APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS

Abstract

A packaging apparatus includes a frame, a lower tool engaged with the frame and configured to receive one or more supports, and an upper tool configured to engage a film portion with at least one support. The upper tool is movable, upon action of a movement device with flat kinematic system, between a first position in which it picks up a film portion from a supplying station and a second position in which it fixes the film portion on a support housed by a lower tool.

Claims

1. An apparatus for packaging at least one product arranged on a support, said packaging apparatus comprising: a supporting frame, a supplying station of a film borne by said frame and configured to arrange at least one portion of said film at a predetermined pick-up position, at least one lower tool engaged with the frame and configured to receive one or more supports, at least one upper tool engaged with the frame and cooperating with the lower tool to engage said film portion with at least one support and making at least one package, a movement device interposed between the frame and the upper tool, wherein the movement device is configured to move the upper tool between: a first position, wherein an active surface of the upper tool is next to the film portion in said predetermined pick-up position and is suitable to receive the same film portion from the supplying station, and a second position, wherein the active surface of the upper tool is aligned with and next to the lower tool to engage said film portion with at least one support and making at least one package, wherein the movement device is configured to move the upper tool between the first and the second position along a predetermined trajectory lying, in use condition of the apparatus, along a vertical plane.

2. (canceled)

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement device comprises: a driving member configured to rotate around a first rotation axis orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool; and a driven member having one terminal portion hinged to the driving member and a second terminal portion fixed to the upper tool, a first flat hinge constrained to the frame, wherein the driving member is engaged with the first flat hinge to rotate around the first rotation axis; a second flat hinge, wherein the driven member has: a first terminal portion, hinged to the driving member by said second flat hinge interposed between driven member and driving member, and a second terminal portion, fixed to the upper tool; a guiding member engaged via rotation around a second rotation axis parallel to said first rotation axis, said guiding member configured to slidably receive a third portion of the driven member intermediate between said first and said second terminal portion of the same driven member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the driving member has the shape of a rod whose opposite ends are respectively engaged with the first and with the second flat hinge, the driven member has the shape of a rod having opposite ends respectively engaged with the second flat hinge and with the upper tool, the guiding member is a sleeve rotatable with respect to the frame, the interior thereof slidably receiving an intermediate portion of said driven member.

5.-6. (canceled)

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator member active on the movement device and capable of selectively moving the upper tool from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator member is active on the driving member and commands the driving member in rotation around said first rotation axis.

9. (canceled)

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement device comprises a first and a second flat kinematic chain both engaged, on one side, with the frame and, on the other side, with the upper tool, wherein said first and second flat kinematic chain are separate and spaced from each other with respect to an axis that is transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first flat kinematic chain comprises: a first lever configured to rotate around a first rotation axis orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool; a second lever having a terminal portion hinged to the first lever and a second terminal portion hinged to the upper tool; wherein said second flat kinematic chain comprises: a respective first lever configured to rotate around a second rotation axis orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool; a respective second lever having a terminal portion hinged to the first lever of the second kinematic chain and a second terminal portion hinged to the upper tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the first kinematic chain of the movement device comprises: a first flat hinge constrained to the frame, wherein the first lever of the first flat kinematic chain is engaged with the first flat hinge for to rotate around the first rotation axis; a second flat hinge, wherein the second lever of the first flat kinematic chain has: a first terminal portion, hinged to the first lever by means of said second flat hinge interposed between first and second lever, and a second terminal portion, constrained to the upper tool by means of a third flat hinge; and the second kinematic chain of the movement device comprises: a first flat hinge constrained to the frame, wherein the first lever of the second flat kinematic chain is engaged with said first flat hinge (93a) to rotate around the second rotation axis; a second flat hinge, wherein the second lever of the second flat kinematic chain has: a first terminal portion, hinged to said first lever by means of said second flat hinge interposed between first and second lever of the second flat kinematic chain, and a second terminal portion, constrained to the upper tool by means of a third flat hinge.

13. (canceled)

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first rotation axis of the first flat kinematic chain coincides with the second rotation axis of the second flat kinematic chain.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of: the first and the second kinematic chain are arranged, with respect to the upper tool, symmetric to each other with respect to a plane passing through the first and second rotation axis and placed orthogonally with respect to the lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool; the second lever of the first kinematic chain is hinged to an upper portion of the upper tool while the second lever of the second flat kinematic chain is hinged to a lower portion of the upper tool opposite said upper portion; and the movement device comprises a first actuator member fit on the first lever of the first kinematic chain and configured to rotate said first lever around said first axis, and wherein the movement device comprises a second actuator member fit on the first lever of the second kinematic chain and configured to rotate said first lever around said second axis, wherein the first and the second actuator member are configured to rotate the respective first levers in opposite sense in order to allow a rotation of the upper tool around said first and second rotation axis, wherein the first and the second actuator member are configured to rotate the respective first levers in the same sense in order to allow a translation of the upper tool approaching to and moving away from said first and second rotation axis.

16.-17. (canceled)

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the movement device comprises a guiding member engaged in interposition between the upper tool and the frame, said guiding member being configured for preventing oscillation of the upper tool around the flat hinges at which said upper tool is engaged with the second levers of the first and second flat kinematic chain; and the guiding member comprises a respective first and second lever constrained to each other by means of a flat hinge, wherein the first lever of the guiding member is also constrained to the frame by means of a further flat hinge while the second lever is constrained to the upper tool by means of a further flat hinge, wherein the flat hinges of the guiding member are placed transverse to the flat hinges of the first and second flat kinematic chain.

19. (canceled)

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement device comprises: a screw hinged to the frame, a first actuator engaged with the frame and active on the screw, the first actuator being configured to rotate the screw, a lead screw nut it too engaged via rotation with the screw, a first lever engaged, at one end, with the lead screw nut by a flat hinge and, at the opposite end engaged by means of a flat hinge with the upper tool, a second lever engaged, at one end, with the first actuator by means of a flat hinge and, at the opposite end engaged by a flat hinge with an intermediate point of said first lever, wherein the first actuator is configured to rotate the screw in order to allow the lead screw nut to approach and move away from the first actuator to define at least: a grouped condition of said first and second lever wherein the upper tool is approached to the screw, an extended condition of said first and second lever wherein the upper tool is spaced from the screw, wherein the upper tool, in the extended condition, is placed at a distance from the screw greater than a distance present between upper tool and screw in the grouped condition.

21.-24. (canceled)

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement device comprises: a rod hinged to the frame and extended along a direction orthogonal to the lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool, a first lever engaged, at one end, with the rod by a flat hinge, a motor engaged with the first lever by a flat hinge, said motor being hinged to the first lever at an end opposite to the end at which said first lever is hinged to the rod, a second lever engaged, at one end, with the rod by a flat hinge and, at the opposite end, engaged with the upper tool by a flat hinge, wherein said first and second lever are configured to define at least: one grouped condition wherein the upper tool is brought close to the rod, one extended condition wherein the upper tool is spaced from the rod, wherein the upper tool, in the extended condition, is placed at a distance from the rod greater than a distance present between upper tool and rod in the grouped condition. wherein said motor is active on said first and second lever to command the grouped condition and the extended condition.

26.-29. (canceled)

30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single upper tool movable along the same trajectory, in use condition of the apparatus lying along a vertical plane, at least between: the first and the second position in order to define an outward stroke of the upper tool; the second and the first position in order to define a return stroke of the upper tool.

