Apparatus and methods for packaging a product

Abstract

A packaging machine having a sealing member that acts on a product wrapped by a lower film and an upper film, and which seals or closes the films to each other around the product in order to vacuum-package said product between both films, and control means for causing the sealing member to move in order to package the product. The sealing member defines at least one inner space where the product to be vacuum-packaged is disposed wrapped at least partially by the two films. According to one implementation the sealing member includes at least one longitudinal first wall, a longitudinal second wall and a transverse wall between which the inner space is defined, and an unobstructed opening facing the transverse wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging machine adapted to transport a product in a distal direction and to wrap the product between a lower film and an upper film, the packaging machine comprising a sealing member having a bottom surface that is adapted to act on the upper and lower films to bond the upper and lower films together, the sealing member comprising an inner space defined by a first longitudinal wall, a second longitudinal wall and a transverse wall disposed between the first and second longitudinal walls, a distal end of the inner space comprising an unobstructed distal opening located between the first and second longitudinal walls and facing the transverse wall, the sealing member being devoid of any structure distal to the distal opening that lies transverse to the distal opening, the bottom surface of the sealing member defined by a bottom face or edge of the first longitudinal wall, second longitudinal wall and transverse wall. 
     
     
         2 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse wall is moveable in relation to the first and second longitudinal walls, the packaging machine further comprising a controller that controls the movement of the transverse wall according to the length of the product. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sealing member comprises a seal between each of the first and second longitudinal walls and the transverse wall, each of the seals being attached to and moveable with the transverse wall. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging machine according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the seals is adapted to be enlarged or inflated to effectuate an airtight seal between the transverse wall and the first and second longitudinal walls. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging machine according to  4 , further comprising a controller that controls the movement of the transverse wall according to the length of the product, the controller adapted to control the enlargement or inflation of the seals subsequent to the control of the movement of the transverse wall according to the length of the product. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises an upper member that covers at least an upper part of the inner space, the upper member adapted to a shape of the product to be packaged. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a first detector in communication with a controller, the first detector adapted to detect at least the length of the product to be packaged before the product assumes a position within the inner space of the sealing member. 
     
     
         8 . A packaging machine according to  claim 7 , comprising a sealing station where the sealing member is disposed, the packaging machine comprising a transporter that transports the product to the sealing station in the distal direction, the sealing member positioned in the machine with freedom of vertical movement, the sealing member being moveable vertically between a rest position and a bonding position, the bonding position corresponding to a position where the bottom surface of the seal member places the upper film into contact with the lower film in a manner to effectuate a bond between the upper and lower films, the rest position corresponding to a position where the bottom surface of the seal member is spaced a distance above the lower film, the controller adapted to cause a vertical movement of the sealing member and to cause the actuation of the transporter according to the length of the product detected by the first detector. 
     
     
         9 . A packaging machine according to  claim 7 , comprising a sealing station where the sealing member is disposed, the packaging machine comprising a transporter that transports the product to the sealing station in the distal direction, the sealing member positioned in the machine with freedom of vertical and horizontal movement, the sealing member being moveable vertically and horizontally between a rest position and a bonding position, the bonding position corresponding to a position where the bottom surface of the seal member places the upper film into contact with the lower film to effectuate a bond between the upper and lower films, the rest position corresponding to a position where the bottom surface of the seal member is spaced a distance above the lower film, the controller adapted to cause a vertical and horizontal movement of the sealing member and to cause the actuation of the transporter according to the length of the product detected by the first detector. 
     
     
         10 . A packaging machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising a cutting station located distal to the sealing station, the cutting station comprising a cutter adapted to cut the upper and lower films which exceed from a packaged product, the first detector adapted to detect the shape of the contour of the packaged product or of the product prior to being packaged, and the controller being adapted to act on the cutter to cause the cutter to cut the upper and lower films that exceed around the corresponding product according to the detected shape of the contour of the product. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising a cutting station located distal to the sealing station, the cutting station comprising a cutter adapted to cut the upper and lower films which exceed from a packaged product, a second detector adapted to detect the shape of the contour of the packaged product or of the product prior to being packaged, and the controller being adapted to act on the cutter to cause the cutter to cut the upper and lower films that exceed around the corresponding product according to the detected shape of the contour of the product. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging machine adapted to transport one or more products in a distal direction and to wrap the one or more products between a lower film and an upper film, the packaging machine comprising a sealing member having a bottom surface that is adapted to act on the upper and lower films to bond the upper and lower films together, the sealing member comprising a first inner space and a second inner space disposed in series in relation to the distal direction, the first inner space defined by a proximal portion of a first longitudinal wall, a proximal portion of a second longitudinal wall, and distal and proximal transverse spaced-apart walls that are disposed between the first and second longitudinal walls, the second inner space defined by a distal portion of the first longitudinal wall, a distal portion of the second longitudinal wall and the distal transverse wall, the second inner space comprising an unobstructed distal opening located between the first and second longitudinal walls and facing the distal transverse wall, the sealing member being devoid of any structure distal to the distal opening that lies transverse to the distal opening, the bottom surface of the sealing member defined by a bottom face or edge of the first longitudinal wall, second longitudinal wall, proximal transverse wall and distal transverse wall. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the proximal and distal transverse walls is moveable in relation to the first and second longitudinal walls. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the distal transverse wall is parallel to the proximal transverse wall and is moveable away from or closer to the proximal transverse wall, the packaging machine further comprising a controller that controls the movement of one or both of the proximal and transverse walls according to the length of the one or more products. 
     
     
         15 . A packaging machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member comprises a seal between each of the first and second longitudinal walls and the distal transverse wall, each of the seals being attached to and moveable with the distal transverse wall. 
     
     
         16 . A packaging machine according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the seals is adapted to be enlarged or inflated to effectuate an airtight seal between the distal transverse wall and the first and second longitudinal walls. 
     
     
         17 . A packaging machine according to  16 , wherein the controller is adapted to control the enlargement or inflation of the seals subsequent to the control of the movement of the distal transverse wall according to the length of the one or more products. 
     
     
         18 . A packaging machine according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the proximal and distal transverse walls is moveable in relation to the first and second longitudinal walls. 
     
     
         19 . A packaging machine adapted to transport a product in a distal direction and to wrap the product between a lower film and an upper film, the packaging machine comprising a sealing member having a bottom surface that is adapted to act on the upper and lower films to bond the upper and lower films together, the sealing member comprising a first longitudinal wall, a second longitudinal wall, a third longitudinal wall intermediate and parallel to the first and second longitudinal walls and a transverse wall disposed between the first, second and third longitudinal walls, the transverse wall and the first second and third longitudinal walls defining at least first and second inner spaces that are separated by the third longitudinal wall, a distal end of each of the inner spaces comprising an unobstructed distal opening located facing the transverse wall, the sealing member being devoid of any structure distal to the distal opening that lies transverse to the distal opening, the bottom surface of the sealing member defined by a bottom face or edge of the first longitudinal wall, second longitudinal wall, third longitudinal wall and transverse wall. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the transverse wall is mobile in relation to the first and second longitudinal walls, the packaging machine comprising a controller that controls the movement of the transverse wall according to a length of the product to be packaged, the third longitudinal wall being attached to and moveable with the transverse wall. 
     
     
         21 . A packaging machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the transverse wall is mobile in relation to the first and second longitudinal walls, the packaging machine comprising a controller that controls the movement of the transverse wall according to the length of the product to be packaged.