Unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products

UNIT FOR APPLYING OPENING DEVICES TO PACKAGES OF POURABLE FOOD PRODUCTS

The present invention relates to a unit for applying an opening device to a flowable food package.

As is well known, many flow stone foods, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in sealed packaging made of sterile packaging material.

A typical example of this type of packaging is the parallelepiped packaging for liquid or flowable food, known as Tetra Brik Aseptic®, which is made by folding and sealing laminated strip packaging.

The packaging material has a multi-layer structure comprising substantially a base layer for stiffness and strength, such as a layer of paper or mineral-filled polypropylene material fibrous material; and several layers of a heat-sealing thermoplastic, such as a polyethylene film, covering both sides of the base layer.

In the case of aseptic packaging for long-term preservation foods such as UTH milk, the packaging material also includes a layer of gas- and light-barrier layers, such as aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, which is a heat-sealing thermoplastic. It is superimposed on a layer of plastic and then covered with another layer of heat-sealing thermoplastic which forms the inner surface of the package that will ultimately come into contact with the food.

As is known, packaging of this kind is produced on fully automatic packaging machines, in which continuous tubes are formed from web-fed packaging; The packaging web is sterilized on the packaging machine by, for example, applying a chemical sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, and once sterilization is complete, the sterilizing agent is removed from the surface of the packaging, eg, evaporated by heating; This sterilized web of packaging material is maintained in a closed, sterile environment and is folded and sealed to form a vertical tube.

The tube is filled with sterilized or pasteurized food, sealed and then cut equally spaced across the sections to form a pillow pack, which is physically folded into a finished, e.g., substantially parallelepiped; Individually formed into packaging.

Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into the packaging material when forming spindles, which are then filled and sealed with food. An example of this type of packaging is the so-called "gable-top" packaging known under the trade name Tetra Rex.

Once formed, the package undergoes further processing, such as the application of a re-closable opening device.

Currently, the most commonly marketed opening devices include a frame that defines a pour opening and is secured about a bondable or removable portion or hole in the top wall of the package; and a cap hinged or screwed to the frame, which is removable for opening the package. Alternatively, other types of apertures, such as slide-apertures, devices are also known to be used.

The bondable part of the package can be defined, for example, by so-called "shipping layer" holes, ie the holes are formed in the base layer of the package before covering the base layer with a layer of barrier material, which is therefore complete and airtight aseptic. While closing the hole to ensure a seal, it is also easily splicable.

In the case of aseptic packaging machines, once the above-described opening device is formed, it is generally applied directly to the packaging by an on-line application unit located below it from the packaging machine.

Applications of opening devices by heat sealing or gluing involve several preliminary operations on both packaging and opening devices. In particular, when the opening device is applied by heat sealing, both the opening device and the heat-sealing outer layer of the package to the hole or adhesive part of the package are partially dissolved, or partially softened by preheating.

Once the individual packaging has been applied, the opening device must remain firmly in the packaging long enough for the contact material to allow the adhesive to cool.

Similarly, when an opening device is to be bonded, one or two parts must be coated with an adhesive for bonding, and the parts must be held in firm contact with each other long enough to allow adhesive.

It is known that the application unit substantially comprises two, eg a chain, conveying device that continuously feeds the packaging and the opening device along separate infinite paths going to each proximate parallel position where each opening device is adhered to a separate package. do.

Alternatively, an application unit is known as described in patent EP-A-1462370, comprising: a first linear stage conveyor for feeding the packaging series along a first, preferably straight, path; a second linear stage conveyor feeding the aperture device series along a second straight path extending in parallel in a direction opposite the first path; and a step-action rotary feeding the opening device from a pickup station corresponding to one of the braking stations on the first conveyor to an application station corresponding to one of the braking stations on the first conveyor, the opening device being applied to the individual packaging. Includes a carousel conveyor.

In particular, the rotary circular conveyor feeds the opening device through a number of intermediate work stations in a vertical axis along a circular path, which is stopped and undergoes several preliminary motions before being applied to individual packages.

In both cases, the various uses of the known application unit are very lacking due to, for example, the opening device supply rate in applications where it is essential to match the package supply rate to the unit. Meaning the speed of the application unit is indicated by the longest operation performed on both the opening device and the packaging.