31. (canceled)

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supplying station of the plastic film comprises an abutment plate configured to define an abutment surface of the portion of said film at the predetermined pick-up position, wherein the abutment surface of the abutment plate is substantially flat and arranged on a vertical plane.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the movement device is configured so that: when the upper tool is in said first position, the active surface of the upper tool is arranged, in use conditions of the apparatus, according to a vertical plane parallel to the abutment surface of the abutment plate; when the upper tool is in said second position, the active surface of the upper tool is arranged, in use conditions of the apparatus, according to a horizontal plane.

34. (canceled)

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower tool is movable relative to the frame at least between: a packaging position in which the lower tool is aligned with the upper tool, a loading position, spaced from the packaging position, in which the lower tool is configured to receive said support.

36.-38. (canceled)

39. A method for packaging at least one product the packaging apparatus of claim 1, said method comprising: arranging at least one support supporting at least one product on the lower tool placed in the loading position, moving the lower tool from the loading position to the packaging position, positioning the upper tool at said first position, picking up, with said upper tool in said first position, the film portion from the supplying station, moving, by the movement device, the upper tool from the first position to the second position, moving the lower tool from the loading position to the packaging position such that upper tool, in the second position, is aligned with and next to the lower tool, engaging said film portion with the support for obtaining at least one package.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the moving of the upper tool from the first position to the second position and the moving of the lower tool from the loading position to the packaging position are synchronized with each other.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the engaging of the film portion with the support comprises: holding said film portion by the upper tool above the respective support, heating said film portion held above the respective support, hermetically heat-sealing said film portion to at least one portion of the support for defining a housing compartment of the package within which the product is housed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0173] Some embodiments and some aspects of the finding will be described hereinbelow with reference to the enclosed drawings, provided only as a non-limiting example in which:

[0174] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging plant comprising a packaging apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[0175] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0176] FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed views a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0177] FIGS. 5 to 7A schematically illustrate possible movements of an upper tool of a packaging apparatus in accordance with FIG. 2;

[0178] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0179] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

[0180] FIGS. 9A and 9B are respective schematic representations of components of the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 8;

[0181] FIGS. 9C to 9H schematically illustrate possible movements of an upper tool of a packaging apparatus in accordance with FIG. 8;

[0182] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment variant of the apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0183] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0184] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the apparatus of FIG. 12;

[0185] FIGS. 13A to 13D schematically illustrate possible movements of an upper tool of a packaging apparatus in accordance with FIG. 12;

[0186] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of components of the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 12;

[0187] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0188] FIG. 16 is a detailed view of the apparatus of FIG. 15;

[0189] FIGS. 16A to 16D schematically illustrate possible movements of an upper tool of a packaging apparatus in accordance with FIG. 15;

[0190] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of components of the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 15.

CONVENTIONS

[0191] It should be noted that in the present detailed description, corresponding parts illustrated in the various figures are indicated by the same reference numerals. The figures may illustrate the object of the invention by representations that are not in scale; therefore, parts and components illustrated in the figures relating to the object of the invention may relate solely to schematic representations.

[0192] The terms upstream and downstream refer to a direction of advancement of a packageor of a support for making said packagealong a predetermined path starting from a starting or forming station of a support for said package, through a packaging apparatus and then up to a package unloading station.

DEFINITIONS

[0193] Product

[0194] The term product P means an article or a composite of articles of any kind. For example, the product may be of a foodstuff type and be in solid, liquid or gel form, i.e. in the form of two or more of the aforementioned aggregation states. In the food sector, the product may comprise: meat, fish, cheese, treated meats, prepared and frozen meals of various kinds.

[0195] Control Unit

[0196] The packaging apparatus described and claimed herein comprises at least one control unit designed to control the operations performed by the apparatus. The control unit can clearly be only one or be formed by a plurality of different control units according to the design choices and the operational needs. With the term control unit it is intended an electronic component which can include at least one selected in the following group: a digital processor (e.g. comprising at least one selected in the group among: CPU, GPU, GPGPU), a memory (or memories), an analog circuit, or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog circuits. The control unit can be configured or programmed to perform some steps: this can be done in practice by any means that allows configuring or programming the control unit. For example, in the case of a control unit comprising one or more CPUs and one or more memories, one or more programs can be stored in appropriate memory banks connected to the CPU or to the CPUs; the program or programs contain instructions which, when executed by the CPU or the CPUs, program or configure the control unit to perform the operations described in relation to the control unit. Alternatively, if the control unit is or includes analog circuitry, then the control unit circuit may be designed to include circuitry configured, in use, for processing electrical signals so as to perform the steps related to control unit. The control unit may comprise one or more digital units, for example of the microprocessor type, or one or more analog units, or a suitable combination of digital and analog units; the control unit can be configured for coordinating all the actions necessary for executing an instruction and instruction sets.

[0197] Actuator

[0198] The term actuator means any device capable of causing movement on a body, for example on a command of the control unit (reception by the actuator of a command sent by the control unit). The actuator can be of an electric, pneumatic, mechanical (for example with a spring) type, or of another type.

[0199] Support

[0200] With the term support, it is intended both a flat support and a tray comprising at least one base and at least one lateral wall emerging from the external perimeter of the base and optionally a terminal flange emerging radially outward from an upper perimeter edge of the lateral wall. The external flange can extend along a single main extension plane or it can be shaped; in the case of shaped external flange, the latter can for example have multiple portions extended along main extension planes that are different from each other, in particular parallel but offset from each other. The support defines an upper surface on which the product P can be placed and/or a volume within which the product can be housed.

[0201] The tray can comprise an upper edge portion radially emerging from a free edge of the lateral wall opposite the base: the upper edge portion emerges from the lateral wall according to a direction moving outward from the volume of the tray itself.

[0202] The flat support can be of any shape, for example rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or elliptical; analogously the tray with lateral wall can have a base of any shape, for example rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or elliptical. The support can be formed by means of a specific manufacturing process separate from the packaging process or it can be made, e.g. via thermoforming, in line with the packaging process.

[0203] The support can be entirely or partly made of paper material, optionally exhibiting at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, of organic material comprising one or more of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignin derivatives. The paper material in question extends between a first and a second main extension surface. The sheet paper material employed for making the support can, in an embodiment variant thereof, be covered for at least one part of the first and/or second main extension surface by means of a plastic material covering, e.g. film for food use. If the covering is arranged so as to cover at least part of the first extension surface, the same covering will come to define an internal surface of the support. On the other hand, if the covering is arranged on the second main extension surface, the same covering will come to define an external surface of the support. The covering can also be thermally treated such that it can act as an engagement and fixing element for portions of the support, as will be better described hereinbelow. The covering can also be employed for defining a sort of barrier to water and/or humidity useful for preventing the weakening and loss of structurality of the support with consequent uncontrolled deformation of the paper material forming the latter component. The covering can be applied to the paper material (as specified above on the internal and/or external side of the support) in the form of a so-called coating or lacquer deposited as a solution or sprayed whose thickness is generally comprised, in a non-limiting manner, between 0.2 and 10 m. Alternatively, the covering can comprise a plastic film, e.g. a polyethene coating, applicable by means of a lamination process on one or both sides (internal and/or external sides) of the paper material defining the support. If the covering is applied by means of lamination, the values of the plastic film (covering) can for example vary between 10 and 400 m, in particular between 20 and 200 m, still more particularly between 30 and 80 m, of covering material (i.e. polyethene). The plastic covering material can be selected, by way of example, among the following materials: PP, PE (HDPE, LDPE, MDPE, LLDPE), EVA, polyesters (including PET and PETg), PVdC.

