CN111566014B

CN111566014B - Apparatus and process for packaging products

Info

Publication number: CN111566014B
Application number: CN201880086349.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R.帕伦博
Original assignee: Cryovac LLC
Current assignee: Cryovac LLC
Priority date: 2017-12-13
Filing date: 2018-12-12
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-12
Also published as: KR102587437B1; BR112020011555A2; US20200391894A1; EP3724080A1; WO2019116263A1; KR20200096627A; CN111566014A

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging device (1) comprising: a frame (3); a lower tool (2) engaged with the frame (3) and configured for receiving one or more supports (4); an upper tool (6) configured for engaging the membrane portion (5 a) with the at least one support (4). The upper tool (6) is movable, under the action of movement means (69) with a planar movement system, between a first position, in which it picks up the film portion (5 a) from the supply station, and a second position, in which it fixes the film portion (5 a) on the support (4) housed by the lower tool (2). The invention also relates to a packaging process using said device (1).

Description

Apparatus and process for packaging products

Technical Field

The object of the present invention is an apparatus and related process for packaging products. In particular, the present finding refers to an apparatus and a process using a substrate support or tray intended to contain at least one product and at least one plastic film intended to be coupled with the substrate support in order to enclose the product itself in a package. The present discovery can be applied to vacuum packaging or controlled atmosphere packaging of various types of products.

Background

In the field of packaging, apparatuses and related methods are known for packaging products, such as meat, fish, cheese, prepared meals and other similar food products, in vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere. Vacuum packaging process, also known as Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP), is essentially a thermoforming process that provides for arranging a product (e.g., a food product) within or over a rigid or semi-rigid support (e.g., defined by a flat tray or by a tub or by a cup). The support and the related product are arranged within a vacuum chamber; welding a thermoplastic film to the upper edge of the support within the chamber; and then, the air present in the package is extracted so that the thermoplastic film can adhere to the product arranged inside the support.

The process of packaging in a controlled atmosphere or modified atmosphere, also known as Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), provides instead for evacuating the air present between the support and the plastic film and for subsequently injecting a gas mixture with a controlled composition before hermetically closing the support by means of the plastic film.

Complex apparatuses and processes are conceived and developed for the automatic transfer of a plurality of supports into a packaging apparatus, wherein a plastic film is partially adhered to the support on which the product has been loaded, in order to obtain a certain number of packaged products quickly. Known apparatuses and processes of this type are described, for example, in the following patent application WO 2014/166940 A1.

Even if the above known solutions allow to efficiently form high quality packaged products and to allow high productivity, some of the apparatuses described in the above applications have a complex structure and non-negligible dimensions: such known devices therefore require a large investment of capital and the availability of large spaces for their installation. In addition, plants with a high degree of automation suffer from reliability problems and require regular maintenance work, since the failure of even one component impairs the normal operation of the plant, causing its complete machine stoppage and requiring the intervention of highly qualified technicians.

Additionally, it should be indicated that large automated packaging equipment generally has poor flexibility of use: such devices cannot be easily adapted to small series production and to package products on supports of different geometries. Finally, the described devices are often complex to use, in which case they also require highly qualified personnel to set up and implement them.

One further known type of apparatus for vacuum packaging products is described in patent application nos. WO 2014/060507 A1 and WO 2011/012652 A1. The apparatus comprises: a packaging station configured to receive a support supporting a product; and a plastic closure film for defining the package.

The packaging station comprises an upper tool provided with two heads placed at 90 ° with respect to each other; in detail, each head is placed at the end of a support arm: the support arms of these heads are joined together at the ends opposite the ends bearing the respective heads so as to form a substantially L-shaped support frame. The support frame is configured for rotating 180 ° around an axis intersecting the coupling section of the support arm by 45 ° between a pickup position of the closing film and a position of heat sealing the film on the support. The L-shaped configuration of the support frame bearing the two sealing heads allows the upper tool of the packaging station to simultaneously perform the packaging step by means of one head and the step for picking up the film by means of the other sealing head.

Even though the apparatuses described in patent applications No. WO 2014/060507 A1 and No. WO 2011/012652 A1 allow to efficiently form high-quality packaged products and allow high productivity, such apparatuses have complex structures and dimensions which are not negligible, in particular resulting from the articulation of the upper tool and from the movement of the upper tool during the movement of the two heads from the packaging position to the picking position. In addition, such equipment also requires high automation, with the problems described above.

Additionally, known from patent application No. US 4,065,909A is a packaging device which provides for closing a container by means of an application film and a rigid lid. The apparatus includes a conveyor configured to move a plurality of containers supporting a product through a packaging station. The packaging station comprises a rotating drum having a hexagonal shape, six sealing heads. Each head is configured for rotating and picking up the rigid lids and closing films from the respective feeding stations in different operating positions. Once the lid and the closing film have been picked up, each sealing head is configured for rotating in the packaging position and applying the picked-up elements (rigid lid and film) to the container so as to define a closed package containing the product. In addition to rotating with the drum, each head can also be moved reciprocally by means of a dedicated actuator along a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation of the drum.