Moreover, the two known types of units are very bulky and have several parts that are difficult to connect by the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit for applying an opening device to the packaging of flowable food products, which is designed to provide a direct low cost solution to the above disadvantages typically associated with known units.

According to the present invention,

- first conveying means continuously supplied to said opening device along a first path;

- a second conveying means for continuously feeding said package along a second route; and

- transmitting means for transmitting said opening device from a pickup station located along said first path to an application station located along said second path for applying the opening device to the individual said package, said transmission means having an axis a wheel rotating about and at least one gripping member carried by the wheel for receiving an opening device in time from the first transport means and transmitting it to the second path by rotation of the wheel; A unit for applying a package of flowable food to an opening device is provided,

It includes connecting means for connecting the grip member so that the transmission means is movably to the wheel; and guiding means for changing the position of the grip member with respect to the wheel as the wheel rotates.

Two preferred non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a unit according to the invention for applying an opening device to the packaging of a flowable food product;

Fig. 2 is a first enlarged view of the individual grip members of the Fig. 1 unit supplying individual opening devices to the application area for individual packaging;

Fig. 3 is a second view of the Fig. 2 grip member;

Figure 4 is a reduced view of the actuating mechanism for actuating the grip members of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of a portion of the Figure 1 unit, with parts removed for clarity;

Fig. 6 is a view of the pressing device of the Fig. 1 unit for pressing the opening device to the individual packaging during complete adhesion;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the pressing member of the Fig. 6 device;

Fig. 8 is the same view as Fig. 1 of an alternative embodiment of a unit according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the grip members of the Fig. 8 unit supplying individual opening devices to the application area for individual packaging;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a portion of the Fig. 8 unit, with parts removed for clarity; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the actuating mechanism for actuating the Fig. 9 grip member;

The number 1 in Figure 1 represents the whole unit for applying the opening device 2 to the sealed package 3 of the flowable food.

The packaging 3 may include, for example, a base layer of fibrous material such as cardboard or a base layer of mineral-filled polypropylene material; and a sheet packaging material comprising multiple layers of heat-sealing thermoplastic material, such as a polyethylene film, covering both sides of the base layer, on top of the unit 1 as described above. In the case of aseptic packaging 3 for long-term preservation foods such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, such as aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, which is heated - superimposed on a layer of sealing thermoplastic, which is then covered with another layer of heat-sealing thermoplastic which forms the inner surface of the package in final contact with the food;

Each package 3 , which in the example shown is substantially parallelepiped in shape, has an opening or an adhesive or removable portion (not shown) in the end wall 4 , which is provided by the unit 1 to the package 3 . It is covered out by a separate opening device (2) applied to it.

In particular, figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are screws of the type made of thermoplastic, each of which is an annular outwardly threaded frame 5 and opening 6 in a known manner. ) comprising an inwardly threaded cap 7 screwed to the frame 5 to close the opening) (6). The opening device 2 may also comprise means (not shown) for removing the removable portion of the packaging 3 or for gluing the adhesive portion thereof when the packaging has not been sealed in a known manner.

Referring to Fig. 1, the unit 1 has a straight horizontal path P, which is known and only schematically shown.<sb>1</sb>) a first linear conveyor (8) for feeding a series of opening devices (2) along; and also the path P in the illustrated example, which is also known and only schematically shown.<sb>1</sb>) in a straight horizontal direction (P<sb>2</sb>) along a second linear conveyor (9) for feeding a series of packages (3); and path (P<sb>1</sb>) from the pickup station 11 located along the path P<sb>2</sb>) which feeds the opening device 2 to an application station 12 located along

The conveyor 8 defines a horizontal conveying surface 13 at least close to the pick-up station 11 , the opening arrangement 2 being positioned with the cab 7 underneath facing the conveyor wheel 10 .

As it moves along the conveyor 8 , the opening device 2 is on the upward side, ie opposite the lateral conveyor wheel 10 , with adhesive, preferably the path P<sb>1</sb>) is coated by a gun (not shown) located along the

Conveyor 9 is positioned below conveyor 8 and defines a horizontal conveying surface 14 at least proximate to application station 12 , in which package 3 opens device 2 through conveyor wheel 10 . It coincides with the final applied individual wall 4 , which is located horizontally at the top.