[0204] The support can alternatively be entirely or partly made of single-layer and multilayer thermoplastic material. The support can be provided with gas barrier properties. As used herein, this term refers to a film or sheet of material that has an oxygen transmission rate of less than 200 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2*day*bar), less than 150 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2*day*bar), less than 100 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2*day*bar) when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985 at 23 C. and 0% relative humidity. Gas barrier materials suitable for single-layer thermoplastic containers are for example polyesters, polyamides, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), PVDC and the like. The support can be made of multilayer material comprising at least one gas barrier layer and at least one heat-sealable layer to allow sealing the covering film on the surface of the support. The gas barrier polymers which can be employed for the gas barrier layer are PVDC, EVOH, polyamides, polyesters and mixtures thereof. Generally, a PVDC barrier layer will contain plasticizers and/or stabilizers as known in the art. The thickness of the gas barrier layer will preferably be set in order to provide the material of which the support is composed with an oxygen transmission rate at 23 C. and 0% relative humidity less than 50 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2*day*atm), preferably less than 10 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2*day*atm), when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985. In general, the heat-sealable layer will be selected from polyolefins, such as ethylene homo- or copolymers, propylene homo- or copolymers, ethylene/vinylacetate copolymers, ionomers and homo- or co-polyesters, e.g. PETG, a glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate.

[0205] Additional layers, such as adhesive layers, for example to make the gas barrier layer better adhere to the adjacent layers, may preferably be present in the material of which the support is made and are selected based on the specific resins used for the gas barrier layer. In the case of a multilayer structure, part of this can be formed as a foam. For example, the multilayer material used for forming the support can comprise (from the outermost layer to the layer of contact with the more internal foods) one or more structural layers, typically made of a material such as expanded polystyrene, expanded polyester or expanded polypropylene, or of cardboard, or sheet for example polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyester; a gas barrier layer and a heat-sealable layer.

[0206] A frangible layer that is easy to open can be positioned adjacent to the heat-sealable layer in order to facilitate the opening of the final package. Mixtures of polymers with low cohesion that can be used as frangible layer are for example those described in the document WO99/54398. The overall thickness of the support can be equal to or smaller than 5 mm, optionally comprised between 0.04 and 3.00 mm, and still more optionally comprised between 0.05 and 1.00 mm. The support can be entirely made of paper material (optionally with covering made of plastic material film) or it can be entirely made of plastic material. In a further embodiment variant, the support is at least partly made of paper material and at least partly of plastic material; in particular, the support is made of plastic material at its interior and externally covered at least in part in paper material. The support can also be employed for defining so-called ready-meals packages; in such configuration the supports are made such that they can be inserted in an oven for heating and/or cooking the food product placed in the package. In such embodiment (supports for ready-meals packages), the support can for example be made of paper material, in particular cardboard, coated in polyester or it can be entirely made with a polyester resin. For example, supports suitable for ready-made packages are made of the following materials: CPET, APET or APET/CPET, expanded or non-expanded. The support can also comprise a hot-weldable layer of a low melting material on the film. This hot-weldable layer can be co-extruded with a PET-based layer (as described in the patent applications No. EP 1 529 797 A and No. WO 2007/093495 A1) or it can be deposited on the base film by means of deposition with solvent means or by means of extrusion coating (e.g. described in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,720 A and EP 1 252 008 A). In a further embodiment variant, the support can be at least partly made of metal material, in particular of aluminum. The support can also be at least partly made of aluminum and at least partly of paper material.

[0207] Film

[0208] A film made of plastic material, in particular polymeric material, is applied to the supports (flat supports or trays), so as to create a fluid-tight package housing the product.

[0209] If desired, a vacuum package is attained, the film applied with the support is typically a flexible multilayer material comprising at least one first external thermo-weldable layer capable of welding to the internal surface of the support, optionally a gas barrier layer, and a second external heat-resistant layer.

[0210] If it is Desired to Make a Package Under Controlled Atmosphere (MAP) or a package under natural atmosphere (non-modified atmosphere), the film applied with the support (film made of plastic, in particular polymeric material) is typically single-layer or multilayer, having at least one thermo-weldable layer and possibly capable of heat-shrinking under the action of heat. The applied film can also comprise at least one gas barrier layer and optionally an external heat-resistant layer.

[0211] Material specifications

[0212] The term paper material means paper or cardboard; in particular, the sheet material that can be used to make the paper layer can have a weight of between 30 and 600 g/m.sup.2, in particular of between 40 and 500 g/m.sup.2, even more particularly between 50 and 250 g/m.sup.2.

[0213] PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymer in which a prevalent amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a lower amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith, typically vinyl chloride and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (for example methyl acrylate or methacrylate) and mixtures thereof in different proportions.

[0214] The term EVOH includes saponified or hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and refers to ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers having an ethylene co-monomer content preferably composed of a percentage of from about 28 to about 48 mole %, more preferably from about 32 and about 44 mole % of ethylene and even more preferably, and a saponification degree of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%.

[0215] The term polyamides is meant to indicate homo- and co- or ter-polymers. This term specifically includes aliphatic polyamides or co-polyamides, e.g. polyamide 6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 66, polyamide 69, polyamide 610, polyamide 612, copolyamide 6/9, copolyamide 6/10, copolyamide 6/12, copolyamide 6/66, copolyamide 6/69, aromatic and partly aromatic polyamides or copolyamides, such as polyamide 61, polyamide 6I/6T, polyamide MXD6, polyamide MXD6/MXDI, and mixtures thereof.

[0216] The term polyesters refers to polymers obtained from the polycondensation reaction of dicarboxylic acids with dihydroxylic alcohols. Suitable dicarboxylic acids are, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and the like. Suitable dihydroxylic alcohols are for example ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanodimethanol and the like. Examples of useful polyesters include poly(ethylene terephthalate) and copolyesters obtained by reaction of one or more carboxylic acids with one or more dihydroxylic alcohols.

[0217] The term copolymer means a polymer derived from two or more types of monomers and includes terpolymers. Ethylene homo-polymers include high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Ethylene copolymers include ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and unsaturated ethylene/ester copolymers. The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally include copolymers of ethylene and one or more co-monomers selected from alpha-olefins having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms, such as 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene and the like. Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally have a density in the range of from about 0.86 to about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3. It is generally understood that the term linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) includes that group of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers which fall in the density range of between about 0.915 and about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3 and in particular between about 0.915 and about 0.925 g/cm.sup.3. Sometimes, linear polyethylene in the density range between about 0.926 and about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3 is referred to as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE). Lower density ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may be referred to as very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) and ultra-low density polyethylene (ULDPE). Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers can be obtained with heterogeneous or homogeneous polymerization processes. Another useful ethylene copolymer is an unsaturated ethylene/ester copolymer, which is the copolymer of ethylene and one or more unsaturated ester monomers. Useful unsaturated esters include vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids, in which esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, such as vinyl acetate, and alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, in which esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms. Ionomers are copolymers of an ethylene and an unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid having the carboxylic acid neutralized by a metal ion, such as zinc or, preferably, sodium. Useful propylene copolymers include propylene/ethylene copolymers, which are copolymers of propylene and ethylene having a percentage by weight content mostly of propylene and propylene/ethylene/butene ter-polymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene and 1-butene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0218] Packaging Apparatus 1

[0219] Reference number 1 overall indicates a packaging apparatus usable for packing, e.g. under vacuum or in controlled atmosphere, at least one product P arranged on a support 4.

