Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/24—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for shaping or reshaping completed packages
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
  • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
  • B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/18—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by collapsing mouth portion and subsequently folding-down or securing flaps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
  • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
  • B65B9/207—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web advancing continuously
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
  • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a folding apparatus for forming finalized packages of a pourable product from semi-finalized packs of the pourable product.
• the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging a pourable product, preferentially a pourable food product, into finalized packages and having a folding apparatus for folding semi-finalized packs into the finalized packages.
• the present invention also relates to a method for forming finalized packages of a pourable product from semi-finalized packs of the pourable product.
• liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
• UHT ultra-high-temperature treated milk
• wine tomato sauce
• etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
• a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated packaging material.
• the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
• the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
• Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines.
• packaging machines that advance a web of packaging material through a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the web of packaging material and into an isolation chamber in which the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced.
• the web of packaging material is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, the tube being further fed along an (vertical) advancing direction.
• the tube is filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and is transversally sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections during advancement along the advancing direction. Pillow packs are so obtained.
• These pillow packs define sealed semi-finalized packs having each a central main body, two sealing fins resulting from transversally sealing and cutting the tube and protruding from the respective central main body and a plurality of flaps laterally protruding from the central main body.
• the pillow packs are further formed and the sealing fins and the flaps are folded and sealed onto the respective central main bodies.
• a typical packaging machine of this type comprises:
• a type of folding apparatus that comprises a plurality of retaining pockets configured to retain the semi-finalized packs and a conveying device configured to advance the retaining pockets along an endless path and through a receiving station, at which the semi-finalized packs are fed into the retaining pockets, and a release station, at which the finalized packages are released.
• the retaining pockets are defined by plates, which are advanced along the endless path.
• the endless path comprises an operative portion extending between the receiving station and the release station and having a linear shape.
• the folding apparatus also comprises a flap folding device configured to partially fold the flaps and sealing fins towards the respective central main bodies and a bonding device configured to bond the flaps onto the respective central main bodies.
• the flap folding device and the bonding device are displaced from one another along the operative portion such that the flap folding devices and the bonding device manipulate the semi-finalized packs while they advance along the operative portion.
• the endless path also comprises a return portion having two connecting sections and one linear section (interposed between the two connecting sections) extending between the release station and the receiving station.
• Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing finalized packages 2, preferentially sealed finalized packages 2, of a pourable product, preferentially a pourable food product such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, yoghurt, milk drinks, yoghurt drinks, emulsions, beverages with pulp, salt, sugar and the like.
• a pourable food product such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, yoghurt, milk drinks, yoghurt drinks, emulsions, beverages with pulp, salt, sugar and the like.
• finalized packages 2 are formed from a multilayer packaging material. Even more preferentially, finalized packages 2 may be formed from a web of packaging material 3.
• the multilayer packaging material may comprise at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.
• a layer of fibrous material such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer
• heat-seal plastic material e.g. polyethylene
• the multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3 may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, preferentially being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.
• the multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3 may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
• each finalized package 2 may extend along a longitudinal axis, and preferentially may have a longitudinal seam portion (extending along the respective longitudinal axis) and a pair of transversal sealing fins, preferentially a transversal top sealing fin and a transversal bottom sealing fin.
• each finalized package 2 may have a substantially parallelepiped structure.
• each finalized package 2 may comprise at least a first end portion and a second end portion arranged at opposite sides of finalized package 2 and an intermediate portion interposed between the first end portion and the second end portion.
• each first end portion may define a top of the respective finalized package 2 and each second end portion may define a bottom of the respective finalized package 2.
• each first end portion and each second end portion may comprise at least one respective transversal wall (being transversal to the respective longitudinal axis of the respective finalized package 2).
• each intermediate portion may comprise and/or define a side wall, e.g. formed from a plurality of interconnected side wall portions, extending between the respective transversal walls.
• each first end portion may define a top wall and the respective transversal wall of each second end portion may define a bottom wall.
• the bottom wall may have a support surface adapted to be placed on a (horizontal) plane, such as e.g. a shelf within a distribution point, and the top wall may be opposite to the bottom wall.
• each finalized package 2 may also comprise an opening device, such as a closure or a lid.
• each opening device may be applied to the respective multilayer packaging material, preferentially web of packaging material 3, or onto semi-finalized packs 5 (which will be described in more detail in the following) or onto finalized packages 2.
