Packaging machine and method of packaging products

Abstract

A packaging machine ( 1 ) comprises a device for the formation of a tube ( 5 ) of wrap material into which a succession of products ( 6 ) can be inserted; a sealing device ( 7 ) being active on said tube ( 5 ) to make a succession of seals ( 23 ) transverse to the direction of advancement “A” of tube ( 5 ) and to define a corresponding succession of pockets ( 11 ) for holding the products ( 6 ); an air-removing device ( 13 ) being active on each pocket ( 11 ) in correspondence of a respective aperture ( 25 ) to produce a vacuum inside each pocket ( 11 ); an additional sealing device ( 22 ) operatively located at least in correspondence of the air-removing device ( 13 ) for isolating said aperture ( 25 ) and hermetically sealing the pocket ( 11 ).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Packaging machine having a device for the formation of a tube of wrap material into which a succession of products can be inserted; a sealing device being active on said tube to make a succession of seals transverse to the direction of advancement “A” of tube and to define a corresponding succession of pockets for holding the products; an air-removing device being active on each pocket in correspondence of a respective aperture to produce a vacuum inside each pocket; an additional sealing device operatively located at least in correspondence of the air-removing device for isolating said aperture and hermetically sealing the pocket, said machine comprising a blocking element, operatively located between the sealing device and the air-removing device; said blocking element being activable on said tube to retain it and hermetically isolate the pocket holding the product, said air-removing device being further active when said blocking element is active on tube. 
     
     
         17 . Machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said blocking element comprises a press movable away from and close to said tube for commuting between an operation configuration, in which said press engages said tube for isolating said pocket, and a release configuration in which said press is clear of said tube. 
     
     
         18 . Machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said additional sealing device comprises a welder movable away from and close to said tube when said press is in operation configuration, said tube being, at least in part, made up of a thermoweldable material. 
     
     
         19 . Machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said air-removing device comprises a hollow needle to pierce each pocket and to define said aperture, and a suction member connected to the needle for removing the air from said pocket. 
     
     
         20 . Machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising a work plane which is inclined with respect to a reference direction, said sealing device and said additional sealing device being active in correspondence of said work plane. 
     
     
         21 . Machine according to  claim 20 , further comprising means for adjusting the work plane to change an angle of inclination of said work plane with respect to the reference direction. 
     
     
         22 . Machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said sealing device and said additional sealing device comprise an upper welding bar and a lower welding bar movable close to and away from to each other to carry out said transverse seal on said tube. 
     
     
         23 . Method of packaging products, comprising the steps of a) predisposing a tube of warp material; b) carrying out a succession of transverse seals on said tube to define a corresponding succession of pockets therein; c) inserting a product into each pocket; perforating each pocket to define an aperture; d) removing air from each pocket through the respective aperture; e) forming an additional seal on said pocket to isolate said aperture f) hermetically sealing the pocket and g) hermetically isolating the pocket holding the product; said step of removing air from said pocket being carried out during the step of hermetic isolation of pocket. 
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein said step of forming an additional seal on said pocket is carried out during the step of hermetic isolation of pocket. 
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 24 , wherein said step of forming an additional seal on said pocket terminates during the step of hermetic isolation of pocket. 
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein said step of forming an additional seal on said pocket is carried out subsequently to the step of removing air from said pocket. 
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein a step of forming a transverse seal on said tube is carried out subsequently to the step of forming an additional seal on said pocket. 
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein a step of forming a succession of seals and said step of forming an additional seal on said pocket are carried out by thermowelding.