A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having each a main portion and opposite end portions arranged on opposite sides of the main portion; each pack comprises a fin and a pair of flaps projecting laterally from main portion; a first movable conveying member fed with a plurality of packs and which feeds the pack along a forming path; and folder which interacts with each pack along forming path to fold relative first end fin onto the portion; the folder comprising: a first member movable along forming path together with the conveying member and defining a slot receiving, in use, end fin; and a second member movable relative to first member between a first position in which it engages at least partially slot, so as to fold end fin onto a relative end portion, and a second position in which it leaves free slot.

A system for processing food products comprises a cutting apparatus for cutting off slices from the food products and for forming portions from the slices, a packaging machine, and a transport apparatus that transports the portions from the cutting apparatus to the packaging machine. Furthermore, the system comprises a provision device for providing portion supports for the transported portions, and a folding device that is configured to fold a portion support along a bending line. The system further comprises an insertion device by means of which the portion supports with the portions can be brought onto a packaging space such that the bending lines of the portion supports are aligned in parallel with a transport direction of the packaging machine.

A system for processing food products comprises a cutting apparatus for cutting off slices from the food products and for forming portions from the slices, a packaging machine, and a transport apparatus that transports the portions from the cutting apparatus to the packaging machine. Furthermore, the system comprises a provision device for providing portion supports for the transported portions, and a folding device that is configured to fold a portion support along a bending line. The system further comprises an insertion device by means of which the portion supports with the portions can be brought onto a packaging space such that the bending lines of the portion supports are aligned in parallel with a transport direction of the packaging machine.

The present invention relates to the forming of a container by folding a cardboard sheet with at least vertical flaps, using a forming device and a forming method. Such a device comprises an upstream conveyor driving said cardboard sheet in a direction of travel, a downstream conveyor, means for folding the vertical flaps, said folding means being situated symmetrically about said upstream conveyor, and is characterized in that, on each side, said folding means comprise a pair of downstream and upstream pushers forming a gripper, said pushers being actuated jointly from an open position toward a closed position of folding said corresponding vertical flaps, a support for each gripper, said support being mobile in said direction of travel.

The present invention relates to the forming of a container by folding a cardboard sheet with at least vertical flaps, using a forming device and a forming method. Such a device comprises an upstream conveyor driving said cardboard sheet in a direction of travel, a downstream conveyor, means for folding the vertical flaps, said folding means being situated symmetrically about said upstream conveyor, and is characterized in that, on each side, said folding means comprise a pair of downstream and upstream pushers forming a gripper, said pushers being actuated jointly from an open position toward a closed position of folding said corresponding vertical flaps, a support for each gripper, said support being mobile in said direction of travel.

A method includes causing, via a cutting mechanism, creases to be formed within a packaging material, causing one or more items to be deposited on the packaging material, causing, via a folding mechanism, at least a first side and a second side of the packaging material to be folded to at least partially form a cavity in which the one or more items reside, causing, via a conveyance mechanism, at least a first end and a second end of the packaging material to be folded to at least partially form the cavity, causing the first side and the second side to be sealed, causing, via the conveyance mechanism, the packaging material to be conveyed to a sealing mechanism, and causing, via the sealing mechanism, the first end and the second end to be sealed.

A method includes causing, via a cutting mechanism, creases to be formed within a packaging material, causing one or more items to be deposited on the packaging material, causing, via a folding mechanism, at least a first side and a second side of the packaging material to be folded to at least partially form a cavity in which the one or more items reside, causing, via a conveyance mechanism, at least a first end and a second end of the packaging material to be folded to at least partially form the cavity, causing the first side and the second side to be sealed, causing, via the conveyance mechanism, the packaging material to be conveyed to a sealing mechanism, and causing, via the sealing mechanism, the first end and the second end to be sealed.

A packaging unit for packaging articles into boxes includes a mandrel and a folding device. The mandrel is configured to accommodate at least one of the articles and is adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a blank. The blank has an outer flap and an inner flap intended to be mutually overlapped and fixed so as to form a partially closed box. The folding device is configured to abut and fold the inner flap of the blank in the direction of the mandrel when the blank is at least partially wrapped onto the mandrel. A method for packaging articles into boxes includes arranging, abutting, and folding with the packaging unit.

A packaging unit for packaging articles into boxes includes a mandrel and a folding device. The mandrel is configured to accommodate at least one of the articles and is adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a blank. The blank has an outer flap and an inner flap intended to be mutually overlapped and fixed so as to form a partially closed box. The folding device is configured to abut and fold the inner flap of the blank in the direction of the mandrel when the blank is at least partially wrapped onto the mandrel. A method for packaging articles into boxes includes arranging, abutting, and folding with the packaging unit.

A packaging system includes a conveyor configured to convey a group of articles and a blank along a packaging path. The packaging system includes a folding machine configured to fold a first end panel of the blank relative to a main panel of the blank and to fold a second end panel of the blank relative to the main panel, after the first end panel is folded, as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path. The packaging system includes an alignment machine configured to position a first side panel and a second side panel of the blank at a predetermined angle relative to the main panel as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path.