[0220] The packaging apparatus 1 comprises a supporting frame 3 defining a fixed structure intended to be abutted against the ground. The frame 3 supports a supplying station 5 for supplying a film 5b optionally made of plastic material wound in a reel; the reel is borne by the frame and configured for being unwound so as to arrange at least one portion 5a of the film 5b at a predetermined pick-up position. In order to appropriately position the portion 5a of film, the supplying station 5 comprises an abutment plate 74 which receives the continuous film coming from the reel and configured for defining an abutment surface 74a for the portion 5a of the film 5b (see for example FIGS. 5 and 6). In the illustrated example, the abutment surface 74a of the abutment plate 74 is flat and arranged on a vertical plane, such that the film portion received by the abutment surface is also arranged according to a flat and vertical configuration. In order to hold the film portion 5a on the abutment surface, the plate 74 can be provided with gripping means 77 (see the schematization of FIGS. 1 and 3) such as: a vacuum source connected with suction openings present on the abutment surface, one or more mechanical retainers (clips, grippers or other) associated with the abutment surface, one or more adhesive portions associated with the abutment surface, an electric circuit electrically connected with the abutment surface in order to charge such surface with a predetermined polarity so as to exert an attraction force of electrical nature on the film.

[0221] The apparatus 1 further comprises a lower tool 2 engaged with the frame 3 and configured for receiving one or more supports 4; the apparatus further comprises an upper tool 6 also engaged with the frame 3 and configured for cooperating with the lower tool 2: as better described hereinbelow, the upper tool 6 holds the film portion 5a, picking it up from the supplying station 5 in order to then engage it with at least one support 4 housed in the lower tool 2 and thus make at least one package 40.

[0222] The apparatus 1 comprises a movement device 69 interposed between the frame 3 and the upper tool 6: said device 69 is configured for moving the upper tool 6 at least between a first position and a second position.

[0223] In the first position, an active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 is next to the abutment plate 74 and hence also to the film portion 5a that is situated in the predetermined pick-up position (FIGS. 3 and 5). The active surface 6a is in turn configured for receiving, from the supplying station 5, the film portion 5a present at the abutment plate 74 and for holding the same film portion 5a during the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position; for such purpose, the upper tool 6 can be provided with respective means 77 for holding the film portion 5a at the active surface 6a, which can comprise one or more of the following means: at least one vacuum source connected with suction openings present on the active surface 6a, one or more mechanical retainers (grippers, clips or other) associated with the active surface 6a, one or more adhesive portions associated with the active surface 6a, an electric circuit electrically connected with the active surface 6a in order to charge such surface with a predetermined polarity, or other means.

[0224] In the second position, the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 is aligned with and next to the lower tool 2 for engaging the film portion 5a picked up from the supplying station 5 with at least one support 4 present in the lower tool 2 and thus making at least one package 40.

[0225] In turn, the lower tool 2, due to suitable guides, is movable with respect to the frame 3 between a loading position and a packaging position spaced from the loading position. In the loading position (e.g. visible in FIGS. 1-3, 5) the lower tool 2 is configured for receiving said support 4: in other words, in this position, it is possible for an operator or an automated loading system to access the lower tool 2 in order to position one or more supports 4 in corresponding one or more seats defined in the lower tool 2. In the packaging position, the lower tool 2 is aligned with the upper tool 6, when the latter is situated in the respective above-described second position, such that the upper tool 6 can couple the film portion 5a held thereby with at least one respective support 4 present in the lower tool 2.

[0226] In detail, the movement device 69which provides for moving the upper tool 6 from the first to the second positionis configured for moving the upper tool 6 itself between the first and the second position along a predetermined trajectory lying, in use condition of the apparatus, along a vertical plane; indeed, during the passage from the first to the second position (and vice versa), all the points that define the active surface 6a are moved onto respective vertical planes that are parallel to each other. In other words, the motion conferred to the upper tool 6 by the device 69 is a flat motion in the sense that all the points of the active surface of the upper tool cover respective flat vertical trajectories over vertical planes that are parallel to each other along, both during the outward movement from the first to the second position and along the return stroke from the second to the first position. In this manner the lateral bulk of the upper tool 6, throughout the movement step, does not change, rendering the volume in which the apparatus 1 operates extremely compact.

[0227] As is visible in the enclosed figures, the apparatus comprises a single upper tool 6 movable along a single trajectory lying, in use condition of the apparatus, along a vertical plane; said single upper tool 6 is movable at least between: [0228] the first and the second position in order to define an outward stroke of the upper tool 6; [0229] the second and the first position in order to define a return stroke of the upper tool 6.

[0230] The movement device 69 is configured for moving the upper tool 6 along the outward and return stroke.

[0231] As is visible in the enclosed figures the first and the second position define a position of the upper tool 6, in particular of the active surface 6a of the upper toolangularly offset by an angle equal to or lower than 120, optionally comprised between 100 and 50, still more optionally by an angle substantially equal to 90. The movement device 69 is active on the upper tool in order to allow the angular movement of the upper tool 6 between the first and the second position, and vice versa.

[0232] The apparatus 1 can comprise at least one actuator 70e.g. an electric motor or a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motoractive on the movement device 69 and configured for guiding the upper tool 6 between the first and the second position, and vice versa.

[0233] As will be better described hereinbelow, the upper tool 6 comprises a sealing head comprising said active surface 6a; the active surface can thus be heated so as to heat-seal the film portion 5a to the support 4 in order to define a hermetically closed package. The upper tool 6 can be further provided with means for holding configured for holding the film portion 5a at the active surface 6a.

[0234] In a first embodiment schematized in FIGS. 5 to 7A, the movement device 69 is constituted by a flat kinematic chain which therefore does not generate, in the passage of the upper tool 6 between the first and the second position, any movement transverse to said parallel planes.

[0235] Such movement device 69, i.e. the flat kinematic chain defining the same device, comprises a driving member 71 configured for rotating around a first rotation axis A orthogonal to the predetermined vertical flat trajectoryi.e. orthogonal to said vertical parallel planesand a driven member 72 having a terminal portion hinged to the driving member 71 and a second terminal portion fixed to the upper tool 6. In more detail, the movement device 69 comprises a first flat hinge 73a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the abovementioned first rotation axis A: the driving member 71 is engaged with the first flat hinge for rotating around the first rotation axis A. The device 69 further comprises a second flat hinge 73b interposed between the driving member and the driven member in order to rotatably constrain one to the other. For this purpose, the driven member 72 has a first terminal portion, hinged to the driving member 71 due to the second flat hinge 73b interposed between driven member and driving member. The driven member 72 also has a second terminal portion, fixed to the upper tool 6, and an intermediate portion extended between the two abovementioned terminal portions. Finally, the movement device 69 comprises a guiding member 73c engaged via rotation with respect to the frame 3 around a second rotation axis B parallel and spaced with respect to the first rotation axis A. The guiding member 73c is also shaped so as to slidably receive a third portion of the driven member 72 intermediate between said first and said second terminal portion of the same driven member. For example, the guiding member 73c can comprise a sleeve, the interior thereof slidably receiving the intermediate portion of the driven member 72, such sleeve then being hinged to the frame 3, rotatably around the axis B.

