There is described a packaging apparatus (1) for forming a plurality of sealed packages (2) from a tube (3) of a web of packaging material (4) which is continuously filled with a pourable product. The packaging apparatus comprises a delimiting element (37) arranged, in use, within the tube (3) and being designed to divide the tube (3), in use, into a first space (38) and a second space (39). The packaging apparatus (1) also comprises a sterile gas supply device (43) for pressurizing the isolation chamber and the second space (39) by means of a respectively a first flow of sterile gas and a second flow of sterile gas.

There is described a packaging apparatus (1) for forming a plurality of sealed packages (2) from a tube (3) of a web of packaging material (4) which is continuously filled with a pourable product. The packaging apparatus comprises a delimiting element (37) arranged, in use, within the tube (3) and being designed to divide the tube (3), in use, into a first space (38) and a second space (39). The packaging apparatus (1) also comprises a sterile gas supply device (43) for pressurizing the isolation chamber and the second space (39) by means of a respectively a first flow of sterile gas and a second flow of sterile gas.

There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages-comprising conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a support structure carrying at least the tube forming device, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device. The support structure comprises at least one support column at least indirectly carrying the tube forming device and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.

There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages-comprising conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a support structure carrying at least the tube forming device, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device. The support structure comprises at least one support column at least indirectly carrying the tube forming device and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.

A method of forming a multi-chambered pouch includes filling a first liquid into a chamber of the pouch through an opening; forming a frangible seal above the first liquid to provide a first sub-chamber having the first liquid and an open second sub-chamber above the first sub-chamber; sealing the first liquid in the first sub-chamber; filling a second liquid into the second sub-chamber through the opening; forming a seal over the second liquid within the second sub-chamber; sealing the second liquid in the second sub-chamber; and forming a permanent seal that intersects the frangible seal to form a first retaining chamber, a second retaining chamber, a third retaining chamber, and a fourth retaining chamber, wherein the first retaining chamber and the second retaining chamber retain the first liquid, and wherein the third retaining chamber and the fourth retaining chamber retain the second liquid.

A method of forming a multi-chambered pouch includes filling a first liquid into a chamber of the pouch through an opening; forming a frangible seal above the first liquid to provide a first sub-chamber having the first liquid and an open second sub-chamber above the first sub-chamber; sealing the first liquid in the first sub-chamber; filling a second liquid into the second sub-chamber through the opening; forming a seal over the second liquid within the second sub-chamber; sealing the second liquid in the second sub-chamber; and forming a permanent seal that intersects the frangible seal to form a first retaining chamber, a second retaining chamber, a third retaining chamber, and a fourth retaining chamber, wherein the first retaining chamber and the second retaining chamber retain the first liquid, and wherein the third retaining chamber and the fourth retaining chamber retain the second liquid.

A method for manufacturing a number of tubular packagings filled with a liquid, particularly a sterile liquid. The method includes providing a tube which is wound onto a first reel and is filled at least partially with the liquid, and unwinding the tube from the first reel and dividing it into a number of tubular segments by means of successive welding operations. The tube is displaceable through a welding device substantially vertically and substantially free of mechanical tension. A temperature prevailing in the welding device can be kept constant during each welding operation by having liquid circulate through the welding device. One or more welding parameters can further be recorded during each welding operation and be stored together with data about the liquid. A system for performing this method.

A method for manufacturing a number of tubular packagings filled with a liquid, particularly a sterile liquid. The method includes providing a tube which is wound onto a first reel and is filled at least partially with the liquid, and unwinding the tube from the first reel and dividing it into a number of tubular segments by means of successive welding operations. The tube is displaceable through a welding device substantially vertically and substantially free of mechanical tension. A temperature prevailing in the welding device can be kept constant during each welding operation by having liquid circulate through the welding device. One or more welding parameters can further be recorded during each welding operation and be stored together with data about the liquid. A system for performing this method.

There is described a forming assembly (10a, 10b) for forming a plurality of sealed packs (3) starting from a tube (2) of packaging material, comprising: a track (13a, 13b); a first element (15a, 15b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, one of a sealing element (22b) or a counter-sealing element (22a) adapted to seal the pack (3); and a second element (14a, 14b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, a first half-shell (21a, 21b; 21a′, 21b′) adapted, in use, contact the tube (2) so as to bound at least part of a respective pack (3) and control the shape of the pack (3) during the formation thereof; the first element (15a, 15b) and the second element (14a, 14b) are self-movable along the track (13a, 13b) independently of one another.

A vertical bag-making/filling machine (1) comprises: a film-feeding unit (8) which intermittently feeds a film (F) formed into a tubular shape downward; a nozzle (10) supplying contents (X) into the film; a sealing-off unit (17) arranged below a lower end of the nozzle and forming a bag body (Fg) by heat-sealing the film in a transverse direction; a lower shaping unit (30) regulating swelling of the film on the lower side of the sealing-off unit; an upper shaping unit (40) regulating the swelling of the film on the upper side of the sealing-off unit; and a separating unit (25) for separating the bag body (G) fully filled with the contents by cutting the transverse seal (Y1, Y2) formed by the sealing-off unit.