Apparatuses and methods for producing containers

Abstract

The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements.

1 - 161 . (canceled) 
     
     
         162 . Apparatus for producing containers, comprising a separating unit for separating containers from portions of sheet material and a control unit programmed to enable said separating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containers or discrete groups of containers. 
     
     
         163 . Apparatus according to  claim 162 , and further comprising a selecting device that is activatable by an operator to select a first operating condition wherein said separating unit processes a continuous strip of containers, or a second operating condition wherein said separating unit processes discrete groups of containers. 
     
     
         164 . Apparatus according to  claim 162 , and further comprising a connecting device that is activatable when said apparatus processes said continuous strip to connect said control unit to at least one of a control unit of a welding apparatus arranged upstream of said apparatus and a control unit of a forming apparatus arranged upstream of said welding apparatus. 
     
     
         165 . Apparatus according to  claim 164 , wherein said connecting device is selected from a group comprising an Ethernet network, a LAN network, and a wireless connection. 
     
     
         166 . Apparatus according to  claim 164 , wherein said control unit comprises a synchronizing device that is activatable when said apparatus processes said continuous strip for synchronizing said separating unit with at least one of said forming apparatus and said welding apparatus. 
     
     
         167 . Apparatus according to  claim 164 , wherein said control unit is programmed to exchange with at least one of the control unit of said forming apparatus and the control unit of said welding apparatus diagnostic information relating to possible fault conditions that occur in the corresponding apparatus when said apparatus processes said continuous strip. 
     
     
         168 . Apparatus according to  claim 164 , and further comprising a reporting device to report information on the operating status of said apparatus. 
     
     
         169 . Apparatus according to  claim 168 , wherein said reporting device comprises a screen, said control unit being programmed to display messages on said screen relating to fault conditions that occur in at least one of said separating unit, said forming apparatus and said welding apparatus when said apparatus processes said continuous strip. 
     
     
         170 . Apparatus according to  claim 164 , and further comprising at least one control pushbutton that is activatable by an operator to stop or start said apparatus. 
     
     
         171 . Apparatus according to  claim 170 , wherein said control unit is programmed to activate said control pushbutton to stop and start at least one of said forming apparatus and said welding apparatus when said apparatus processes said continuous strip. 
     
     
         172 . Apparatus according to  claim 170 , and further comprising a reporting device to report information on the operating status of said apparatus, said reporting device comprising at least a pilot lamp included in said control pushbutton. 
     
     
         173 . Apparatus according to  claim 162 , and further comprising a sensor element that is activated when said separating unit is operated to process a discrete group of containers in order to determine whether a subsequent discrete group of containers is present in a preset position upstream of said separating unit. 
     
     
         174 . Apparatus according to  claim 173 , wherein said sensor element is arranged upstream of said separating unit along a conveying device suitable for conveying said discrete groups of containers to said separating unit. 
     
     
         175 . Apparatus according to  claim 174 , wherein said sensor element comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, said first sensor being arranged downstream of said second sensor along said conveying device. 
     
     
         176 . Apparatus according to  claim 175 , wherein said first sensor is positioned at a distance from said second sensor, said distance being greater than a longitudinal dimension of said discrete groups of containers. 
     
     
         177 . Apparatus according to  claim 174 , wherein said control unit is programmed for activating said first sensor in a startup step of said apparatus, said first sensor detecting the presence of a first discrete group of containers that enters said apparatus. 
     
     
         178 . Apparatus according to  claim 175 , wherein said control unit is programmed for maintaining said second sensor activated during operation of said apparatus, said second sensor detecting the presence of successive discrete groups of containers that approach said separating unit. 
     
     
         179 . Apparatus according to  claim 175 , wherein said first sensor is positioned along said conveying device immediately upstream of said separating unit. 
     
     
         180 . Apparatus according to  claim 174 , and further comprising a stopping device arranged along said conveying arrangement and operable by said control unit to stop said discrete groups of containers in a preset position. 
     