[0236] Entering into the structural detail, the driving member 71 can have the shape of a rod whose opposite ends are respectively engaged with the first and with the second flat hinge 73a, 73b; the driven member 72 can in turn have the shape of a rod, in particular of greater length, more particularly at least double the length of the rod forming the driving member 71. As already stated above, the driven member 72 has opposite ends respectively engaged with the second flat hinge 73b and with the upper tool 6; the guiding member 73c is constituted by a cylindrical sleeve engaged with the frame, the interior thereof slidably receiving the intermediate portion of the driven member 72.

[0237] As is observed by comparing FIGS. 5, 5A, 6, 6A and 7, 7A, the movement device 69 and hence the driving member 71, the driven member 72, the first flat hinge 73a, the second flat hinge 73b and the guiding member 73c, are arranged and engaged with each other, directly (or indirectly) to the frame 3, such that following a rotation of the driving member 71 around the axis A (e.g. equal to 270 degrees), there is overall a rotation (e.g. by 90 degrees of the driven member 72) with simultaneous sliding of the same driving member 71 relative to the guiding member 73c: the driving member, even if free to rotate, cannot translate with respect to the frame 3. The movement of the driven member 72, determined by the driving member 71, from the position represented in FIG. 5A to the position represented in FIG. 7A, comprises the following steps. the driven member 72 (first step) first rotates and slides within the guiding member 73c, causing a rotation and a departure of the upper tool 6 from the abutment plate 74, without risk of mechanical interference; then (second step), the driven member 72 continues its rotation, causing the approach of the upper tool 6 to the guiding member 73c (FIG. 6A); finally (third step), the driven member 72 completes its rotation and simultaneously slides in the sense opposite the first, with respect to the guiding member 73c, in order to move the upper tool 6 away from the same guiding member 73c and bringing the upper tool 6 next to the lower tool 2 (FIG. 7A).

[0238] Still with specific reference to the first embodiment of the movement device 69 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 7A, the latter can be configured such that when the upper tool 6 is in said first position, the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 is arranged according to a vertical plane parallel to the abutment surface 74a (also flat and vertical); in this condition, the movement device 69 vertically arranges the driving member 71 and horizontally arranges the driven member 72 (see FIG. 5A). When the upper tool 6 is in the second position, the movement device 69 is configured for arranging the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 according to a horizontal plane facing the lower tool 2 placed in the packaging position; in this condition, the device 69 horizontally arranges the driving member 71 and vertically arranges the driven member 72, with the upper tool 6 (which from the first to the second position is rotated by 90 degrees) in said second position.

[0239] Still in accordance with the first embodiment of the movement device 69, the latter can be guided in movement by a single actuator member 70 of the apparatus, optionally an electric motor or a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motor. The single actuator 70 is active on the movement device 69 and commandable for selectively moving the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position In particular, the actuator member 70 is active on the driving member 71 and for example comprises a motor fit on the first axis A in order to rotate the driving member 71 around said first rotation axis A: in this manner, by simply arranging an actuator 70 such as a motor of the described type, it is possible to rotate the driven member 72 and cause the described movement of the upper tool 6, hence with a solution that is simple and compact given the components used and the flat vertical trajectory conferred to the upper tool 6.

[0240] In a second embodiment illustrated for example in FIGS. 8 to 11, the movement device 69 comprises a first and a second flat kinematic chain 83, 93 configured for allowing, in the passage of the upper tool 6 between the first and the second position, a movement of the upper tool 6 along said predetermined trajectory lying, in use conditions of the apparatus, in a vertical plane (and hence in which the points of the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 are moved along said flat parallel planes).

[0241] The first and the second kinematic chain 83, 93 of the movement device 69 are spaced from each other according to an axis that is transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool (and in particular to said vertical parallel planes along which the points of the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 are moved). In detail and as visible in FIG. 9A, the first and the second flat kinematic chain 83, 93 are engaged at end portions of the upper tool 6; in still more detail, the first kinematic chain 83 is engaged with the upper tool 6 at an upper portion of the upper tool 6 while the second kinematic chain 93 is engaged at a lower portion of the upper tool 6 opposite said upper portion (see for example FIG. 9A).

[0242] As is visible in the figure, the first flat kinematic chain 83 comprises a first lever 84 configured for rotating around a first rotation axis A1 orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool 6i.e. orthogonal to said vertical parallel planesand a second lever 85 having a first terminal portion 85 hinged to the first lever 84 and a second terminal portion 85 hinged to the upper tool 6. In particular, the first lever 84 has a first terminal portion 84 hinged to the frame 3 (fixed hinge) and a second terminal portion 84 hinged to the first terminal portion 85 of the second lever 85 (movable hinge).

[0243] In more detail, the first kinematic chain 83 comprises a first flat hinge 83a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the abovementioned first rotation axis A1: the first lever 84 is engaged with the first flat hinge 83a for rotating around the first rotation axis A1. The first kinematic chain 83 further comprises a second movable flat hinge 83b interposed between the first lever 84 and the second lever 85 in order to rotatably constrain one to the other. For this purpose, the second lever 85 has the first terminal portion 85 hinged to the first lever 84 due to the second flat hinge 83b interposed between the first and the second lever. The second lever also has the second terminal portion 85, constrained to the upper tool 6 by means of a further flat hinge 83c. The flat hinges (83a, 83b and 83c) of the first kinematic chain 83 are configured for allowing the rotation of the respective levers in a plane parallel to the lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool 6.

[0244] Entering into the structural detail, the first lever 84 can have the shape of a rod whose opposite ends are respectively engaged with the first and with the second flat hinge 83a, 83b; the second lever 85 can in turn have the shape of a rod, in particular with length substantially identical to the length of the rod forming the first lever 84.

[0245] As is visible in the figure, the second flat kinematic chain 93 comprises a respective first lever 94 configured for rotating around a respective second rotation axis A2 orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool; the movement device 69 further comprises a respective second lever 95 having a first terminal portion 95 hinged to the first lever 94 and a second terminal portion 95 hinged to the upper tool 6. In particular, the first lever 94 has a first terminal portion 94 hinged to the frame 3 and a second terminal portion 94 hinged to the first terminal portion 95 of the second lever 95. In more detail, the second kinematic chain 93 comprises a first flat hinge 93a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the abovementioned first rotation axis A2: the first lever 94 is engaged with the first flat hinge 93a for rotating around the first rotation axis A2. the second kinematic chain 93 further comprises a second flat hinge 93b interposed between the first lever 94 and the second lever 95 for rotatably constraining one to the other. For this purpose, the second lever 95 has the first terminal portion 95 hinged to the first lever 94 due to the second flat hinge 93b interposed between first and second lever. The second lever further has the second terminal portion 95 constrained by means of a further flat hinge 93c to the upper tool 6. Also the flat hinges of the second kinematic chain 93 are configured for allowing the rotation of the respective rods in a plane parallel to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool 6.

