A method for quality control of a packaging system is provided. The method comprises receiving a record of packaging identification data, wherein the record of packaging identification data being related to a package. Next, identifying and receiving a record of machine data using said record of packaging identification data, wherein said record of machine data being related to a machine set up used when producing said package. Thereafter, identifying a packaging quality parameter to be checked based on said record of machine data, and requesting a record of packaging quality data related to said packaging quality parameter.

The present invention relates to an induction sealing device for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an induction sealing device. The device comprises at least one inductor made of an alloy comprising silver and copper.

There is described a unit (1, 1, 1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack (3), comprising a frame (11, 12a, 12b), a selectively activatable/deactivatable source of power (42) and at least one carriage (14a, 14b) operationally coupled with source of power (42), movable along a path (13a, 13b) comprising at least one vertical portion (18a, 18b, 19a, 19b), and adapted to convey said at least one pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3); unit (1, 1, 1) comprises stopping means (45) fitted to frame (12a, 12b) and which can be operated: to leave carriage (14a, 14b) free to advance along vertical portion (18a, 18b; 19a, 19b), when source of power (42) is activated, and to stop carriage (14a, 14b) along vertical portion (18a, 18b; 19a, 19b), when source of power is, in use, deactivated.

There is described a shutter for a valve for controlling an air flow; shutter is selectively rotatable about an axis and adapted to be housed inside a body of valve, and comprises a surface disposed about axis; surface comprises at least one first curved portion shaped eccentrically relative to axis so as to define, in use and together with body, at least one first passage for the air flow.

A method for providing an inductive sealing bar, comprises providing a conductive coil having at least one heating zone, embedding the coil in a supportive body such that the supportive body covers the entire coil along at least some part of the length of the at least one heating zone; and providing a sealing surface of the sealing bar by planarizing the coil and the supportive body such that the coil is exposed along the entire length of said at least one heating zone. The invention also relates to a sealing bar manufactured according to the method.

A sterilizing unit comprising at least one heater is provided, wherein said heater comprises a housing and at least one heating element extending in said housing for heating a flow of air being directed through the housing, and wherein said heating element is formed as a band of an electrically conductive material.

A method for producing a sealed package (2; 102) for a product, comprises the following steps: providing a sheet packaging material (1; 101) having a crease pattern (20; 120), the crease pattern (20; 120) comprising at least a first transverse crease line (4) and a second transverse crease line (6), the crease pattern (20; 120) further comprising a plurality of further crease lines (8, 9, 10, 11; 8, 90, 91, 92, 93, 11) interposed between the first transverse crease line (4) and the second transverse crease line (6), said further crease lines (8, 9, 10, 11; 8, 90, 91, 92, 93, 11) extending transversely to the first transverse crease line (4) and to the second transverse crease line (6); obtaining a sealed preliminary packaging unit (200) from the sheet packaging material (1; 101), the sealed preliminary packaging unit (200) having a preset inner volume and containing the product; exerting a forming action on the sealed preliminary packaging unit (200) so as to fold the sheet packaging material (1; 101) defining the sealed preliminary packaging unit (200) and obtain a package (2; 102) therefrom. During the step of obtaining the sealed preliminary packaging unit (200), the sheet packaging material (1; 101) is processed without being folded along said further crease lines (8, 9, 10, 11; 8, 90, 91, 92, 93, 11).

A method of operating a machine for producing sealed packages for a product, comprises the step of changing the configuration of the machine so that the machine, which was producing a package (2) having a first conformation, becomes capable of producing a package (102) having a second conformation. The first conformation is different from the second conformation. The package (2) having the first conformation is produced from a first sheet packaging material (1) comprising a first basic unit (3) having a length (L) and a width (W), the package (102) having the second conformation being produced from a second sheet packaging material (101) comprising a second basic unit (103) having a length (L) and a width (W) respectively equal to the length (L) and width (W) of the first basic unit (3).

A folding unit for producing packages (2) from sealed packs (3) comprises an endless conveyor (23) carrying a plurality of paddles (30) arranged for moving said packs (3) along an advancement direction and fold said packs (3) into formed packages (2), each paddle (30) having a first surface (80) intended to interact with a first pack (3) to form a portion of a corresponding first package (2) and a second surface (81) intended to interact with a second pack (3) to form a portion of a corresponding second package (2), said folding unit further comprises releasable connecting elements (42) arranged for releasably connecting said paddles (30) to said endless conveyor (23).

A method for quality control of a packaging system is provided. The method comprises receiving a first record of packaging quality parameter data related to a first packaging quality parameter for a package being assessed, determining a second packaging quality parameter based on said first record, requesting a second record of packaging quality parameter data related to said second packaging quality parameter, and receiving said second record.