In the example shown, the spacing D of the opening device 2 along the conveyor 8<sb>1</sb>) is the distance (D) of the pavement (3) along the conveyor (9)<sb>2</sb>) different from, in particular less than; The term "gap" is used in the sense of the distance between the corresponding points of two adjacent opening devices 2 or two adjacent pavements 3 .

Conveyor wheel 10 has a path P<sb>1</sb>,P<sb>2</sb>), rotating continuously around a horizontal axis (A) perpendicular to the<sb>3</sb>) feed the opening device 2 along.

Conveyor wheel 10 includes wheel 18 of axis A; and a plurality of grip members 19 equally spaced about the axis A and fixed to the wheel 18 and projecting radially from the wheel 18 .

The unit 1 also includes a plurality of connecting assemblies 20 movably connecting individual gripping members 19 to the wheel 18 ; and a cam guide member 21 that changes the position of each grip member 19 relative to the wheel 18 as the wheel 18 rotates. Therefore, the path (P<sb>3</sb>) the spacing of the opening device 2 along the opening device 2 is adapted (described below) to the requirements of the particular operation to be performed on the opening device 2 , and the spacing D of the pavement 3 at the application station 12 .<sb>2</sb>) and can be adjusted as needed to make the same.

1 , 2 , 3 , 5 and 6 , the coupling assembly 20 extends radially about an axis A and is secured to and from the end surface 24 of the wheel 18 . a plurality of protruding guide members 23; and a plurality of slide members (25) slidably secured to individual guide members (23), each supporting a respective grip member (19).

In particular, the wheel 18 has a central disk-shaped portion 18a protruding around a plurality of radial projections 18b, each fixed to a separate member 23 .

Each grip member 19 is secured to a plate 26 , which, on the side opposite to the respective guide member 23 , is perpendicular to the plate 26 about a respective axis B parallel to the axis A. hinged to individual slide members (25).

Each gripping member 19 can therefore be translated with respect to the wheel 18 in a predetermined radial direction with respect to the axis A and centered on a respective axis B perpendicular to the radial direction incident to the radial direction. can vibrate with respect to the wheel 18 .

1, the guide member 21 is an idle cam follower roller fixed to each of the slide member 25 and plate 26 of the connecting assembly 20 of each grip member 19. ) (29,30) and includes two curved fixed cams (27,28) extending seamlessly about axis (A).

In particular, the cams 27 , 28 are defined by individual contoured grooves formed in a fixed vertical wall 33 located behind the wheel 18 with reference to FIG. 1 , or in particular opposite the wheel 18 . Located opposite the end surface of the end surface 24 . All parts of the cam 28 are positioned radially outside of the cam 27 .

The cam 27 controls the radial position of the grip member 19 relative to the axis A as the wheel 18 rotates, while the cam 28 controls the position of the grip member 19 and of the opening 2 . The orientation controls with respect to the radius of the wheels 18 to which they are fixed.

1, the grip member 19 and the aperture device 2 change their position relative to the wheel 18 as the wheel 18 rotates, thus changing their peripheral speed. The change of position between the pick-up station 11 and the application station 12 changes the spacing of the opening device 2 to the pavement 3 spacing D<sb>2</sb>) to adapt to

1 , 2 , 3 and 5 , each grip member 19 is a separate plate by means of a support frame 34 projecting from the plate 26 on the side opposite to the respective slide member 25 . (26) is fixed.

In particular, each frame 24 comprises a substantially L-shaped main body 35 in a plane perpendicular to a respective plate 26 , and a first plate portion 36 fixed parallel to the plate 26 . , and a second plate portion 37 , which projects vertically from the plate portion 36 , on the side opposite to the respective slide member 25 . Each frame 34 also has two pins 38 extending from the free end of the associated plate portion 37 facing the associated plate portion 36 in a direction parallel to the respective plate portion 36 . comprising; The fastening body 39 , which is fully fixed with the associated gripping member 19 , is slidably secured to the pin 38 , elastically, by means of a helical spring 40 coaxial with the individual pin 38 , the first It is loaded in the withdrawn operation position, ie at a minimum radial distance from the axis A with respect to the specific radial portion occupied by the associated sliding element 25 along the associated guiding element 23 .