[0246] Entering into the structural detail, the first lever 94 of the second kinematic chain 93 can have the shape of a rod whose opposite ends are respectively engaged with the first and with the second flat hinge 93a, 93b; the second lever 95 of the second kinematic chain can in turn have the shape of a rod, in particular of length substantially identical to the length of the rod forming the first lever 94. Indeed, the first and the second kinematic chain 83, 93 have the same structure, the only difference between the first and the second kinematic chain is represented by the orientation and the position in which the second levers 85, 95 are constrained to the upper tool 6, such levers respectively fixed to the upper and lower portions of the upper tool 6 as illustrated for example in FIG. 9. In more detail, the first and the second kinematic chain 83, 93 are configured for being arranged in an extended condition (FIGS. 8D and 9G) in which the levers (84, 85, 94 and 95) define a respective obtuse angle: in the extended condition, the upper tool 6 can be next to the plate 74, i.e. arranged in the first position of the upper tool (FIG. 9D), or be next to the lower tool 2, i.e. in the second position (FIG. 9G). the first and the second 83, 93 are also configured for being arranged in a grouped condition (FIG. 9C, 9E, 9F, 9H) in which the levers (84, 85, 94 and 95) define a respective acute angle: in the grouped condition the upper tool 6 is spaced close to the plate 74 and to the lower tool 2.

[0247] As is observed by comparing FIGS. 9C-9H, the movement device 69 in its second embodiment is arranged and engaged with the frame 3, such that following a rotation of the first levers 84, 94 around the respective axis A1, A2 (e.g. equal to 90 degrees), there is overall a rotation of the upper tool 6 between the first and the second position, or the passage from the extended condition to the grouped condition of the first and second kinematic chain in order to allow the approaching or spacing of the upper tool 6 to/from the plate 74 and to/from lower tool 2. In more detail, due to the structure and position of the first and second kinematic chain 83, 93, following the opposite rotation of the first levers 84, 94 around the respective axis, the kinematic chains 83, 93 are configured for passing from the extended condition to the grouped condition, and vice versa; on the other hand, following the same-sense rotation of the first levers 84, 94 around the respective axis, the kinematic chains 83, 93 are configured for allowing the rotation of the entire movement device 69 and of the upper tool 6 around an axis that is transverse to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (and hence orthogonal to said vertical parallel planes for movements of the points of the active surface 6a), in order to allow the upper tool 6 to face the plate 74 and the lower tool 2. Indeed, due to the rotation in the same or opposite sense of the first levers 84, 94, the movement device 69, in its second embodiment, is configured for managing the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first and second position in order to allow gripping the film 5a and heat-sealing the latter on the support borne by the lower tool.

[0248] In the enclosed figures, a movement device 69 was illustrated, in its second embodiment, in which the rotation axes A1 and A2 of the first levers coincide; in such condition, the movement device 69 and the upper tool 6 are configured for rotating around said rotation axes (A1 and A2) when the first levers are rotated in the same sense.

[0249] As is visible in the enclosed figures, the movement device 69, in its second embodiment, further comprises a guiding member 86 engaged on one side with the frame 3 and on the other side with the upper tool 6; the guiding member 86 is configured for preventing the oscillation of the upper tool 6 around the flat hinges of the second levers 85, 95 to which the upper tool 6 is directly constrained. The guiding member 86 can comprise a pin 86a for connecting the first levers 84, 94, free to rotate with respect to the latter and with respect to the frame 3; the guiding member 86 can further comprise a rod fixed on one side to the upper tool 6 and engaged by means of a constraint of carriage type to the pin 86a.

[0250] The guiding member 86 can comprise, as a substitution of the rod, a first and a second lever 86b, 86c hinged to each other and hinged respectively to the pin 86a (or to a portion of the movement device 69 such as an actuator configured for rotating the first or the second flat kinematic chain) and to the upper tool 6 (FIG. 9). The first and second lever 86b, 86c of the guiding member 86 are configured for defining a flat kinematic chain placed orthogonal with respect to the flat kinematic chains 83, 93 so as to prevent undesired oscillations of the upper tool 6. Hereinbelow, the movement device 69 is briefly described during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position. Starting from the configuration of FIG. 9C, where the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced from the plate 74 (grouped condition of the levers 84, 85, 94 and 95), a counter-rotation is executed of the first levers 84 and 94 respectively of the first and second flat kinematic system 83, 93, so as to allow the passage of the latter from the grouped condition to the extended condition, so as to bring the upper tool 6 close to the plate 74 (first position of the upper tool illustrated in FIG. 9D) in a manner so as to allow gripping the film 5a. Then, the first levers 84, 94 are once again counter-rotated (according to opposite senses with respect to the preceding counter-rotation) so as to allow the passage of the first and second flat kinematic system 83, 93 from the extended condition to the grouped condition (FIG. 9E). Then, the first levers 84, 94 are rotated according to a same sense, so as to allow the rotation of the movement device 69 and of the upper tool 6 in order to bring the latter from a position in which it faces the plate 74 to a position in which it faces the lower tool 2 (see FIG. 9F). In such position, the first levers 84, 94 are newly placed in counter-rotation so as to allow the passage of the first and second flat kinematic system 83, 93 from the grouped condition to the extended condition (FIG. 9G): in such extended condition, the upper tool 6 is brought close to the lower tool 6 and configured for allowing the fixing (heat-sealing) of the film 5a on the support 4 (second position of the upper tool 6).

[0251] Following the fixing of the film, the upper tool 6 is spaced from the lower tool by means of a further counter-rotation of the first levers 84, 94 so as to allow the passage of the first and second kinematic chain 83, 93 from the extended condition to the grouped condition (FIG. 9H). Finally, the upper tool 6 is brought into the starting condition due to a new same-sense rotation (in this step clockwise) of the first levers 84, 94 so that the upper tool 6 faces the plate 74.

[0252] Still in accordance with the second embodiment of the movement device 69, the latter can be guided in movement by two separate actuator members 70a, 70b of the apparatus 1, optionally electric motors, hydraulic actuators or pneumatic actuators. The actuators are active on the respective first levers 84, 94 and commandable for activating the rotation of the latter. Each actuator member 70a or 70b can comprise for example a motor fit on the respective first lever coinciding with the rotation axis (A1, A2).

[0253] In a third embodiment of the movement device 69 illustrated in FIGS. 12-13D, the latter comprises an actuator 96 engaged with the frame 3 and configured for rotating a worm screw 97 which is in turn engaged with a lead screw nut 98 (see FIG. 13). The screw 97 is extended orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool 6. The lead screw nut 98 is constrained to the upper tool 6 by means of a first lever 98a; said first lever 98a is constrained by means of a flat hinge at one end to the lead screw nut 98 and at an opposite end is constrained by means of a respective flat hinge to the upper tool 6. The actuator 96, in addition to being engaged with the frame 3, is motion connected by means of a second lever 98b to the first lever 98a; in particular, the second lever 98b is constrained at one end to the actuator 96 by means of a flat hinge and at the opposite end is engaged by means of a flat hinge with an intermediate point of the first rod 98a interposed between the ends of the latter.

[0254] In more detail, the actuator 96 and the screw 97 are engaged with each other by means of a constraint of carriage type, like the lead screw nut 98 with the screw 97. The diagram of the movement device 69, in its third embodiment, is reported in FIG. 14. Actuator 96, screw 97, lead screw nut 98, together with the first and second lever 98a, 98b are configured for allowing the movement of the upper tool 6 in approaching and moving away from the plate 74 and lower tool 2, as will be better described hereinbelow.

