Packaging assembly

Abstract

A packaging assembly, comprising a movement element arranged along a predefined path for an element to be packaged by a film made of polymeric material that arrives from a feeder. The packaging assembly comprises a station for folding the film onto the element, downstream of which there is a unit for heat-sealing the folded flaps of the film; the heat-sealing unit comprises at least one pair of heat-sealing elements, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to he predefined path and are functionally associated with respective actuation and control assemblies. The heat-sealing elements act, during the heat-sealing step, each along at least two mutually independent directions, performing heat-sealing on the elements to be packaged even in motion.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A packaging assembly, comprising movement means arranged along a predefined path for an element to be packaged by means of a film made of polymeric material that arrives from a feeder, said packaging assembly comprising a station for folding the film onto the element to be packaged, downstream of which there is a unit for heat-sealing the folded flaps of the film, said heat-sealing unit comprising at least one pair of heat-sealing elements, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to said predefined path and are functionally associated with respective actuation and control assemblies, said heat-sealing elements acting, during the heat-sealing step, each along at least two mutually independent directions, performing heat-sealing on the elements to be packaged even in motion. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said actuation and control assemblies comprises at least one pair of traction apparatuses, one of said apparatuses acting along a first direction, which is substantially transverse with respect to said predefined path, the other one of said apparatuses acting along a second direction that is substantially parallel to said predefined path. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control and management unit, which is provided with respective memory components and is associated with said actuation and control assemblies, operating sequences of said traction apparatuses being programmable on said memory components and transferable to said apparatuses, by means of said control and management unit, determining the spatial trajectory of said heat-sealing elements. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said folding station comprises a plurality of laminar elements that are arranged along the path of said film, the mutual coupling of the surfaces of said laminar elements defining a spatial configuration that is adapted to fold said film along a substantially tubular shape. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said movement means for moving the element to be packaged comprise an assembly for transporting the film, which is arranged substantially downstream of said folding station, said transport assembly having at least one surface portion that can move substantially parallel to said predefined path to subject to traction by friction said element to be packaged wrapped in said film, said element to be packaged wrapped in the film being interposed between said surface portion and an abutment. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said transport assembly comprises a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, said movable surface portion being constituted by said first conveyor belt and said abutment being constituted by said second conveyor belt. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said first conveyor belt and said second conveyor belt have respective guiding pulleys, first pulleys, which faces and is proximate to said heat-sealing element and is slidingly coupled thereto, being able to slide with respect to it along a direction that is substantially transverse to said predefined path. 
     
     
         17 . A packaging method using a packaging assembly according to  claim 10 , comprising a first step for feeding said movement means, which are arranged along said predefined path, with at least one element to be packaged, a second step for folding the film on the element to be packaged, in said folding station, along a substantially tubular shape, a third step for heat-sealing the folded flaps of the film by way of said heat-sealing unit, said third heat-sealing step consisting in performing a translational motion, along two mutually independent directions, of a pair of said heat-sealing elements. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging method according to  claim 17 , wherein said third heat-sealing step consists in performing the translational motion of said pair of said heat-sealing elements along a first direction that is substantially transverse to said predefined path, in order to heat-seal the folded flaps of the film, and along a second direction that is substantially parallel to said predefined path, in order to follow the advancement motion of the element during heat-sealing.