• each opening device may be provided on the respective second end portion, preferentially the respective transversal wall defining the respective top wall.
• packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce (sealed) semi-finalized packs 5, such as e.g. pillow packs, being filled with the pourable product and to further treat and/or manipulate and/or form semi-finalized packs 5 for obtaining finalized packages 2.
• semi-finalized packs 5 such as e.g. pillow packs
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may extend along a respective longitudinal axis A, and preferentially may comprise a longitudinal sealing band 6 (extending along and/or being parallel to longitudinal axis A).
• Each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise a central main body 8, one or more flaps 9 protruding away, preferentially laterally protruding away, from the respective central main body 8 and one or more transversal sealing fins 10, preferentially transversal to longitudinal axis A.
• each sealing fin 10 and each flap 9 may be arranged at a respective end portion of the respective semi-finalized pack 5. In even further detail, each sealing fin 10 and each flap 9 may result from transversally sealing the respective semi-finalized pack 5.
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise at least two transversal sealing fins 10, preferentially transversal to longitudinal axis A, and two pairs of flaps 9, each pair being associated with one respective sealing fin 10.
• each flap 9 carries a portion of the respective sealing fin 10.
• each pair of flaps 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 are arranged at a respective end portion of the respective semi-finalized pack 5.
• one pair of flaps 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 of each semi-finalized pack 5 are arranged at a first end portion 11 of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 and the other pair of flaps 9, and in particular the respective sealing fin 10 of each semi-finalized pack 5 are arranged at a second end portion 12 of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 opposite to the respective first end portion 11.
• each first end portion 11 corresponds to the respective first end portion of the respective package 2 and each second end portion 12 corresponds to the respective second end portion of the respective package 2.
• each sealing fin 10 may define a respective transversal sealing fin of the respective finalized package 2 (obtained from the respective semi-finalized pack 5).
• each sealing fin 10 may protrude from the respective central main body 8 along a direction parallel to the respective longitudinal axis A.
• Each longitudinal sealing band 6 may define a corresponding longitudinal seam portion of the respective finalized package 2 (obtained from the respective semi-finalized pack 5).
• each end portion in particular each first end portion 11 and each second end portion 12, may taper from the respective central main body 8 to and/or into the respective sealing fin 10 and the respective flaps 9.
• each flap 9 and the respective sealing fin 10 are connected to one another.
• each semi-finalized pack 5 may comprise the respective first end portion 11, the respective second end portion 12 and an intermediate portion interposed between first end portion 11 and second end portion 12.
• packaging machine 1 may comprise at least:
• forming apparatus 15 may comprise:
• each sealing fin 10 may result from transversally sealing and cutting tube 19.
• the pack forming unit may be arranged downstream of isolation chamber 17 and tube forming and sealing device 20 along tube advancement path Q.
• tube 19 may extend along a longitudinal axis, preferentially having a vertical orientation.
• packaging machine 1 may further comprise a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion of web of packaging material 3 at a sterilization station arranged upstream of the tube forming station along web advancement path P.
• filling device 21 may comprise at least a filling pipe 22 being in fluid connection or being controllable to be in fluid connection with a pourable product storage tank (not shown and known as such) and being, in use, partially placed within tube 19 for feeding the pourable product into the, in use, advancing tube 19.
• the pack forming unit may comprise:
• each operative assembly may be configured to cooperate, in use, with the respective counter-operative assembly of the respective pair for forming, transversally sealing, and preferentially also transversally cutting, tube 19 for obtaining one respective semi-finalized pack 5, in particular when, in use, advancing along a respective operative portion of the respective conveying path.
• folding apparatus 16 is configured to form finalized packages 2 from the respective semi-finalized packs 5.
• folding apparatus 16 is, more specifically also forming apparatus 15 is, arranged on and/or arrangeable on a support surface, in particular a horizontal support surface.
• the support surface can be a floor of a production hall and/or a base structure placed within a production hall may comprise the support surface.
• folding apparatus 16 comprises:
• finalized packages 2 are formed from semi-finalized packs 5 by interaction of manipulation assembly 34 with semi-finalized packs 5 while semi-finalized packs 5 advance, in use, between receiving station 32 and release station 33 and through manipulation assembly 34.
• semi-finalized packs 5 advance together with the respective retaining pockets 30 from receiving station 32 to release station 33.