[0255] The movement device 69, in its third embodiment, further comprises a guiding member 99 engaged on one side with the frame 3 or with the actuator 96 and on the other side with the upper tool 6; the guiding member 99 is configured for preventing oscillations of the upper tool 6 around an axis defined by the point in which the first lever 97 is hinged to the upper tool 6. The guiding member 99 can for example a first and a second lever 99a, 99b hinged to each other and constrained by means of flat hinges to the actuator and to the upper tool 6: said flat hinges of the guiding device 99 are placed orthogonal with respect to the flat hinges which constrain the first and the second lever 98a and 98b so as to prevent undesired oscillations of the upper tool 6.

[0256] The movement device 69 further comprises an actuator 70 configured for allowing the rotation (e.g. by 90) of the upper tool 6 so as to allow the latter to pass from a position in which it faces the plate 74 to a position in which it faces the lower tool 2. The actuator 70 can be stably fixed to the actuator 69 active on the screw 97 or stably fixed to the lead screw nut 98.

[0257] Hereinbelow, the movement device 69 will be briefly described during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position. Starting from the configuration in which the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced from the plate 74, screw 97 and lead screw nut 98 are spaced from each other in a manner such that the levers 98a and 98b are arranged in a grouped condition in which the upper tool is brought close to the actuator 96, to the screw 97 and to the lead screw nut 98. Then, the actuator 96 is actuated in a manner such to allow the approaching of the lead screw nut to the actuator 96 with the consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 from the screw-lead screw nut group; in this manner, it is possible to bring the upper tool close to the plate 74 for gripping the film 5a in order to define said first position of the upper tool (FIG. 13A). Then, the actuator 96 is newly actuated for newly spacing the screw from the lead screw nut and consequently spacing the upper tool from the plate 74 (FIG. 13B).

[0258] Subsequently, the actuator 70 is activated in order to allow the rotation of the upper tool (e.g. by 90) in order to bring the latter in a position in which it faces the lower tool 2 (FIG. 13C). Then, the actuator 96 is actuated in a manner such to allow moving the lead screw nut 98 close to the actuator 96 with the consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 from the screw-lead screw nut group; in this manner, it is possible to bring the upper tool 6 close to the lower tool 2 for the engagement of the film 5a with the support 4 in order to define said second position of the upper tool (FIG. 13D). Then, the actuator 96 is newly actuated for newly spacing the screw 97 from the lead screw nut 98 and consequently spacing the upper tool 6 from the lower tool 2. Subsequently, the actuator 70 is activated in order to allow the rotation of the upper tool 6 (e.g. by 90) in order to bring the latter into the position in which the latter faces, and is spaced from, the plate 74. During such steps, the upper tool 6 is moved from the first to the second position along said predetermined trajectory lying, in use conditions of the apparatus, along a vertical plane.

[0259] In a fourth embodiment of the movement device 69 illustrated in FIGS. 15-17, the latter comprises a bar 110 hinged to the frame 3, on which a first actuator 111 is fit which is stably fixed to the frame 3 and configured for rotating said bar 110. Said bar 110 is connected to the upper tool 6 by means of a lever system 112 comprising a first lever 113 hinged on one side to the bar 110, by means of a flat hinge 113a, and on the other side hinged, by means of a respective flat hinge 113b, to a second actuator 114; the lever system 112 further comprises a second lever 115 hinged on one side, by means of a flat hinge 115a, to the second actuator 114, and on the other side hinged by means of a flat hinge 115b to the upper tool 6.

[0260] The second actuator 114 is configured for rotating the first and the second lever 113, 115 and moving them between an extended condition in which said levers define an obtuse angle and a grouped condition in which said levers define an acute angle. In the extended condition, the lever system 112 is configured for spacing the upper tool 6 from the bar 110; in the grouped condition the lever system 112 is configured for bringing the upper tool 6 close to the bar 110.

[0261] The movement device 69, in its fourth embodiment, further comprises a guiding member 116 engaged on one side with the frame 3 and on the other side with the bar 110; the guiding member 116 is configured for preventing oscillations of the upper tool 6 around an axis defined by the point in which the second lever 115 is hinged to the upper tool 6. The guiding member 116 can for example comprise a first and a second lever 116a, 116b hinged to each other and constrained by means of flat hinges to the bar and to the upper tool 6: said flat hinges of the guiding device 116 are placed orthogonal with respect to the flat hinges of the lever system 112.

[0262] Briefly described hereinbelow is the movement device 69 during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position. Starting from the configuration in which the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced from the plate 74, the first and the second levers of the lever system 112 are placed in the grouped condition. Then, the second actuator 114 is actuated in a manner such to arrange the first and the second lever 113, 115 in the extended condition with the consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 from the bar 110; in this manner, it is possible to bring the upper tool 6 close to the plate 74 for gripping the film 5a in order to define the first position of the upper tool 6 (FIG. 16A). Then, the second actuator 115 is newly actuated for arranging the first and the second lever 113, 115 in the grouped condition with consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 (bearing the film 5a) from the plate 74 (FIG. 16B). Subsequently, the first actuator 111 is activated in order to allow the rotation of the upper tool (e.g. by 90) in order to bring the latter into a position in which it faces the lower tool 2 (FIG. 16C); the rotation of the upper tool occurs around the bars 110 along an axis orthogonal to the lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool 6. Then, the second actuator 114 is actuated in a manner such to arrange the first and the second lever 113, 115 in the extended condition with the consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 from the bar 110; in this manner, it is possible to move the upper tool 6 close to the lower tool 2 for engaging the film 5a with the support 4 in order to define said second position of the upper tool 6. Then, the second actuator 114 is newly actuated for newly arranging the first and the second lever in the grouped condition and consequently spacing the upper tool 6 from the lower tool 2. Subsequently, the first actuator 111 is activated in order to allow the rotation of the upper tool 6 (e.g. by 90) in order to bring the latter into the starting position in which the latter faces, and is spaced from, the plate 74. During such steps, the upper tool 6 is moved from the first to the second position along said predetermined trajectory lying, in use conditions of the apparatus, along said vertical plane.

[0263] As mentioned above, the lower tool 2 is movable relative to the frame 3 at least between a respective packaging position in which the lower tool 2 is aligned with the upper tool 6, and a respective loading position, spaced from the packaging position, in which the lower tool 2 is configured for receiving said support 4. The movement device 69 (in any one of its embodiments) can comprise a synchronizing kinematic system 75 which mechanically interconnects the lower tool 2 with the upper tool 6 for synchronizing the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position with the passage of the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position. In this manner, when the lower tool 2 is in loading position, the upper tool 6 is situated in the first position for picking up the film portion 5a, while when the lower tool 2 is in packaging position, the upper tool 6 is situated in the second position for engaging said film portion 5a with the at least one support 4 housed by the lower tool 2 and hence making the at least one package 40. The synchronizing kinematic system 75 can for example comprise a lever system connected with the driving member 71 and capable of transforming the rotary motion of the driving member 71 into a motion, e.g. to-and-fro translational, of the lower tool 2. For such purpose, the apparatus 1 can also comprise a guiding device for moving the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position according to a rectilinear trajectory, optionally horizontal rectilinear. The movement device 69, due to the synchronizing kinematic system 75, can drive the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position and synchronously move the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position. Analogously, the movement device 69 can, due to the synchronizing kinematic system 75, drive the movement of the upper tool 6 from the second position to the first position and synchronously move the lower tool 2 from the packaging position to the loading position. Such movements are in particular activated due to the actuator which generates the rotation of the upper tool 6 from the position in which it faces the plate 74 to the position in which it faces the lower tool 2, and vice versa.

