be wrapped around respective portions of filling, thereby producing respective pieces of filled pasta. The apparatus includes a speed variator device for the feed speed of the strip, interposed between the feed device and the punching device for causing, during each machine cycle of the apparatus, a variation in the speed of a branch of the strip positioned at the punching device which, in combination with the speed at which the strip is supplied by the feed device, stops the branch of the strip.

Abstract: Automatic packaging machine (3) for filling a bag (1) made of heat-sealable material, having an open upper end (2) with a dose of loose product; the packaging machine (3) has: a packaging conveyor (4); a pick-up head (7), which is supported by the packaging conveyor (4) to advance along a packaging path (P1); an input station (S1) where the empty bag (1) is grabbed by the pick-up head (7); an output station (S2) where the full, sealed bag (1) leaves the pick-up head (7); a filling device (18) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to supply the dose of product inside the bag (1) through the upper open end (2); and a sealing device (19) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to seal the full bag (1) through a heat-seal in correspondence with the open upper end (2).

Abstract: A packing method and unit for folding a blank on a packing machine; a first suction pickup head engages a first panel of the blank inside a store; a second suction pickup head engages a second panel of the blank inside the store; the pickup heads are moved from a withdrawal position at the store to a release position at a packing conveyor, insert the blank inside a pocket on the packing conveyor; and the blank, folded into a ‘U’, is released inside the pocket on the packing conveyor; as the pickup heads are moved from the withdrawal position to the release position, a relative movement between the first pickup head and the second pickup head is produced to fold the blank into a ‘U’ before the blank is inserted into the pocket on the packing conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers with fluid products, and to the respective method, wherein the apparatus comprises a rest area arranged outside of a filling path and of a filling area, the rest area is accessible to the operator without interrupting the filling of the containers and actuating means to reciprocally move a first and a second filling unit from an operating condition to a rest condition; wherein in an operating condition one between a first and second filling unit is arranged in the filling area and able to be in fluid communication with the containers to be filled; and wherein in the rest condition the other between the first and second filling unit is arranged in the rest area accessible to the operator without interrupting the filling of the containers in the filling area.

Abstract: A packing unit and method for folding a blank on a packing machine; the packing unit having: a packing conveyor having at least one pocket for receiving the blank; and a feed device for inserting the blank into the pocket on the packing conveyor; the packing conveyor has at least a first conveyor belt defining a bottom wall, of the pocket; at least a second conveyor belt separate from, parallel to, and alongside the first conveyor belt, and defining the bottom wall of the pocket together with the first conveyor belt; a first retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the first conveyor belt and defines a front wall of the pocket; and a second retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the second conveyor belt and defines a rear wall of the pocket.

Abstract: A grouping method and unit for forming a line of products on a packing machine; a first feed conveyor feeds a succession of spaced products along a straight, horizontal grouping path at a first speed; a first compacting conveyor moves a first compacting member along the grouping path, downstream from the first feed conveyor and ahead of a first product in the line, at a second speed slower than the first speed, so as to slow down the first product and compact the intermediate products in the line against the first product; and a second compacting conveyor moves a second compacting member along the grouping path, downstream from the first feed conveyor and behind a last product in the line, at a third speed higher than the first speed, so as to compact the last product against the intermediate products in the line.

Abstract: Unit and method for applying a wall to a hollow body in a manufacturing process for producing a beverage capsule; are provided: a sealing conveyor which advances along a sealing path; a sealing head conveyed by the sealing conveyor and which supports a gripping device for gripping the wall and a retaining device suited to retain the hollow body; a first feed station for feeding the wall to the sealing head, so that the wall is gripped by the gripping device; and a second feed station arranged downstream from the first feed station along the sealing path, for feeding the hollow body to the sealing head, so the hollow body is coupled to the wall gripped by the gripping device, and is retained by the retaining device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers with fluid products, and to the respective method, wherein the apparatus comprises a rest area arranged outside of a filling path and of a filling area, the rest area is accessible to the operator without interrupting the filling of the containers and actuating means to reciprocally move a first and a second filling unit from an operating condition to a rest condition; wherein in an operating condition one between a first and second filling unit is arranged in the filling area and able to be in fluid communication with the containers to be filled; and wherein in the rest condition the other between the first and second filling unit is arranged in the rest area accessible to the operator without interrupting the filling of the containers in the filling area.