• folding apparatus 16 may also comprise an infeed conveyor configured to feed semi-finalized packs 5 to receiving station 32 and into retaining pockets 30. More specifically, the infeed conveyor may be configured to receive semi-finalized packs 5 from forming apparatus 15 and to feed semi-finalized packs 5 to receiving station 32.
• the infeed conveyor may be interposed between folding apparatus 16, in particular conveying device 31, and forming apparatus 15.
• folding apparatus 16 may also comprise an outfeed conveyor 35 configured to receive finalized packages 2 at release station 33, and more specifically being configured to advance finalized packages 2 along a further path and towards secondary packaging apparatuses such as palletizers, wrappers, or the like.
• conveying device 31 is arranged such that endless path R comprises a main portion R1 extending between receiving station 32 and release station 33, in particular from receiving station 32 to release station 33.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured to manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 during advancement of semi-finalized packs 5 along main portion R1.
• main portion R1 comprises a first operative section R1a, a second operative section R1b and a connecting section R1c, in particular a curved connecting section R1c, connecting first operative section R1a and second operative section R1b with one another.
• first operative section R1a may extend from receiving station 32 to connecting section R1c and second operative section R1b may extend from connecting section R1c to release station 33.
• second operative section R1b is arranged downstream of first operative section R1a along endless path R.
• endless path R may also comprise a return portion R2, in particular a curved return portion R2, connecting second operative section R1b with first operative section R1a.
• retaining pockets 30 are empty when moving along return portion R2 and are ready to receive a new semi-finalized pack 5.
• return portion R2 extends from release station 33 to receiving station 32.
• endless path R has an oval-like shape.
• first operative section R1a and of second operative section R1b Preferentially but not necessarily, at least parts of first operative section R1a and of second operative section R1b have a rectilinear shape. More preferentially, first operative section R1a and second operative section R1b are rectilinear.
• each retaining pocket is defined by a couple of plates 40 delimiting a retaining space 42 of the respective retaining pocket 30.
• semi-finalized packs 5 and/or finalized packages 2 are positioned within the respective retaining spaces 42 during advancement between receiving station 32 and release station 33.
• plates 40 are coupled to conveying device 31.
• conveying device 31 is configured to advance plates 40 along endless path R so as to advance retaining pockets 30 (and therewith also retaining spaces 42) along endless path R.
• each retaining pocket 30 comprises an inlet opening 43 allowing introduction of semi-finalized packs 5 into and removal of finalized packages 2 from the respective retaining pocket 30.
• each inlet opening 43 is configured to allow for the placement of semi-finalized packs 5 into the respective retaining pocket 30 at receiving station 32 and removal of finalized packages 2 from the respective retaining pocket 30 at release station 33.
• each retaining pocket 30 comprises a base 44 opposite to inlet opening 43.
• semi-finalized packs 5 enter with the respective first end portion 11 into retaining pockets 30.
• first end portion 11 of each semi-finalized pack 5 enters into the respective retaining pocket 30 before the respective second end portion 12. Then, in use, each first end portion 11 abuts against the respective base 44.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured to manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 when, in use, advancing along first operative section R1a and when, in use, advancing along second operative section R1b.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured not to actively manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 when, in use, semi-finalized packs 5 advance along connection section R1c.
• manipulation assembly 34 is configured to execute at least one manipulation step on semi-finalized packs 5 when, in use, semi-finalized packs 5 advance along first operative section R1a and to execute at least another manipulation step on semi-finalized packs 5 when, in use, semi-finalized packs 5 advance along second operative section R1b.
• manipulation assembly 34 comprises a plurality of manipulation devices, each one configured to execute, in use, at least one respective manipulation step on semi-finalized packs 5 at a respective manipulation station.
• At least one manipulation station is arranged along first operative section R1a and at least one manipulation station is arranged along second operative section R1b.
• manipulation assembly 34 comprises at least:
• each folding device and bonding device 45 comprises a respective manipulation device, in particular being configured to manipulate semi-finalized packs 5 at a respective manipulation station.
• each folding device is arranged such to partially fold the respective flaps 9 and/or the respective sealing fin 10 while the respective semi-finalized pack 5 advances, in use, along first operative section R1a.
• a first folding device 46 is configured to partially fold the respective pair of flaps 9 and/or the respective sealing fin 10 protruding from the respective first end portion 11.
