Casmatic Spa

Giorgio Bonafe'

Giordano Gorrieri

Paolo Cassoli

Gianni Mantovani

The lower folders (P,, P,) of the packaging machine are driven by a rod and crank system (,) moved by an electric motor (,) with control of speed and phase, regulated by an electronic processor (,) with a corresponding programming and dialogue unit (,). The rod and crank system is designed and arranged in such a way that, when the folders are closed, the rod (,) is aligned with the crank (,), and this position (K) is taken to be the zero position by the said processor and is detected for this purpose by a sensor (,). To drive the folders through a complete cycle of closing and opening, the motor (,) has to execute only one pulse, to transfer the rod and crank system from one to the other of two limit positions (K,, K,), spaced apart from the said zero position by an identical distance which is variable, according to the format of the products to be packaged, by means of the said programming unit (,). The rod and crank system is also preferably designed in such a way that, when the product has the maximum format, the motor (,) executes intermittent rotations through 360&deg;, always in the same direction, with a cyclical stop in a position opposite to the zero position (K).

Apparatus for driving the folders in machines for packaging or wrapping products in a sheet of flexible material-

At least one driving sprocket (H1) and the neighbouring driven sprocket (H2) carrying the two pairs of chains of the compartment conveyor (T) are connected to each other by means of a dog clutch (2, 4) operated by an actuator (15) controlled by the control panel (19) of the packaging machine. The driving shaft (L) on which the said sprockets (H1, H2) are mounted is turned by an electric motor (1) of the electronic speed and phase control type. Adjustment of the length of the compartments (C) of the conveyor is effected automatically by the control panel (19) supplied with the necessary data, which stops the conveyor, opens the said dog clutch (2, 4), starts the said motor (1) so as to move one of the walls (P1) of the compartments by the amount required for the adjustment, and then closes the said dog clutch (2, 4) and, if required, restarts the said motor (1) so as to impart to the conveyor one half of the distance moved in the previous adjustment, forwards or backwards, in order to align the compartments with the product loading station (A).

Apparatus for automatic adjustment of the length of the compartments of

The machine comprises a main carousel including a horizontal axis having seats which are angularly equidistant and open outwardly and including at the front a gripper and at the rear a folding device. Each seat passes first adjustable means with the gripper open to supply the gripper with a packaging sheet arranged on the seat, and cooperating with a first auxiliary carousel which inserts a roll into each seat, oriented with its axis parallel to that of the main carousel, while the roll is partially wrapped with the packaging sheet retained by the closed gripper. In succession, the rear folding device intervenes and the gripper opens and folding means intervene in order to fold the front edge of the sheet onto the rear edge, while the folding device returns to the rest position and the edges are fixed together by a heat-sealing carousel. The seats then pass opposite the folding devices which fold and arrange on one another several end portions of the tubular sheet and then the packaged roll is unloaded by a second auxiliary carousel which transfers it to downstream conveying means for heat-sealing the end folds of the package.

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Casalecchio Di Reno, Italy

Giorgio Bonafe'