A packaging assembly for forming and sealing a plurality of packs containing a pourable product and a method for forming and sealing a plurality of packs

Abstract

There is described a packaging assembly configured to form and seal a plurality of packs containing a pourable product starting from a tube of packaging material; the packaging assembly comprises: a pair of endless tracks between which the tube is fed along a straight advancement direction; and a pair of movable members, each one of which movably coupled to, and cyclically movable along, one respective track; each movable member movably carrying one respective forming member linearly movable towards said tube, transversally to said advancement direction, to cyclically cooperate in contact with successive tube portions, so as to form at least corresponding pack portions of respective packs; each forming member comprises a movable portion which is tiltable with respect to the advancement direction, to sequentially control a tilting of the tube portions with respect to said advancement direction.

1 . A packaging assembly configured to form and seal a plurality of packs containing a pourable product starting from a tube of packaging material;
 said packaging assembly comprising:
 a pair of endless tracks between which said tube is fed along a straight advancement direction; and 
 a pair of movable members, each one of which movably coupled to, and cyclically movable along, one respective track; 
   each movable member of said pair of movable members movably carrying one respective forming member linearly movable towards said tube, transversally to said advancement direction, to cyclically cooperate in contact with successive tube portions, so as to form at least corresponding pack portions of respective packs;   wherein each forming member comprises a movable portion which is tiltable with respect to said advancement direction, to sequentially control a tilting of said tube portions with respect to said advancement direction.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each movable member comprises a movable element linearly movable towards said tube and supporting a respective movable portion; each movable portion being tiltable with respect to the respective movable element. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each movable member movably carries a respective sealing member configured to transversally seal said tube portions;
 each forming member being movable with respect to the respective sealing member along said longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         4 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable portion is tiltable of a given angle with respect to said advancement direction. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising actuator means configured to drive the tilting movement of each movable portion. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said actuator means comprise, for each track, at least one cam surface fixed with respect to the track, and a cam follower carried by the respective forming member and configured to cooperate in a sliding manner with said cam surface. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each forming member comprises forming elements configured to form a respective portion of said packs; said cam follower being mechanically connected to said forming elements; said actuator means being also configured to drive said forming elements. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said cam follower is configured to cooperate with said cam surface to be moved transversally to said advancement direction;
 and wherein said movable member comprises a pusher mechanism to which said cam follower is fitted and which is configured to cooperate in contact with the respective movable portion to drive said tilting movement of said movable portion.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said movable portion is coupled to said forming member at least by means of a hinge;
 said pusher mechanism comprising a pushing pin integrally fixed to said cam follower; and configured to push onto the respective movable portion to drive a rotation of the movable portion about said hinge to cause the tilting of said movable portion.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said cam follower is configured to cooperate with said cam surface to be moved transversally to said advancement direction;
 and wherein said cam follower is coupled to the respective forming member by means of a lever mechanism configured to convert the transversal movement of said cam follower in the tilting movement of said given angle of said movable portion;   said actuator means being exclusively dedicated to drive said tilting of said movable portion.   
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each movable member and the respective track define a linear motor. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of pairs of movable members cyclically movable along said tracks, respectively;
 wherein the movable members which move, in use, along one track of said pair of tracks are independently movable with respect to one other and are configured to cooperate with corresponding movable members moving, in use, along the other track of said pair of tracks.   
     
     
         13 . The packaging assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable portion is tiltable so as to allow the forming of a package with a slanted wall. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming and sealing a plurality of packs containing a pourable product starting from a tube of packaging material, the method comprising:
 i) feeding said tube between two endless tracks along a straight advancement direction;   ii) cyclically advancing a pair of forming members respectively along said tracks;   iii) linearly moving said forming members towards said tube to cyclically cooperate in contact with successive tube portions so as to form at least corresponding pack portions of respective packs; and   iv) tilting respective movable portions of said forming members with respect to said advancement direction-A, to sequentially control a tilting of said tube portions with respect to said advancement direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said linearly moving of the forming member towards said tube comprises:
 v) linearly moving movable elements of a pair of movable members each movable element supporting a respective movable portion, each movable member, being movably coupled to, and cyclically movable along, one respective track;   and wherein said tilting of the respective movable portions of said forming members with respect to said advancement direction comprises:   iv) tilting each movable portion with respect to the respective movable element.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 vii) transversally sealing said tube portions by means a pair of sealing members, each of said sealing members being carried by one respective movable member, each movable member being movably coupled to, and cyclically movable along, one respective track, each movable member movably carrying a respective forming member;   viii) moving each forming member with respect to the respective sealing member along said longitudinal direction.