In particular, the fastening body 39 of each frame 34 extends parallel to the associated plate 26 and the associated main body 35 , with the associated gripping member 19 proximate the associated plate portion 37 . a main plate portion 43 protruding on the opposite side; and an attachment 44 extending vertically from the end of the main portion 43 proximate the plate portion 37 and defining two through holes that are slidably engaged by individual pins 38 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pins 38 of each frame 34 extend through the associated appendages 44 , projecting from the appendages 44 and facing the associated main body 43 , respectively. It has a portion 46 . Each part is wound outwardly with a respective spring 40 embedded between the annular end shoulder 47 of the part 46 and the associated appendage 44 .

Cam follower rollers 48, on the side opposite to the associated main part 43, are fixed to the appendages 44 of each frame 34, projecting therefrom, and two It works jointly with a fixed cam 50 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) in a rolling manner.

2 and 5, cams 50 are positioned on opposite sides of wheel 18 to vertical walls 33 supporting cams 28 and 29, each with respect to axis A. and a top portion 53 extending radially outwardly and extending respectively oppositely inclined ramp portions 54 and 55 . Referring to the direction of rotation of the wheels 18 , the ramp portion 54 of each cam 5 is tilted upward towards the associated top portion 53 , and the ramp portion 55 is downwardly from the top portion 53 . inclined As each cam follower roller 48 rolls along each cam 50 , the associated grip member 19 first moves from the first retracted portion to the second advance motion portion, the top portion of the cam 50 . (53) is reached, after which it is returned to its original position.

In the second advanced operating position, each grip member 19 is positioned at a maximum radial distance from the axis A with respect to the radial position occupied by the associated slide member 25 along the associated guide member 23 . Pick-up and release of the opening device 2 by means of the grip member 19 are respectively performed in the second operating position.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, each grip member 19 is secured to and protrudes from the end of the main portion 43 of the associated fastening body 39 opposite the end at which the associated appendage 44 extends. a support body 56 being; and three jaws 57 , 58 , 59 projecting from the radially outermost side of the support body 56 with respect to the axis A and gripping the associated opening device 2 . One of the jaws 57 is fixed to the support body 56 , while the other two jaws 58 , 59 have respective axes perpendicular to the axis A and plate portion 37 of the associated frame 34 . Translate around C).

3 , when gripping the associated opening device 2 , the jaws 57 , 58 , 59 of the respective gripping member 19 are angled about the opening device 2 equally. are spaced apart

In particular, the jaws 58 , 59 of each grip member 19 are resiliently loaded into a closed position with the associated opening device 2 therebetween, which allow engagement and disengagement of the opening device 2 . It is selectively movable in the stations 11 and 12 to positions of the openings partitioned so as to

The movement of the jaws 58 and 59 of each grip member 19 is controlled by a lever-and-cam actuating mechanism 60 shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 . do.

The actuating mechanism (60) comprises two pins (61a, 61b) fixed in a rotational manner fixed axially through respective through-holes through holes in the support body (56) of the associated gripping member (19), the support Their opposite ends projecting from the body 56 are secured with respective interdigitated sector gears 62 and 63 and respective jaws 58 and 59 respectively. One of the sector gears 62 defines the end of a respective lever 64, the other end of which is two fixed cams (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) positioned respectively at stations 11 and 12. 66) and the idle cam follower roller 65 operating in a rolling manner.

Cams 66 are positioned on opposite sides of wheels 18 on vertical walls 33 supporting cams 28 and 29, each projecting towards wheel 18, and individually opposed inclined ramps. and a top portion 67 extending portions 68 and 69 . Referring to the direction of rotation of the wheel 18 , the ramp portion 68 of each cam 66 is tilted upward towards the associated top portion 67 , and the ramp portion 69 is downwardly from the top portion 67 . inclined

As each cam follower roller 65 rolls along a respective cam 66, the associated lever 64 is first rotated about the axis of the associated pin 61a so that the jaws 58 and 59 are simultaneously brought into the open position. As it moves, it reaches the top portion 67 and rotates in the opposite direction to return the jaws 58 and 59 to the closed position.

5 , 6 and 7 , the unit 1 also has a path P to hold them securely on the individual packaging 3 during complete adhesion.<sb>2</sb>) and a pressurizing device 70 acting on the opening device 2 of the individual station 12 along a portion of the .

