Machine for packaging long pasta

A machine for packaging long pasta, the machine being an intermittent filling machine, the machine comprising

• a storage space for storing elongated cardboard cartons kept in flat arrangement,
• a pre-opening area for opening the cartons,
• a carrier conveyor, provided with cradles for the open cartons, for forming and moving a line of cartons, the carrier conveyor including a deposition area where an open carton is deposited,
• a filling apparatus for filling the open cartons along said carrier conveyor,
• a rotor, on the periphery of which at least three planet devices are hinged for taking and releasing the cartons, adapted to rotate in coordinated fashion with the rotation of the rotor so as to arrive in said storage space to take a carton kept in flat arrangement and, subsequently, to arrive, with the taken carton, in the pre-opening area so as to deform the carton into a substantially rhombus shape, partially opening the carton, and then to release the carton on said deposition area, wherein the machine is so programmed as to implement two operative steps alternating each other over time, a first step of rotation of the rotor and contemporaneous forward movement of said carrier conveyor, and a second step where the rotation of the rotor and the forward movement of said carrier conveyor stop, wherein
• in the first step, said rotor is adapted to rotate for continuously depositing, on said carrier conveyor moving forwards, at least four open cartons in sequence,
• in the second step, when said rotor and the carrier conveyor have stopped, said filling apparatus is adapted to fill with long pasta at least four open cartons of the line of cartons arranged on the conveyor belt.