     
         181 . Apparatus according to  claim 180 , wherein said stopping device comprises a stopping element and an actuator device for moving said stopping element between a stopping position wherein said stopping element stops said discrete groups and a passage position wherein said stopping element enables said discrete groups to pass. 
     
     
         182 . Apparatus according to  claim 181 , wherein a second sensor is arranged upstream of said stopping device along said conveying device and said control unit is programmed to move said stopping element to the stopping position when said second sensor detects the absence of discrete groups. 
     
     
         183 . Apparatus according to  claim 181 , wherein said actuator device comprises an actuator cylinder and said stopping element is a stem of said actuator cylinder. 
     
     
         184 . Apparatus according to  claim 183 , wherein said actuator cylinder is positioned above said conveying device. 
     
     
         185 . Apparatus according to  claim 180 , wherein said stopping arrangement comprises a first stopping element and a second stopping element, said first stopping element being arranged along said conveying device upstream of said second stopping element. 
     
     
         186 . Apparatus according to  claim 185 , wherein said sensor element comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, said first sensor being arranged downstream of said second sensor along said conveying device and wherein said first sensor is arranged along said conveying device downstream of said first stopping element. 
     
     
         187 . Apparatus according to  claim 186 , wherein said control unit is programmed and said first stopping element enables said discrete groups to pass after said first sensor has detected the presence of a first discrete group of containers that enters said apparatus. 
     
     
         188 . Apparatus according to  claim 186 , wherein said control unit is programmed to position said second stopping element to immobilize the passage of discrete groups of containers when said second sensor detects the absence of discrete groups of containers. 
     
     
         189 . Apparatus according to  claim 162 , and further comprising a conveying device for conveying collecting trays suitable for receiving said containers to said separating unit. 
     
     
         190 . Apparatus according to  claim 189 , wherein said conveying device comprises a reference device to position said collecting trays in a preset position with respect to said separating unit, each container being received in a corresponding seat of said collecting tray. 
     
     
         191 . Apparatus according to  claim 190 , wherein said reference arrangement comprises a reference element projecting from said conveying device, said collecting trays abutting on said reference element. 
     
     
         192 . Apparatus according to  claim 191 , wherein said reference element is an elongated element extending transversely to a conveying direction along which said conveying device is movable. 
     
     
         193 . Apparatus according to  claim 192 , wherein said elongated element is arranged perpendicularly to said conveying direction. 
     
     
         194 . Apparatus according to  claim 191 , and further comprising a plurality of reference elements mounted on said conveying device, a space being defined between two consecutive reference elements for receiving a collecting tray. 
     
     
         195 . Apparatus according to  claim 191 , wherein said reference device comprises a detecting device for detecting the passage of said reference element. 
     
     
         196 . Apparatus according to  claim 195 , wherein said detecting device is connected to said control unit programmed for regulating the position of said conveying device as a function of the signal received by said detecting device. 
     
     
         197 . Apparatus according to  claim 189 , wherein said conveying device is positioned below said separating unit. 
     
     
         198 . Apparatus according to  claim 189 , and further comprising a delivery element for delivering the separate containers in said separating unit to said collecting trays. 
     
     
         199 . Apparatus according to  claim 198 , wherein said delivery element comprises a retaining member for retaining said containers while said containers are transferred from said separating unit to said collecting trays. 
     
     
         200 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said retaining member comprises at least a suction cup. 
     
     
         201 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said delivery element comprises a rod having an end, said retaining member being connected with said rod end. 
     
     
         202 . Apparatus according to  claim 198 , wherein said delivery element is movable between a retracted position above said sheet material and an extended position immediately above a collecting tray. 
     
     
         203 . Apparatus according to  claim 198 , wherein said separating unit comprises an upper half mold supporting shearing elements and a lower half mold, said lower half mold being provided with at least a through opening for the passage of a container moved by said delivery element.