• a second folding device 47 is configured to partially fold the respective pair of flaps 9 and/or the respective sealing fin 10 protruding from the respective second end portion 12.
• bonding device 45 is configured to bond flaps 9 onto the respective central main body 8 while the respective semi-finalized pack 5 advances, in use, along second operative section Rlb.
• folding apparatus 16 also comprises one or more retaining structures 48 at least partially arranged along connecting section R1c and configured to maintain flaps 9 and/or sealing fins 10 in, respectively, the respective partially bent position and the respective partially folded position during advancement of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 along connecting section R1c.
• retaining structures 48 do not have any active manipulative role on semi-finalized packs 5 but a substantially passive role by maintaining the position of flaps 9 and/or sealing fins 10 as defined by the respective folding device (i.e. the respective first folding device 46 and the respective second folding device 47).
• bonding device 45 comprises a heating unit configured to heat flaps 9 and a pressing unit configured to press the heated flaps 9 onto the respective central main bodies 8.
• bonding device 45 comprises a first bonding portion configured to bond the respective flaps 9 protruding from the respective first end portion 11 of each semi-finalized pack 5 onto the respective central main body 8 and a second bonding portion configured to bond the respective flaps 9 protruding form the second end portion 12 of each semi-finalized pack 5 onto the respective central main body 8.
• the heating unit comprises first heating means being part of the first bonding portion of bonding device 45 and being configured to heat the flaps 9 of the respective first end portion 11 of each semi-finalized pack 5 and second heating means being part of the second bonding portion of bonding device 45 and being configured to heat the flaps 9 of the respective second end portion 12 of each semi-finalized pack 5.
• the pressing unit comprises a first pressing group being part of the first bonding portion of bonding device 45 and being configured to press flaps 9 of the respective first end portion 11 of each semi-finalized pack 5 onto the respective central main body 8 and a second pressing group being part of the second bonding portion of bonding device 45 and being configured to press the flaps 9 of the respective second end portion 12 of each semi-finalized pack 5 onto the respective central main body 8.
• first heating means, the second heating means, the first pressing group and the second pressing group are arranged along respective zones of second operative section R1b.
• first folding device 46 comprises a pair of folding guides 49 arranged at receiving station 32 and being configured to interact with the respective sealing fins 10 and/or flaps 9 of semi-finalized packs 5 extending from the respective first end portion 11 during placement of the respective semi-finalized pack 5 within the respective retaining pocket 30.
• folding guides 49 are configured to at least partially fold sealing fins 10.
• Folding guides 49 are arranged at opposite lateral sides of the respective retaining pocket 30 being, in use, at the receiving station 32. In other words, folding guides 49 are arranged such that retaining pockets 30 are interposed between folding guides 49 when advancing along endless path R and when being at receiving station 32.
• folding guides 49 delimit a space through which at least portions of retaining pockets 30 advance during advancement along endless path R and at receiving station 32.
• semi-finalized packs 5 in particular the respective sealing fins 10, start to interact with folding guides 49 prior to abutting against the respective base 44.
• folding guides 49 allow to guide folding of sealing fins 10, in particular in a direction of advancement of semi-finalized packs 5, in particular in a gentle manner. In other words, folding guides 49 guide folding of sealing fins 10 in a forward direction.
• sealing fins 10 slide on folding guides 49.
• each folding guide 49 comprises a guide surface 50 configured to guide, in use, folding of sealing fins 10, in particular in the direction of advancement of semi-finalized packs 5.
• each guide surface 50 comprises a first guide portion 51 and a second guide portion 52 extending from first guide portion 51.
• Each first guide portion 51 is inclined with respect to the respective second guide portion 52.
• Each first guide portion 51 and the respective second guide portion 52 are arranged such that during placement of semi-finalized packs 5 into retaining pockets 30 the respective sealing fins 10 of the respective first end portion 11 enter into contact at first with the respective first guide portion 51 and then, during further placement of the semi-finalized packs 5 into the respective retaining pocket 30, with the respective second guide portion 52.
• each first guide portion 51 is arranged such that sealing fins 11 enter at first into contact with first guide portion 51 and only after having slid along a part of first guide portion 51 with the respective base 44.
