A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station, a sealing station, and a cutting station for separating sealed packaging troughs from one another. The cutting station may comprise at least one cutting unit which is adapted to be positioned within the cutting station at different positions in the production direction. The cutting station may comprise a support that supports bottoms of the sealed packaging troughs conveyed into the cutting station for the purpose of separation from below. The support may comprise a plurality of support elements arranged in a horizontal bearing plane and which form a gap at a position in the support at which a cutting operation takes place according to the position of the cutting unit. The gap may be repositioned by moving the support elements to different positions to position the gap to accommodate a different position of the cutting unit within the cutting station.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. A test apparatus may be used to evaluate packaging material using a take up drum capable of sensing containment force imparted upon the drum by packaging material applied thereto, and in some instances, simulated flaws may be formed in a web of packaging material to evaluate a packaging materials response to such flaws when under tension.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. A test apparatus may be used to evaluate packaging material using a take up drum capable of sensing containment force imparted upon the drum by packaging material applied thereto, and in some instances, simulated flaws may be formed in a web of packaging material to evaluate a packaging materials response to such flaws when under tension.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

A machine for stabilising palletised loads includes a functional arrangement, a first movement apparatus generating relative motion about a revolution axis around the palletised load, a second movement apparatus generating relative translation motion of the functional arrangement with respect to the palletised load in a direction parallel to the revolution axis. The functional arrangement includes a support shaft, a motorised drive roller, a contrast roller, and actuator members to create relative movement between the drive roller and the contrast roller in transversal direction with respect to the respective rotation axes between a distanced configuration, in which a gap is defined between the drive roller and the contrast roller to be crossed with clearance by the covering tape unwinding from the reel, and a neared configuration, in which the drive and contrast rollers clamp the covering tape, wherein the support shaft and the contrast and/or drive rollers are mounted on the functional arrangement and oriented in the same direction.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the load with a film of plastic material, includes a self-propelled carriage with a guide, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, a sensor to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals. The wrapping machine also includes a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load based on the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load based on the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load. The control unit controls the guide to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the load with a film of plastic material, includes a self-propelled carriage with a guide, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, a sensor to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals. The wrapping machine also includes a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load based on the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load based on the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load. The control unit controls the guide to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.

Disclosed herein is a packaging machine that according to one embodiment includes a rollers block with a plurality of roller assemblies distributed in series along a horizontal longitudinal axis of the machine and a transmission block with a motor and a transmission mechanism configured for transmitting the rotation of the motor to all the roller assemblies. At least one roller assembly is independent of the rest of the roller assemblies, is movable with respect to the transmission block, and is configured for cooperating with the transmission mechanism in an operative position, in which the transmission mechanism transmits the rotation of the motor of the transmission block to the roller assembly.

Disclosed herein is a packaging machine that according to one embodiment includes a rollers block with a plurality of roller assemblies distributed in series along a horizontal longitudinal axis of the machine and a transmission block with a motor and a transmission mechanism configured for transmitting the rotation of the motor to all the roller assemblies. At least one roller assembly is independent of the rest of the roller assemblies, is movable with respect to the transmission block, and is configured for cooperating with the transmission mechanism in an operative position, in which the transmission mechanism transmits the rotation of the motor of the transmission block to the roller assembly.

A discharging device for a vertical form fill and seal machine includes at least one transfer unit (14) to transfer sealed bags (16) from a sealing device (18) of the vertical form fill and seal machine to a transport device (20) located downstream with respect to the vertical form fill and seal machine. The transfer unit (14) comprises at least one transfer element (22) arrangeable between the sealing device (18) and the transport device (20), wherein the transfer element (22) is provided to change an orientation of the sealed bags (16) during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20). The transfer element (22) is embodied as a chute with two opposite arranged sliding wings (24, 26) on which the sealed bags (16) can slide during a transfer from the sealing device (18) to the transport device (20).