Abstract: A grouping method and unit for forming a line of products on a packing machine; a first feed conveyor feeds a succession of spaced products along a straight, horizontal grouping path at a first speed; a first compacting conveyor moves a first compacting member along the grouping path, downstream from the first feed conveyor and ahead of a first product in the line, at a second speed slower than the first speed, so as to slow down the first product and compact the intermediate products in the line against the first product; and a second compacting conveyor moves a second compacting member along the grouping path, downstream from the first feed conveyor and behind a last product in the line, at a third speed higher than the first speed, so as to compact the last product against the intermediate products in the line.

Abstract: A machine for making filled pasta comprises at least one station for preparing a strip of pasta sheet; a station for preparing a filling; a filling operation station, in communication with the station for preparing the strip of pasta sheet and with the station for preparing the filling, in which portions of filling are wrapped in corresponding portions of the strip of pasta sheet to form individual pieces of filled pasta; the station for preparing the filling comprises a feeder device for feeding the filling to the filling operation station; the feeder device comprises: a feed duct comprising an inlet and an outlet for the filling; a piston operating in the feed duct feeding the filling from the inlet to the outlet; an ultrasound generator provided with an ultrasound emitter applied to the feed duct for transmitting at least one vibration to the feed duct.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding pasta sheet into a pasta-making machine, including feed means for feeding a strip of pasta sheet along a predetermined path, and a punching device designed to operate on the strip in the stop condition so as to punch it and obtain from it out pieces of pasta sheet intended to be wrapped around respective portions of filling, thereby producing respective pieces of filled pasta, the apparatus includes a speed variator device for the feed speed of the strip, interposed between the feed means and the punching device for causing, during each machine cycle of the apparatus, a variation in the speed of a branch of the strip positioned at the punching device which, in combination with the speed at which the strip is supplied by the feed means, stops the branch of the strip.

Abstract: A packing method and unit for folding a blank on a packing machine; a first suction pickup head engages a first panel of the blank inside a store; a second suction pickup head engages a second panel of the blank inside the store; the pickup heads are moved from a withdrawal position at the store to a release position at a packing conveyor, insert the blank inside a pocket on the packing conveyor; and the blank, folded into a ‘U’, is released inside the pocket on the packing conveyor; as the pickup heads are moved from the withdrawal position to the release position, a relative movement between the first pickup head and the second pickup head is produced to fold the blank into a ‘U’ before the blank is inserted into the pocket on the packing conveyor.

Abstract: A packing unit and method for folding a blank on a packing machine; the packing unit having: a packing conveyor having at least one pocket for receiving the blank; and a feed device for inserting the blank into the pocket on the packing conveyor; the packing conveyor has at least a first conveyor belt defining a bottom wall, of the pocket; at least a second conveyor belt separate from, parallel to, and alongside the first conveyor belt, and defining the bottom wall of the pocket together with the first conveyor belt; a first retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the first conveyor belt and defines a front wall of the pocket; and a second retaining member, which projects perpendicularly from the second. conveyor belt and defines a rear wall of the pocket.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing composite filters for cigarettes, cigars and similar tobacco products, on a twin track machine, involves generating a succession of filter sticks of a first type, made from a first filter material and/or having first filtration properties, and at least one other succession of filter sticks of a different type, made from a respective different filter material and/or having filtration properties different to those of the first type; cross-cutting the filter sticks of the first type and the filter sticks of the different type on at least one transverse cutting line to obtain a succession of first and second plugs of the first type and a succession of first and second plugs of the different type; arranging the first plugs of the first type and the first plugs of the different type in alternation one with another to create a first filter rod, and arranging the second plugs of the first type and the second plugs of the different type in alternation one with another to create a second filte