• the Applicant has observed that by having folding guides 49 it is possible to gently fold sealing fins 10. Moreover, by having first guide portions 51 it is possible to start folding sealing fins 10 prior to sealing fins 10 abutting against the respective bases 44.
• folding guides 49 are parallel to one another.
• folding guides 49 are symmetrically arranged with respect to a symmetry plane, in particular the symmetry plane comprises endless path R and is interposed between, and centered with respect to, folding guides 49.
• each first guide portion 51 extends along an extension direction towards the respective inlet opening 43 of the respective retaining pocket 30, the respective retaining pocket 30 being, in use, at receiving station 32.
• each first guide portion 51 is closer to the respective inlet opening 43 of the respective retaining pocket 30 being at receiving station 32 than the respective second guide portion 52.
• each second guide portion 52 is arranged such that sealing fins 10 are temporarily in contact with the respective base 44 and a portion of the second guide portions 52.
• each second guide portion 52 comprises a transition section 53 being in contact and extending from the respective first guide portion 51.
• each transition section 53 is curved.
• each second guide portion 52 comprises a main section 54 extending from the respective transition section 53.
• Each transition section 53 defines a depression point.
• folding guides 49 are void of any movable part. Hence, folding guides 49 come along with a simple design.
• folding guides 49 do not execute any movement.
• each folding guide 49 is made in a single piece.
• folding apparatus 16 also comprises a carrier structure 55.
• Folding guides 49 are fixed to carrier structure 55.
• first folding device 46 further comprises a pair of limiting elements 56, in particular a pair of rollers, each one associated to and spaced apart from one respective folding guide 49 and arranged such that, in use, one respective flap 9 is interposed between the respective limiting element 56 and the respective folding guide 49.
• limiting elements 56 are arranged (similar to folding guides 49) at opposite lateral sides of the respective retaining pocket 30 being arranged at receiving station 32.
• each limiting element 56 is mounted, in particular rotatably mounted, to carrier structure 55.
• limiting elements 56 By having limiting elements 56 an optimized folding of sealing fin 10 is guaranteed as limiting elements 56 impede folding of flaps 9, which at this process step would hinder a correct folding of the respective sealing fin 10. This is due to the fact that limiting elements 56 hinder a movement of semi-finalized packs 5 away from base 44.
• conveying device 31 comprises a conveyor chain carrying plates 40 and an actuation device configured to advance the conveyor chain along a further endless path (parallel to endless path R) so as to advance retaining pockets 30 along endless path R.
• conveying device 31 comprises two gear wheels spaced apart from one another.
• the conveying chain is arranged about the two gear wheels and the actuation device is connected to at least one gear wheel and is configured to acuate a rotation of the at least one gear wheel, thereby also actuating advancement of the conveying chain.
• packaging machine 1 forms finalized packages 2 filled with the pourable product.
• the method for forming finalized packages 2 comprises the main steps of:
• the main step of forming semi-finalized packs 5 comprises at least the steps of:
• the step of forming may also comprise the step of sterilizing web of packaging material 3 at the sterilization station.
• step of folding semi-finalized packs 5 comprises the sub-steps of:
• At least one manipulation step is executed on semi-finalized packs 5 when advancing along first operative section R1a and at least another manipulation step is executed on semi-finalized packs 5 when advancing along second operative section R1b.
• semi-finalized packs 5 enter the respective receiving pocket 30 through the respective inlet opening 43.
• the respective first end portion 11 enters the respective receiving pocket 30, in particular moving towards the respective base 44.
• the respective sealing fins 10 Prior to reaching base 44, the respective sealing fins 10 start to interact with folding guides 49, and only afterwards sealing fins 10 abut against the respective base 44.
• sealing fins 10 slide on first guide portions 51 and then on second guide portion 52. Moreover, sealing fins 10 only start to abut against base 44, after having slid on at least a portion of first guide portions 51.
• flaps 9 and/or sealing fins 10 are partially folded by operation of the respective folding device while the respective semi-finalized packs 5 advance along first operative section R1a and flaps 9 are bond onto the respective central main bodies 8 during advancement of the respective semi-finalized packs 5 along second operative section R1b.
• limiting elements 56 contribute to further improve folding of sealing fins 10.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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ID=92106913

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

• 2025
  • 2025-05-22 WO PCT/EP2025/064168 patent/WO2025247747A1/fr active Pending
  • 2025-05-22 EP EP25178251.2A patent/EP4656535A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

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