A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages

Abstract

A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages filled with a pourable product comprises a delimiting element movably arranged, in use, within a tube and designed to divide the tube in a first space and a second space. The delimiting element is movable along first and second directions opposite one another and substantially parallel to the tube, and between at least a first position and a second position. The delimiting element comprises a main engagement portion configured to abut against a main abutment portion of a gas supply pipe or a filling pipe with the delimiting element being in the first position. The main abutment portion and/or the main engagement portion are designed such that at least one opening and/or at least one channel is present between the main abutment portion and the main engagement portion with the delimiting element being in the first position.

1 . A packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages filled with a pourable product comprising:
 a conveying device adapted to advance a web of packaging material along an advancement path;   an isolation chamber separating an inner environment containing a sterile gas from an outer environment;   a tube forming and sealing device being at least partially arranged within the isolation chamber and being adapted to form and longitudinally seal a tube extending along a longitudinal axis from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material; wherein the conveying device is also adapted to advance the tube along a tube advancement path;   a delimiting element moveably arranged, in use, within the tube and designed to divide the tube in a first space being in fluidic connection with the inner environment and a second space being arranged downstream of the first space along the tube advancement path;   a filling device having a filling pipe arranged, in use, within the tube and being adapted to direct, in use, a pourable product through the filling pipe into the second space;   a sterile gas supply device having a gas supply pipe being arranged, in use, within the tube and being configured to direct through the gas supply pipe a main flow of sterile gas into the second space in such a manner that the gas pressure within the second space is higher than the gas pressure within the isolation chamber;   wherein the delimiting element is arranged such that the delimiting element is adapted to move into a first direction and a second direction being opposite to the first direction and the first direction and the second direction being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and between at least a first position and a second position;   wherein the gas supply pipe or the filling pipe comprises a main abutment portion;   wherein the delimiting element comprises a main engagement portion configured to abut against the main abutment portion with the delimiting element being in the first position;   wherein the main abutment portion and/or the main engagement portion are designed such that at least one opening and/or at least one channel is present between the main abutment portion and the main engagement portion with the delimiting element being in the first position;   wherein the at least one opening and/or the at least one channel are configured such to establish a fluid connection between the inner environment and the gas supply pipe and/or the second space through at least one opening and/or the at least one channel.   
     
     
         2 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the delimiting element comprises at least one spacer element facing and protruding towards the main abutment portion;
 wherein the spacer element defines and/or comprises and/or carries the main engagement portion.   
     
     
         3 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the spacer element has an arc-shaped profile. 
     
     
         4 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the delimiting element comprises a plurality of spacer elements surrounding a passage and being arranged such to form at least one opening. 
     
     
         5 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the passage is coaxial to the gas supply pipe and/or the filling pipe. 
     
     
         6 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main engagement portion and/or the main abutment portion comprises one or more grooves defining one or more channels. 
     
     
         7 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main abutment portion and/or the main engagement portion have an annular shape. 
     
     
         8 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a support element having an auxiliary abutment portion;
 wherein the delimiting element comprises an auxiliary engagement portion configured to abut against the auxiliary abutment portion with the delimiting element being in the second position.   
     
     
         9 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the support element is connected to the filling pipe and/or the gas supply pipe. 
     
     
         10 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the delimiting element is arranged within the isolation chamber. 
     
     
         11 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube forming and sealing device comprises a tube forming unit configured to gradually fold the web of packaging material into the tube by overlapping the lateral edge of the web of packaging material with one another for forming a longitudinal seam portion;
 wherein the seam portion extends from an initial level along a downstream direction along the tube advancement path;   wherein the delimiting element is arranged in the area of the initial level and/or downstream of the initial level along the tube advancement path.   
     
     
         12 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the delimiting element is designed such to provide, in use, at least one fluidic channel delimited by a peripheral portion of the delimiting element and the inner surface of the, in use, advancing tube for fluidically connecting the second space with the first space and for allowing, in use, a leakage flow of sterile gas from the second space into the first space. 
     
     
         13 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the delimiting element is adapted to move along a direction perpendicular to the, in use, advancing tube. 
     
     
         14 . Packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the gas feeding pipe and at least a portion of the filling pipe are parallel to one another.