Plant for packaging confectionary products in a sterile manner

Abstract

A plant for packaging confectionary products comprises: at least one first assembly for preparation of a first thermoformable strip; a forming assembly for making on the first strip at least one compartment for housing confectionary products; an assembly for supplying/dispensing a confectionary product in the aforesaid compartment; a second assembly for preparation of a second closing strip; a welding assembly for connecting together the first strip and the second strip and closing the confectionary product within the housing compartment; and a cutting assembly for cutting the strips and making at least one container; each forming part of a respective operating module that is independent of the other modules and coupled to the adjacent modules in a releasable way.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A plant for packaging confectionary products in a sterile manner, the plant comprising, arranged along a packaging path, at least one first sterilizing and heating assembly for a first thermo-formable strip, a forming assembly for making on said first strip at least one compartment for housing said confectionary products, a feeding assembly for feeding a confectionary product in said compartment, a second sterilizing and feeding assembly for feeding a second closing strip towards said first strip, a welding assembly for reciprocally connecting said strips and closing said confectionary product within said housing compartment, a cutting assembly for cutting said strips and making at least one sterile container, and a continuous sterile duct extending along said packaging path and adapted to contain a sterile gas, said duct being in common to said assemblies and being at least partially delimited by said strips; each said assembly forming part of a respective operating module which is independent from the other modules and releasably coupled to the adjacent modules; each said module comprises a respective supporting frame which is independent from the supporting frames of the other modules and is set alongside the adjacent supporting frame; the frames supporting respective operating means adapted to serve the specific function of said respective module and some of the frames themselves supporting a respective half-shell casing different from the other casings and connected to the adjacent casings by releasable gaskets; each said casing delimiting a respective length of said continuous sterile duct; each said frame supporting a respective flat resting surface different from the supporting surface defined by the other frames; said resting surfaces forming distinct segments of a sliding guide for said first strip. 
     
     
         13 . A plant according to  claim 12 , characterized in that each said half-shell casing comprises at least one side or upper wall having adjustable dimensions. 
     
     
         14 . A plant according to  claim 13 , characterized in that each said side wall is adjustable in a direction orthogonal to said packaging path. 
     
     
         15 . A plant according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said side wall of each said half-shell extends in a position facing and exclusively over said related resting surface. 
     
     
         16 . A plant according to  claim 12 , characterized in that it comprises releasable positioning means for arranging and maintaining each of said modules in a respective functional position determined along said packaging path. 
     
     
         17 . A plant according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said positioning means comprise, for each said module, a guide-and-slide assembly for moving each module along said packaging path independently from the other modules. 
     
     
         18 . A plant according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said assemblies comprise a fixed guide in common to all modules and parallel to said packaging path and, for each said module, a respective slide slidingly coupled to said common guide in opposite directions. 
     
     
         19 . A plant according to  claim 18 , characterized in that each said slide comprises at least one open seat to couple with said guide; said seat and said guide being reciprocally uncouplable in a vertical uncoupling direction orthogonal to said guide to allow the respective module to be moved away from said packaging path. 
     
     
         20 . A plant according to  claim 12 , characterized in that each said module comprises its own dedicated electronic control unit which is independent from the other electronic units; said plant further comprising a general electronic control unit for managing said dedicated electronic units. 
     
     
         21 . A plant according to  claim 12 , characterized in that each said module comprises its own hydraulic and/or pneumatic members for joining to hydraulic and/or pneumatic networks, respectively, which are independent from the hydraulic/pneumatic joining members of the other modules. 
     
     
         22 . A plant according to  claim 12 , characterized in that each said module is interchangeable with one or more other modules, which may be chosen from a plurality of modules having different constructional features and same functions.