Abstract: A method of gumming a web of paper material in a filter tip attachment machine is implemented using a gumming device that comprises a gumming roller and a transfer roller counter-rotating tangentially one to another about horizontal and parallel axes, and creating a trough in which to hold a prescribed quantity of adhesive supplied by a feed circuit, also a drive system by which the rollers are set in rotation on their axes, and a control unit to which both the feed circuit and the drive system are interlocked. The gumming roller revolves tangentially to the web of material at a gumming station, and the method envisages a procedure, triggered in the event of a stoppage affecting the machine, that consists in the steps of suspending delivery of the adhesive, distancing the web of paper material from the gumming roller, and reversing the direction of rotation of the rollers, relative to the direction of rotation during normal operation, in such a way that the trough is emptied gradually of adhesive.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing composite filters for cigarettes, cigars and similar tobacco products, on a twin track machine, involves generating a succession of filter sticks of a first type, made from a first filter material and/or having first filtration properties, and at least one other succession of filter sticks of a different type, made from a respective different filter material and/or having filtration properties different to those of the first type; cross-cutting the filter sticks of the first type and the filter sticks of the different type on at least one transverse cutting line to obtain a succession of first and second plugs of the first type and a succession of first and second plugs of the different type; arranging the first plugs of the first type and the first plugs of the different type in alternation one with another to create a first filter rod, and arranging the second plugs of the first type and the second plugs of the different type in alternation one with another to create a second filte

Abstract: A centring drum for filter assembly machines, the centring drum having external axial seats movable with the centring drum about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and for receiving respective double filters, at least some of which are offset laterally, along the relative seats, with respect to a central transverse reference plane; each seat housing a respective stop member movable with the relative seat about the longitudinal axis of rotation, and located on a respective side of the reference plane to define a centred position of the relative double filter, and a push device for moving the relative double filter axially onto the relative stop member; the stop members defining a first and a second succession of stop members, which are located on opposite sides of the reference plane and are both connected to a position adjusting device movable about the longitudinal axis of rotation and for moving the two successions equally and oppositely along the longitudinal axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method of gumming a web of paper material in a filter tip attachment machine is implemented using a gumming device that comprises a gumming roller and a transfer roller counter-rotating tangentially one to another about horizontal and parallel axes, and creating a trough in which to hold a prescribed quantity of adhesive supplied by a feed circuit, also a drive system by which the rollers are set in rotation on their axes, and a control unit to which both the feed circuit and the drive system are interlocked. The gumming roller revolves tangentially to the web of material at a gumming station, and the method envisages a procedure, triggered in the event of a stoppage affecting the machine, that consists in the steps of suspending delivery of the adhesive, distancing the web of paper material from the gumming roller, and reversing the direction of rotation of the rollers, relative to the direction of rotation during normal operation, in such a way that the trough is emptied gradually of adhesive.

Abstract: A unit for forming a continuous mat of tobacco with denser portions, wherein the mat of tobacco is formed on a suction conveyor belt looped about a return pulley and extending through two successive shredded tobacco feed stations; and wherein the return pulley, located at one of the two feed stations, has a number of radial suction seats, each for retaining a localized quantity of tobacco on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A centring drum for filter assembly machines, the centring drum having external axial seats movable with the centring drum about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and for receiving respective double filters, at least some of which are offset laterally, along the relative seats, with respect to a central transverse reference plane; each seat housing a respective stop member movable with the relative seat about the longitudinal axis of rotation, and located on a respective side of the reference plane to define a centred position of the relative double filter, and a push device for moving the relative double filter axially onto the relative stop member; the stop members defining a first and a second succession of stop members, which are located on opposite sides of the reference plane and are both connected to a position adjusting device movable about the longitudinal axis of rotation and for moving the two successions equally and oppositely along the longitudinal axis of rotation.