Likewise, the device of patent application No. US 4,065,909A has a complex structure and non-negligible dimensions, resulting in particular from the movement of the articulated structure and of the rotating drum supporting the six sealing heads. In addition, such equipment also requires high automation, with the problems described above.

Object of the present discovery

It is therefore an object of the present invention to substantially solve at least one of the disadvantages and/or limitations of the aforementioned solutions.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for packaging and therefore a process for packaging, characterized by extreme simplicity, in order to reduce the investment for implementing the apparatus and the process. It is a further object of the present finding to provide an apparatus and related process for packaging which can be easily used by essentially any user. In addition, it is an object of the present finding to provide an apparatus and related process for packaging which allows for the rapid production of packaged products, in particular in vacuum or under a controlled atmosphere. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a process for packaging which can be operated in a highly reliable manner, reducing the possible maintenance work to a minimum.

These objects and still other objects, which will be more apparent from the following description, are substantially achieved by an apparatus and a process for packaging according to what is expressed in the appended claims and/or in one or more of the following aspects, taken alone or in any combination with each other or with any one of the appended claims and/or in combination with any one of the further aspects or features described hereinafter.

Disclosure of Invention

In a1 st aspect, there is provided an apparatus (1) for packaging at least one product (P) arranged on a support (4), the packaging apparatus (1) comprising:

a supporting frame (3),

a supply station (5) of a film (5 b), optionally a plastic film, supported by the frame (3) and configured for arranging at least one portion (5 a) of the film (5 b) at a predetermined pick-up position,

at least one lower tool (2) engaged with the frame (3) and configured for receiving one or more supports (4),

at least one upper tool (6) engaged with the frame (3) and cooperating with the lower tool (2) for engaging the film portion (5 a) with at least one support (4) and making at least one package (40),

a movement device (69) between the frame (3) and the upper tool, wherein the movement device (69) is configured for moving the upper tool (6) between:

a first position in which the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) is in close proximity to the film portion (5 a) in said predetermined picking position and is arranged to receive the film portion from the supply station (5), and

a second position, in which the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) is aligned with and in close proximity to the lower tool (2), for engaging the film portion (5 a) with at least one support (4) and making at least one package (40).

In a2 nd aspect according to the 1 st aspect, the movement means (69) are configured for moving the upper tool (6) such that the points of the active surface (6 a) move on respective planes parallel to each other in the movement of the upper tool (6) between the first and second positions.

In a 3 rd aspect according to the 1 st or 2 nd aspect, the movement means (69) are configured for moving the upper tool (6) such that the points of the active surface (6 a) move on respective vertical planes parallel to each other in the movement of the upper tool (6) between the first and the second position.

In aspect 4 according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement means (69) comprises, optionally consists of, a planar movement chain.

In a 5 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement means (69) are constrained to the frame (3) so as to have only one degree of freedom with respect to the frame (3) itself.

In a 6 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement device (69) comprises a drive member (71) configured for rotation about a first axis of rotation (a) orthogonal to said parallel planes.

In the 7 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the movement means (69) comprise 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 an 8 th aspect according to the 6 th or 7 th aspect, the movement device (69) further comprises a first planar hinge (73 a) constrained to the frame (3), wherein the drive member (71) is engaged with the first planar hinge for rotation about a first axis of rotation (a), optionally wherein the first axis of rotation (a) is defined by said first planar hinge (73 a) and is orthogonal to said parallel planes.

In the 9 th aspect according to the 6 th or 7 th or 8 th aspect, the moving device (69) further includes a second planar hinge (73 b), wherein the driven member (72) has:

a first terminal portion hinged to the driving member (71) by means of said second planar hinge (73 b) interposed between the driven member and the driving member, an

A second terminal portion, which is fixed to the upper tool (6).

In a 10 th aspect according to any one of the 6 th to 9 th aspects, the moving device (69) includes a guide member (73 c) that is engaged via rotation about a second rotation axis (B) parallel to the first rotation axis (a).

In the 11 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the guide member (73 c) slidably receives a third portion of the driven member (72) intermediate between the first and second terminal portions thereof.

In the 12 th aspect according to any one of the 8 th to 11 th aspects, the driving member (71) has a shape of a rod having opposite ends engaged with the first planar hinge (73 a) and the second planar hinge (73 b), respectively.

In the 13 th aspect according to any one of the 8 th to 12 th aspects, the driven member (72) has a shape of a rod having opposite ends engaged with the second planar hinge (73 b) and the upper tool (6), respectively.

In a 14 th aspect according to any one of the 10 th to 13 th aspects, the guide member (73 c) is a sleeve rotatable with respect to the frame (3), an inner portion of the sleeve slidably receiving an intermediate portion of the driven member (72).

In the 15 th aspect according to any one of the 8 th to 14 th aspects, the driving member (71), the driven member (72), the first planar hinge (73 a), the second planar hinge (73 b), and the guide member (73 c) are configured such that after the driving member (71) rotates about the axis (a), there is a total movement of the driven member (72) including the rotation of the driven member (72) and at the same time the sliding of the driven member relative to the guide member (73 c).

