Packaging apparatus and process for articles to be packaged

Abstract

A packaging apparatus for articles to be packaged includes: a transport system having a transport direction for the articles to be packaged and a plurality of rigid transport elements pulled in a sequence and extend transversely to the transport direction, each one having a plurality of seats defining a predefined pattern; a packaging station, arranged along the transport direction transport, having a stationary support structure and a packaging system with a plurality of operating devices each one being arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the other operating devices, each of the operating devices able to carry out a packaging operation on a corresponding article to be packaged at the transit of the respective transport element near the packaging station; and a movement mechanism, integral with the support structure, rigidly moving at least a part of the operating devices with respect to corresponding seats of a single transport element.

1 . A packaging apparatus ( 100 ) for articles to be packaged, the packaging apparatus comprising:
 a transport system ( 200 ) having a transport direction (F) for the articles to be packaged and a plurality of rigid transport elements ( 1 ) which are moved in a sequence, and which extend transversely to said transport direction (F), each transport element ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of seats ( 2 ) defining a predefined pattern;   a packaging station ( 800 ), placed along said transport direction (F), having a stationary support structure ( 5 ) and a packaging system ( 6 ) with a plurality of operating devices ( 7 ), each one being arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the other operating devices ( 7 ), each of the operating devices ( 7 ) being capable of carrying out a packaging operation on a corresponding article to be packaged at the transit of the respective transport element ( 1 ) in a region of the packaging station ( 800 ); and   a movement mechanism ( 17 ) which is integral with said support structure ( 5 ), and rigidly moving at least some of the operating devices ( 7 ) of said plurality with respect to the position of a corresponding plurality of seats ( 2 ) of a single transport element ( 1 ), so that the mutual position of the operating devices ( 7 ) in the packaging system ( 6 ) and the articles to be packaged in the respective seats ( 2 ) allow correct execution of the packaging operation.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating devices ( 7 ) of the packaging system ( 6 ) are integral with each other, wherein the movement mechanism ( 17 ) rigidly moves the entire packaging system ( 6 ) as a whole. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport system ( 200 ) rigidly pulls the transport elements ( 1 ) along a path in a straight line at said packaging station ( 800 ). 
     
     
         4 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the transport system ( 200 ) comprises a pair of movable pulling lines ( 3 ), to which respective ends of the transport elements ( 1 ) are secured. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each transport element ( 1 ) comprises one or more positioning markers ( 22 ), each one arranged in a predetermined position, and wherein the comprises a detection system ( 23 ) for said positioning markers ( 22 ) and a control unit ( 24 ) receiving signals generated by said detection system ( 23 ) and controlling the movement mechanism ( 17 ) thereby, for each transport element ( 1 ), an adjustment of the position of the packaging system ( 6 ) is carried out. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said seats ( 2 ), in each transport element ( 1 ), are arranged in one or more rectilinear rows, perpendicular to said transport direction (F). 
     
     
         7 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure ( 5 ) is of suspended bridge-like type, supporting a packaging system ( 6 ) over a plane where the transport elements ( 1 ) are pulled. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging station ( 800 ) comprises, in the packaging system ( 6 ), a raising and lowering device ( 12 ) with respect to a plane where the transport elements ( 1 ) are pulled, thereby the operating devices ( 7 ) take up a raised configuration, in which the transport elements ( 1 ) are moved with respect thereto, and a lowered position, in which the operating devices ( 7 ) carry out said packaging operation. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism ( 17 ) comprises a pair of actuators ( 18 ), each acting on a respective packaging system ( 6 ) end. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating devices ( 7 ) are sealing devices for a laminar cover on an opening of a container embodying the article to be packaged. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging apparatus ( 100 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing device carries out a welding of a laminar cover edge onto a rim of the opening. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging process for carrying out a packaging operation on articles to be packaged through a plurality of operating devices ( 7 ), each one acting on an intended article to be packaged, the process comprising:
 positioning a plurality of articles to be packaged in a predetermined position in a sequence of rigid transport elements ( 1 );   moving said transport elements ( 1 ) along a transport direction with respect to a packaging station ( 800 ) housing said operating devices ( 7 );   adjusting the position of at least some of the operating devices ( 7 ), at a transit of each transport element ( 1 ) in the region of said packaging station ( 800 ), by moving the operating devices rigidly with respect to the transport element ( 1 ), thereby achieving a positioning of the operating devices ( 7 ) allowing correct execution of said packaging operation.   
     
     
         13 . The packaging process according to  claim 12 , wherein, at the transit of each transport element ( 1 ), a position thereof is detected to adjust the position of at least some of the operating devices ( 7 ) in the packaging station ( 800 ). 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A packaging station ( 800 ) configured to carry out a packaging operation by operating simultaneously, at the transit thereof, on a plurality of articles to be packaged arranged in predetermined positions in accordance with a predefined pattern, the packaging station comprising:
 a plurality of operating devices ( 7 ), each one configured to act on one of the articles to be packaged and therefore arranged in a respective corresponding position;   a detection system ( 23 ) of a position of a group of articles to be packaged in accordance with a predefined pattern; and   a movement mechanism ( 17 ) configured to move all or at least some of the operating devices ( 7 ) of said plurality, thereby the position of the respective pattern thereof corresponds to the position of the respective articles to be packaged when they are moved, allowing the correct execution of the packaging operation by the operating devices ( 7 ) in the reached position.