The pressurizing device 70 has a path P<sb>2</sb>) and path (P<sb>1</sb>) the implied path between (P<sb>2</sb>A straight path parallel to ) (P<sb>4</sb>) and supply a plurality of pressing members 72 along the path P<sb>2</sb>), a known conveyor 71 (shown only partially). The pressing member 72 is a gap (D) of the packaging (3)<sb>2</sb>) and apply pressure on the individual opening devices 2 as soon as they are applied to the packaging 3 .

Each pressing member 72 includes a pin 73 for connecting with the conveyor 71; and two rocker arm levers 74,75 comprising a respective pair of arms 76,77 and 78,79 hinged to the pin 73 and arranged in the form of an axis X about the pin 73. substantially includes. In particular, the path (P<sb>4</sb>With reference to the direction in which the pressing member 72 moves along while defining respectively a pressing finger 80 acting on the opening device 2 and a cam follower roller 81 cooperating in a rolling manner with an associated fixed cam 82 ; The free ends of the arms 77 and 79, located downward from the respective pins 73 of the levers 74 and 75, contact the cam 82 and a helical spring 83 that retains the associated cam follower roller 81. Define individual seating surfaces for

6, the cam 82 includes a main portion 84 extending from the application station 12, which is straight and has a path P<sb>2</sb>,P<sb>4</sb>. The cam 82 also includes a ramp portion 85 that is inclined downward from the application station 12 from above to the package 3 , so as to move the pressing finger 80 of the pressing member 72 away from the package 3 . It is moved from the completely detached position to the position in contact with the opening device 2 applied to the package 3 .

The operation of the unit 1 , already partially evident from the above description, will now be described with reference to one opening device 2 and the moment the opening device already coated with adhesive moves through the pickup station 11 .

The grip member 19 for the individual opening device 2 is set in the best pick-up position by means of cam follower rollers 29,30 which interact with the respective cams 27,28, and also axis in response to a certain peripheral speed. It is set by the cam 27 to the desired radial position for (A). The peripheral speed of the grip member 19 at the pickup station 11 is preferably greater than the moving speed of the aperture device 2 in order to minimize the impact between the grip member 19 and the aperture device 2 .

Upon reaching the pick-up station 11 , the grip member 19 moves the path P of the opening device 2 to the second advanced operating position by means of its own cam follower roller 48 which interacts with the associated cam 50 .<sb>1</sb>), the jaws 58 and 59 are rotated into an open position by the cam follower roller 65 of the lever 64 cooperating with the associated cam 66 .

Thereafter, the jaws 58 , 59 of the gripping member 19 are closed against the associated opening device 2 and the gripping member is placed in the path P<sb>1</sb>) is retracted back to the first retracting operation position.

path (P<sb>3</sb>) and the speed of movement of the grip member 19 along the path P<sb>3</sb>), the space of the opening device 2 is made equal to the space of the pavement 3 .

Proximate to the application station 12 , the cam follower roller 48 of the grip member 19 interacts with the associated cam 50 to release the opening device 2 once placed on the individual packaging 3 . Rotate the jaws 58 and 59 to their open positions. The associated urging member 72 has its cam follower which interacts with the cam 82 in an open position taken in contact with the opening device 2 so that the urging fingers 80 hold them on the respective packaging 3 during adhesion. It is moved by the roller (81).

By means of some direct alternatives described below, the unit 1 can be converted into a unit 1 ( FIGS. 8-11 ) designed to work with different types of opening devices 2 , the unit 1 supplied differently.

8 and 9, the opening device 2' is flat, substantially rectangular, made of a thermoplastic material, and hinged. Each opening device 2' is secured to a wall 4 of a respective package 3 in a known manner and a peripheral frame 5' (only partially shown) defining a passage opening (not shown) for following the food product. ); and a cap 7' hinged to the frame 5' to close the opening.