[0264] Alternatively, the movements of the upper and lower tools can be independent; for example, the movement device 69 can be moved by means of one or more actuator members while the lower tool 2 can be movable to-and-fro by means of a different actuator member (e.g. a hydraulic actuator or an electric motor). In the case of independent movements of the upper and lower tools, the members that manage the movements of the tools are synchronized with each other so as to simultaneously define the first position of the upper tool 6 and the loading position of the lower tool 2, and furthermore the second position of the upper tool 6 and the packaging position of the lower tool 2, in which the upper tool 6 faces the lower tool 2.

[0265] In an optional embodiment, the trajectory defined by any one point of the active surface 6a, during the movement thereof from the first to the second position of the upper tool 6, can be substantially obtained by eliminating the abovementioned kinematic chains in the various embodiments of the device 69 and substituting them with one or more actuators. For example, the upper tool 6 can be moved by means of a single driving member having one end constrained via rotation around the first axis A, in which said single driving member comprises an actuator configured for varying the length thereof during the movement of the upper tool from the first to the second position.

[0266] As described above, the apparatus 1 can comprise a feeding station 5 which is set to supply the film 5a in the form of a continuous strip; the apparatus 1 can then comprise a cutting unit 76 placed transverse to the film 5 and borne by the frame 3 or by the upper tool 6; the cutting unit 76 is active on the film 5b coming from the supplying station 5. The cutting unit comprises a blade 76a configured for being transversely arranged with respect to an advancing direction of film coming from the supplying station 5: the blade 76a is movable in a to-and-fro manner transverse to the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 when in pick-up position, by means of one or more actuators e.g. of pneumatic or oil-pressure type.

[0267] The film 5a can be made of plastic material; as mentioned above, the upper tool 6 can comprise a sealing head configured for heating at least one part of said active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 for heat-sealing the film portion 5a to the support 4 in order to define a hermetically closed package. The same upper tool 6 can be further provided with means for holding the film portion 5a at the active surface 6a; said holding means can comprise one or more of: at least one vacuum source connected with suction openings present on the active surface 6a, one or more mechanical retainers associated with the active surface 6a, one or more adhesive portions associated with the active surface 6a, at least one electric circuit electrically connected with the active surface 6a in order to charge such surface with a predetermined polarity.

[0268] The lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 can be configured for definingin an approached positiona chamber in which the support 4 bearing the product P and said film portion 5a is housed; the packaging apparatus 1 can further comprise at least one between: [0269] a suctioning system fluidically communicating with said chamber, said suctioning system being configured for removing air from the interior of the chamber in order to define a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure inside the same. In such configuration the apparatus 1 is capable of making vacuum packages, also termed packages of skin type; [0270] a blowing system fluidically communicating with said chamber and configured for introducing gas within the latter in order to define a modified atmosphere environment inside the same. In such configuration, the apparatus 1 is configured for extracting at least one part of the air present in the chamber and introducing a gas inside the same so as to be able to make packages with modified atmosphere.

[0271] Packaging Process

[0272] Also forming the object of the present invention is a process for packaging products of the type using an apparatus in accordance with any one of the enclosed claims and/or in accordance with the below-reported detailed description. The process described hereinbelow can use the above-described apparatus 1 and in accordance with one or more of the enclosed claims. The process comprises various steps that can be carried out by a control unit 50 which acts on suitable actuators and/or motors and/or pumps and/or valves in order to attain the various described steps and in particular to determine the movements of movable parts; the control unit 50 can also be employed for controlling the suction and/or the injection of gas in a packaging chamber within which the package 40 is at least partly formed.

[0273] The process comprises a step of arranging at least one support 4 on the lower tool 2 placed in the loading position. In FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus 1 is illustrated with the lower tool 2 placed in the loading position: the lower tool 2 is situated outside a virtual bulk defined by the same lower tool 2 when aligned with the upper tool 6 in the packaging position and hence is free to correctly receive the support (FIG. 3). In the enclosed figures, a step is illustrated for arranging/moving an empty support 4: the product P to be packaged is not present on the support 4 (FIG. 1). It is also possible to load, on the lower tool 2, a support 4 bearing the product. It is further possible to load the support 4 without product and proceed with the loading of the product P once the support 4 has been correctly arranged on the lower tool 2.

[0274] Following the loading of the support 4, the process provides for the movement of the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position (packaging position illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0275] The process further provides for the positioning of the upper tool 6 at said first position; during such configuration of the upper tool 6 the process provides for feeding the film 5b in a manner such that the latter can at least partly cover the abutment plate 74; once the film 5b is placed to cover the plate 74, the upper tool is placed in the first position in a manner such that the film 5b is interposed between the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 and the abutment surface 74a of the abutment plate 74. Then, by means of the cutting device 76, the film 5b is cut in order to define the film portion 5a (discrete element) which is held by the upper tool 6 due to the means 77: the upper tool 6, in the first position, then picks up the film portion 5a.

[0276] Then, the process provides for movement of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position in a manner such that the active surface 6 of the upper tool is situated facing the lower tool in the packaging position. It is useful that the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position can occur simultaneously (synchronized movement) with the movement of the lower tool 2 from the packaging position to the loading position due to the synchronization means: in the packaging position, upper tool and lower tool are aligned with and next to each other.

[0277] Once the upper and lower tools face each other, the process provides for moving the tools close together such that the same can define a chamber within which the support bearing the product and the film portion 5a are arranged. Then the process provides for a step for engaging the film portion 5a with the support 4 for obtaining at least one package 40 which can comprise a step of hot coupling said film portion 5a to the support 4 so as to hermetically close the product P within the package 40. The engagement step of the film portion 5a can comprise the following sub-steps: [0278] holding said film portion 5a by means of the upper tool 6, for example by means of a suctioning system for the air of the same upper tool, above the respective support 4; [0279] optionally heating said film portion 5a held above the respective support 4 by means of a heating system, also of the upper tool. The heating step can be executed for the upper element 6 during the step of holding the portion 5a; [0280] arranging the lower and upper tools 2, 6 in an approached position in which the latter define a chamber in which said support 4 bearing the product P and said film portion 5a are housed; [0281] hermetically heat-sealing said film portion 5a to at least one portion of the support 4 for defining a housing compartment of the package 40 within which the product P is housed. The heat-sealing step can be executed by means of the sealing head of the upper tool 6.

[0282] The step of heating the film portion 5a, if present, can be executed both during a spaced position (FIG. 3) for the lower and upper tools and during the approached position (FIG. 4).

[0283] The process can also provide for a step of removing at least part of the air within said chamber defined by the lower and upper tools so as to remove the air present in a volume defined by the support 4 in cooperation with the film closure portion 5a, so as to make a vacuum package 40. The air removal step can be executed before the fixing of the film portion to the support 4 or following the sealing of the portion 5a.

[0284] The process can alternatively comprise a step for removing air from the package and simultaneous insertion of a gas for defining a package 40 with modified atmosphere.

[0285] Following the definition of the package 40, the lower and upper tools are arranged in the spaced position and in particular respectively brought back into the loading position and into the first position; during such movement of the tools, the package 40 is unloaded from the lower tool 2. FIG. 1 illustrates, in a non-limiting manner, a process step that provides for unloading the package on an outlet conveyor 20.