A forming device and method for forming a pack into a finished package, a folding unit for forming sealed packages of pourable food products, and a package

Abstract

The invention relates to a forming device ( 42 ) for feeding along a forming path (B) a pack ( 3 ) which has at least one portion ( 6 ) to be folded into a finished package ( 2 ). The forming device ( 42 ) comprises a first surface ( 46 a ) and a second surface ( 46 b ) opposite to each other and adapted, in use, to cooperate respectively with a front wall ( 15 ) and a rear wall ( 10 ) opposite to each other of the pack ( 3 ) to be folded. The first surface ( 46 a ) comprises an at least partially concave forming section ( 8 ) adapted, in use, to cooperate with a top portion of the front wall ( 15 ) of the pack ( 3 ), such that an inward deformation of the top portion of the front wall ( 15 ) is prevented during forming of the pack ( 3 ). The invention also relates to a folding unit ( 1 ) for forming sealed packages ( 2 ) of pourable food products, to a method for forming a pack ( 3 ) which has at least one portion ( 6 ) to be folded into a finished package, and to a package ( 2 ).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A forming device for feeding along a forming path a pack which has at least one portion to be folded into a finished package, the forming device comprising:
 a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and configured to interact respectively with a front wall of the pack to be folded and an opposing rear wall of the pack to be folded;   wherein the first surface comprises:
 an at least partially concave forming section configured to interact with a top portion of the front wall of the pack and prevent an inward deformation of the top portion of the front wall during forming of the pack, wherein the at least partially concave forming section is further configured to allow the top portion of the front wall to expand outwardly into the at least partially concave forming section during forming of the pack without permanently deforming the pack. 
   
     
     
         17 . The forming device according to  claim 16 , and further comprising a first body incorporating the first surface and a second body incorporating the second surface. 
     
     
         18 . The forming device according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the first body and the second body has a first end zone and a second end zone opposite to the first end zone. 
     
     
         19 . The forming device according to  claim 18 , wherein the first end zone of the first body is connected to a driving element for driving the forming device along a forming path and incorporates the at least partially concave forming section. 
     
     
         20 . The forming device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first surface comprises a replaceable element incorporating the at least partially concave forming section. 
     
     
         21 . The forming device according to  claim 20 , wherein the replaceable element incorporating the at least partially concave forming section may be replaced with another replaceable element incorporating another forming section having an extent of the concave shape different from the shape of the at least partially concave forming section. 
     
     
         22 . A folding unit for forming sealed packages of pourable food products, comprising at least one forming device according to  claim 16 , the folding unit comprising:
 at least one folding device interacting with the pack along the forming path and adapted to fold the at least one portion.   
     
     
         23 . The folding unit according to  claim 22 , and further comprising:
 a heating device for heating unfolded flaps of the pack,   wherein the at least one folding device is arranged downstream from the heating device along the forming path.   
     
     
         24 . A method for forming a pack which has at least one portion to be folded into a finished package, the method comprising:
 forming the pack by allowing a top portion of a front wall of the pack to expand outwardly into an at least partially concave forming section without permanently deforming the pack;   constraining the pack between a first surface and a second surface of a forming device arranged opposite to each other and configured to interact respectively with the front wall and a rear wall of the pack to be folded, the first surface comprising the at least partially concave forming section;   folding the at least one portion of the pack to form the finished package.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein after forming the pack, the top portion of the front wall of the pack is substantially planar. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the top portion of the front wall of the package is configured to receive an opening device.