The opening device 2' is in the illustrated example an annular path P by means of a rotary conveyor 8' operated in stages.<sb>1</sb>') to the unit 1'; Gap (D) of the pavement (3)<sb>2</sb>) and different spacing (D<sb>1</sb>') separated by; It requires a relatively small amount of adhesive compared to the case of the opening device 2 to adhere to the packaging 3 , which allows it to be easily coated with the adhesive using a direct coating roller 90 .

by the peripheral speed of the aperture device 2' on the wheel 18 controllable by means of cams 27 and 28, so that the aperture device 2' is coated with adhesive by sliding it through the coating roller 90. A path that travels at an appropriate constant speed (P<sb>3</sb>) can advantageously be formed, whereby the path is located directly on this side of the application station 12 , alongside the wheel 18 .

Therefore, unit 1 has a path P<sb>3</sb>), replace the grip member 19 with a grip member 19' designed to interact with the aperture device 2', and replace the actuating mechanism 60 with a suitable actuator. Substantially converted to unit 1' by replacing it with the aging mechanism 60'.

8-11, each gripping member 19' is substantially associated by including two movable jaws 91 and 92 for gripping opposite sides of the associated opening device 2'. different from the grip member 19 .

In particular, the grip member 19' comprises a substantially parallelepiped support body 93, which, like the support body 56, on the opposite side from which the associated appendage 44 protrudes, an associated fastening body ( 39) is fixed to the main body 43, and protrudes therefrom. Jaws 91 , 92 are defined by an elongated body, which extends along opposite sides of the support body 93 , proximate the associated appendage 44 , perpendicular to the axis A, and an associated frame 34 . a first end portion 94 hinged to the support body 93 about a respective axis D parallel to the plate portion 37 of and an opposing second end portion 95 positioned more radially outwardly with respect to the axis A in the form of a curved tip having a recess thereof.

11 , the jaws 91 and 92 are directed towards each other to define a closed position by a cylindrical helical spring 96 extending through the support body 93 in a direction parallel to the axis A. elastically loaded. The end portions 94 of the jaws 91 , 92 define individual sector gears that mesh with each other, one of which (the one defined by the jaws 91 ) having an associated axis in a direction opposite to the associated jaw 91 . It is integrally connected with a lever arm 97 extending from (D) and fixed to a cam follower roller 98, which operates jointly with two fixed cams 66' identical to the cams 66 in a rolling manner to provide individual It creates a partial rotational movement of the jaws 91 and 92 about the respective axis D into an open position that enables engagement and disengagement of the associated opening device 2' at the stations 11, 12.

The unit 1 operates in exactly the same way as the unit 1 , except that the opening device 2 slides on the coating roller 90 above the application station 12 , by which the coating roller 90 . The difference is that they are coated with an adhesive.

The advantages of the unit 1 , 1 according to the invention will become apparent from the above description.

In particular, the units 1 , 1 are very versatile and can operate differently than the opening devices 2 , 2 of different types only as an additional alternative. In fact, provided that the possibility of adjusting the speed of the grip members 19 , 19 as the wheel 18 rotates is provided, the interval D at which the opening device 2 and the packaging 3 are fed to the wheel conveyor 10 .<sb>1</sb>,D<sb>2</sb>) is not dependent, and any necessary operation can be performed as the opening device 2 , 2 is conveyed on the conveyor wheel 10 .

Interval D at which the opening device 2,2' and the packaging 3 are fed to the conveyor wheel 10 with continuous operation of the conveyor wheel 10<sb>1</sb>,D<sb>2</sb>) enables high output rates to be achieved.

In addition, controlling the speed and trajectory of the gripping members 19,19' by means of the cams 27,28 is the associated gripping member 19,19' and the opening device 2,2' at the pickup station 11. to minimize the impact between; For this purpose, it is preferred that the peripheral speed of the gripping elements 19 , 19 at the station 11 is greater than the speed at which the opening devices 2 , 2 are fed to the station 11 .

Finally, positioning the wheel 18 vertically, i.e. minimizing the space occupied by the units 1 , 1 as a whole with the horizontally located axis A, allows the operator to 1') to provide easy access to all component parts.

It is evident, however, that changes may be made in the unit 1 , 1 as described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

In particular, the opening devices 2 , 2 can be heat-sealed in individual packages 3 , wherein the adhesive coating action is jointly performed, for example, by the induced motion of the cams 27 , 28 and the rotation of the wheel 18 . The generated path (P<sb>3</sb>) or by a heating action carried out upwards of the wheel 18 .