An apparatus (100) for manufacturing supports (6) and/or packages (80) comprising a supplying station (1) presenting a roll support (1a) configured to receive a feed roll (2) and to rotate it around a respective unwinding axis (A) to unroll consecutive portions of plastic film (3); and a cutting station (10) configured for carrying out a cutting procedure comprising separating, from an unrolled portion of plastic film (3) coming from the feed roll (2), either a strip (4) or a plurality of distinct film sheets (5) obtained from a same strip shaped portion (400). The strip (4) or the strip shaped portion (400) have a width, measured parallel to the unwinding axis (A), and a length, measured perpendicular to the unwinding axis (A), wherein the width of said strip shaped portion (400) is larger than the length of the same strip shaped portion (400). The apparatus (100) also comprises a thermoforming station (20) receiving and thermoforming the strips (4) or the distinct film sheets (5), and/or a packaging station (30) configured for closing in a package

A continuous bag-making and packaging apparatus is disclosed. In the apparatus, sealing is performed on a film at a predetermined position to make a bag while the film is continuously conveyed. The apparatus includes a film-conveying unit configured to change a feeding speed of the film, a printing unit configured to print on the film conveyed, a bag information acquisition unit configured to acquire information of a bag to be made, and a print timing presentation unit configured to present information pertaining to a print timing suitable for printing based on the information of the bag.

A continuous bag-making and packaging apparatus is disclosed. In the apparatus, sealing is performed on a film at a predetermined position to make a bag while the film is continuously conveyed. The apparatus includes a film-conveying unit configured to change a feeding speed of the film, a printing unit configured to print on the film conveyed, a bag information acquisition unit configured to acquire information of a bag to be made, and a print timing presentation unit configured to present information pertaining to a print timing suitable for printing based on the information of the bag.

A coupling device for coupling a component to an article includes a first retaining member that retains the component, a second retaining member that retains the article, a movement system for moving the first retaining member and the second retaining member between a non-operating position where the component and the article are spaced apart from one another, and an operating position where the component and the article are in a coupling position, and a detection system for detecting the positioning of the component on the first retaining member. The detection system includes an image detector device for capturing at least one image of the component when the component is retained by the first retaining member, and a processing unit provided for analysing the image captured by the image detector device and verifying if the component is retained on the first retaining member in a predefined position.

A coupling device for coupling a component to an article includes a first retaining member that retains the component, a second retaining member that retains the article, a movement system for moving the first retaining member and the second retaining member between a non-operating position where the component and the article are spaced apart from one another, and an operating position where the component and the article are in a coupling position, and a detection system for detecting the positioning of the component on the first retaining member. The detection system includes an image detector device for capturing at least one image of the component when the component is retained by the first retaining member, and a processing unit provided for analysing the image captured by the image detector device and verifying if the component is retained on the first retaining member in a predefined position.

A modular packaging facility has independent packaging units configured to receive one or more product loaded supports. The upper tool and the lower tool of each unit are relatively movable the one with respect to the other between at least a first position, allowing placement of the supports in the respective seats of the lower tool, and a second position, allowing coupling of a film portion of said film to said one or more product loaded supports received by the lower tool. Each unit has a vacuum arrangement and/or a controlled atmosphere arrangement and is configured to execute a packaging cycle wherein gas is removed and/or injected via holes in the supports and/or via nozzles placed between the support and the respective film portion. The process and the infrastructure may be used to contemporaneously process and pack supports of different types.

The invention relates to an output unit for a provision individually per track of sheet material for placing beneath products fed on two or multiple tracks, in particular beneath food portions, said output unit comprising a draw-in device that is configured to draw in individually per track a respective one material web of the sheet material per track and that in particular has at least one driven draw-in shaft and at least one draw-in pressure unit; a separation device that is configured to separate the sheet material from the material webs; and an ejection device that is configured to discharge sheet material on two or multiple tracks and that comprises a driven ejection roller and an ejection counter-unit that forms an ejection gap for the sheet material together with the ejection roller, wherein the ejection roller is jointly associated with at least two tracks.

The invention relates to an output unit for a provision individually per track of sheet material for placing beneath products fed on two or multiple tracks, in particular beneath food portions, said output unit comprising a draw-in device that is configured to draw in individually per track a respective one material web of the sheet material per track and that in particular has at least one driven draw-in shaft and at least one draw-in pressure unit; a separation device that is configured to separate the sheet material from the material webs; and an ejection device that is configured to discharge sheet material on two or multiple tracks and that comprises a driven ejection roller and an ejection counter-unit that forms an ejection gap for the sheet material together with the ejection roller, wherein the ejection roller is jointly associated with at least two tracks.

A process for packaging a product in which a hood is fitted to a tray. The hood top is oriented at an angle relative to the machine direction in which the tray is being conveyed. The hood is engaged with the tray by initiating contact between a leading panel of the hood with the tray while the leading panel is moving before engaging the trailing panel with the tray. As the tray is conveyed in the machine direction, the tray captures a hood by the leading panel of the hood and the remainder of the hood is subsequently fitted to the tray.

A process for packaging a product in which a hood is fitted to a tray. The hood top is oriented at an angle relative to the machine direction in which the tray is being conveyed. The hood is engaged with the tray by initiating contact between a leading panel of the hood with the tray while the leading panel is moving before engaging the trailing panel with the tray. As the tray is conveyed in the machine direction, the tray captures a hood by the leading panel of the hood and the remainder of the hood is subsequently fitted to the tray.