Packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages

Abstract

A packaging apparatus comprising a tube forming and sealing device, a filling device, a product delivery device configured to receive a pourable product from an external product supply and to selectively feed the pourable product along a flow path to and into the filling device and a package forming unit configured to at least form and transversally seal the tube for forming packages filled with the pourable product. The product delivery device comprises a main inlet valve having a first inlet and a first outlet and a control valve arranged downstream from the main inlet valve and upstream from the filing device along the flow path and having a second inlet and a second outlet. The main inlet valve comprises a first valve element controllable into at least a closing position, an opening position and one or more intermediate positions. Additionally or alternatively, the control valve comprises a second valve element being controllable into a closed position and an open position.

1 . A packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages filled with a pourable product comprising:
 a tube forming and sealing device configured to form and longitudinally seal a tube from a web of packaging material;   a filling device adapted to direct, in use, a pourable product into the tube;   a product delivery device configured to receive the pourable product from an external product supply and to selectively feed the pourable product along a flow path to and into the filling device; and   a package forming unit configured to at least form and transversally seal the packages from the tube;   wherein the product delivery device comprises:   a main inlet valve having a first inlet and a first outlet; and   a control valve arranged downstream from the main inlet valve and upstream from the filing device along the flow path and having a second inlet and a second outlet;   wherein the main inlet valve comprises a first valve element adapted to control a fluid connection between the first inlet and the second outlet and being controllable into at least a closing position at which the first valve element is configured to close the fluidic connection between the first inlet and the first outlet; an opening position at which the first valve element is configured to open the fluidic connection between the first inlet and the first outlet and allowing a maximum flow rate of the pourable product; and one or more intermediate positions at each of which the first valve element is configured to allow a respective intermediate flow rate being minor than the maximum flow rate;   and/or   wherein the control valve comprises a second valve element configured to control a fluid connection between the second inlet and the second outlet and being controllable at least into a closed position at which the second valve element is configured to impede the fluidic connection between the second inlet and the second outlet; and an open position at which the second valve element is configured to open the fluidic connection between the second inlet and the second outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary valve being connectable to the external pourable product supply and having at least a third inlet and a third outlet and the third outlet being in fluidic connection with the first inlet; wherein the auxiliary valve also comprises a third valve element being configured to control a fluidic connection between the third inlet and the third outlets. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each intermediate position determines one respective intermediate flow rate being distinct from the others. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main inlet valve comprises an actuator coupled to the first valve element and configured to linearly move the first valve element in order to position the first valve element in one of the opening position, the closing position and the intermediate positions. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor arranged downstream from the main inlet valve along the flow path for measuring a pressure of the pourable product and/or a flow meter arranged downstream from the main inlet valve along the flow path and configured to measure a flow rate of the pourable product;
 wherein the main inlet valve and/or the control valve are configured to be controlled as a function of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor and/or the flow rate measured by the flow meter.   
     
     
         6 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an isolation chamber separating an inner environment from an outer environment;
 wherein the tube forming and sealing device is configured to form and longitudinally seal the tube within the inner environment;   wherein the main inlet valve and the control valve are arranged within the outer environment.   
     
     
         7 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the filling device comprises a filling pipe, in use, being at least partially arranged within the tube;
 wherein the product delivery device comprises a flow tube connected to the second outlet of the control valve and to the filling pipe;   wherein the flow tube comprises a first portion being arranged within the outer environment;   wherein the first portion comprises the most two distinct sections connected to one another by a gasket element or a barrier element.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery device is configured to be set in at least:
 an operational mode within which the product delivery device is designed to direct the pourable product to the filling device; and   a stop mode within which the product delivery device is designed to impede any flow of the pourable product to the filling device;   wherein when, in use, the product delivery device is controlled into the stop mode, the first valve element and/or the second valve element are controlled into respectively the closing position and the closed position; and   wherein when the product delivery device is controlled into the operational mode, the first valve element is controlled into the opening position or one of the intermediate positions and/or the second valve element is controlled in the open position or a respective interim position.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveying device adapted to advance the web of packaging material along an advancement path;   an isolation chamber separating an inner environment containing a sterile gas from an outer environment;   wherein the tube forming and sealing device is configured to form the tube from the advancing web of packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube within the inner environment.   
     
     
         10 . Packaging 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 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 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 adapted to direct, in use, a pourable product into the second space;   a product delivery device configured to receive the pourable product from an external product supply and to selectively feed the pourable product along a flow path to and into the filling device;   a conditioning device configured to direct, in use, a flow of sterile gas into the second space of the tube for obtaining a gas pressure within the second space that is higher than the gas pressure within the first space; and   a package forming unit adapted to at least form and transversally seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube;   
       wherein the product delivery device is configured to be set in at least:
 an operational mode within which the product delivery device is designed to direct the pourable product to the filling device; and 
 a stop mode within which the product delivery device is designed to impede any flow of the pourable product to the filling device; 
 
       wherein the conditioning device is configured to control a first pressure and a second pressure distinct from the first pressure within the second space with the product delivery device being controlled in respectively the operational mode and the stop mode. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second pressure is larger than the first pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressurizing device is configured to control the first pressure to range between 5 kPa to 40 kPa, in particular between 10 kPa to 30 kPa, above ambient pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the product delivery device comprises:
 a main inlet valve having a first inlet and a first outlet; and   a control valve arranged downstream from the main inlet valve and upstream from the filing device along the flow path and having a second inlet and a second outlet;   wherein the main inlet valve comprises a first valve element adapted to control a fluidic connection between the first inlet and the second outlet and being controllable into at least a closing position at which the first valve element is configured to close the fluidic connection between the first inlet and the first outlet; an opening position at which the first valve element is configured to open the fluidic connection between the first inlet and the first outlet and allowing a maximum flow rate of the pourable product; and one or more intermediate positions at each of which the first valve element is configured to allow a respective intermediate flow rate being minor than the maximum flow rate;   and/or   wherein the control valve comprises a second valve element configured to control a fluidic connection between the second inlet and the second outlet and being controllable at least into a closed position at which the second valve element is configured to impede the fluidic connection between the second inlet and the second outlet; and an open position at which the second valve element is configured to open the fluidic connection between the second inlet and the second outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising an auxiliary valve being connectable to the external pourable product supply and having at least a third inlet and a third outlet and the third outlet being in fluidic connection with the first inlet; wherein the auxiliary valve also comprises a third valve element configured to control a fluidic connection between the third inlet and the third outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein each intermediate position determines one respective intermediate flow rate being distinct from the others.