In the 16 th aspect according to the previous aspect, said movement of the driven member comprises a first step in which the driven member (72) rotates and slides within the guide member, causing the upper tool (6) to rotate and to move away from the abutment plate (74) for the film (5 b).

In a 17 th aspect according to the 15 th or 16 th aspect, the movement of the driven member includes a second step in which the driven member (72) continues its rotation, thereby causing the upper tool (6) to approach the guide member (73 c).

In the 18 th aspect according to the 15 th or 16 th or 17 th aspect, said movement of the driven member comprises a third step in which the driven member (72) completes its rotation and simultaneously slides in a direction (sense) opposite to the second step with respect to the guide member, so as to move the upper tool (69) away from the guide member, so as to bring it into close proximity to the lower tool (2).

In a 19 th aspect according to any preceding aspect, the apparatus comprises at least one actuator member (70), optionally an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic motor, acting on the movement means (69) and being commandable for selectively moving the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

In a 20 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the actuator member (70) acts on the drive member (71) and commands the drive member (71) to rotate about said first axis of rotation (a).

In a 21 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement means (69) is configured for moving the upper tool (6) between the first position and the second position along a predetermined trajectory, which predetermined trajectory is located along a vertical plane in a state of use of the apparatus.

In a 22 th aspect according to the previous aspect, wherein the drive member (71) of the movement device is configured for rotation about a first axis of rotation (a) orthogonal to the plane of the vertical lying of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool.

In a 23 rd aspect according to any one of the 19 th to 22 th aspects, the apparatus comprises a single actuator member (70) acting on the movement means (69).

In a 24 th aspect according to any one of the 21 st to 23 th aspects, the device comprises a single upper tool (6) movable along said predetermined trajectory, said predetermined trajectory being located along a vertical plane in a state of use of the device.

In a 25 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the upper tool is movable between at least:

a first position and a second position to define an outward stroke of the upper tool;

a second position and a first position to define a return stroke of the upper tool.

In a 26 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the movement device (69), in particular the actuator, is configured for moving the upper tool along an outward stroke and a return stroke.

In a 27 th aspect according to any preceding aspect, the supply station (5) of plastic film (5 b) comprises an abutment plate (74) configured for defining an abutment surface of the portion (5 a) of said film (5 b) at a predetermined pick-up position.

In the 28 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the abutment surface (74 a) of the abutment plate (74) is substantially flat and arranged on a vertical plane.

In a 29 th aspect according to the 27 th or 28 th aspect, the movement means are configured such that, when the upper tool (6) is in said first position, in a use state of the apparatus, the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool is arranged according to a vertical plane parallel to the abutment surface (74 a) of the abutment plate (74).

In a 30 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement means are configured such that, when the upper tool (6) is in said second position, in the use state of the apparatus, the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool is arranged according to a horizontal plane.

In a 31 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in a use state of the apparatus, the movement device (69) is configured for arranging the driving member (71) vertically and the driven member (72) horizontally with the upper tool (6) in said first position.

In a 32 nd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in a use state of the apparatus, the movement device (69) is configured for arranging the driving member (71) horizontally and the driven member (72) vertically with the upper tool (6) in said second position.

In a 33 th aspect according to any one of the 1 st to 5 th aspects, the movement means (69) is configured for moving the upper tool (6) between the first position and the second position along a predetermined trajectory, which in a state of use of the apparatus is along a vertical plane.

In a 34 th aspect according to any one of the 1 st to 5 th aspects or according to the 33 th aspect, the movement means comprise a first planar kinematic chain (83) and a second planar kinematic chain (93), both of which are engaged on one side with the frame (3) and on the other side with the upper tool (6).

In a 35 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the first planar kinematic chain (83) and the second planar kinematic chain (93) are spaced apart and apart from each other with respect to an axis transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool (6).

In a 36 th aspect according to the 34 th or 35 th aspect, the first planar kinematic chain (83) includes:

a first lever (84) configured for rotation about a first rotation axis (A1) orthogonal to a vertical lying plane of the predetermined motion trajectory of the upper tool (6);

a second lever (85) having a terminal portion hinged to the first lever (84) and a second terminal portion hinged to the upper tool (6);

and wherein the second planar kinematic chain (93) comprises:

a respective first lever (94) configured for rotating about a second rotation axis (A2) orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined motion trajectory of the upper tool (6);

a respective second lever (95) having a terminal portion hinged to the first lever (94) of the second kinematic chain and a second terminal portion hinged to the upper tool (6).

In a 37 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the first kinematic chain (83) of the kinematic arrangement (69) comprises:

a first planar hinge (83 a) constrained to the frame (3), wherein a first lever (84) of the first planar kinematic chain is engaged with the first planar hinge (83 a) for rotation about a first rotation axis (A1);

a second planar hinge (83 b), wherein the second lever (85) of the first planar kinematic chain has:

a first terminal portion (85') hinged to the first rod (84) by means of said second plane hinge (83 b) interposed between the first rod and the second rod, and

a second terminal portion (85 '') constrained to the upper tool (6) by means of a third plane hinge (83 c).

In a 38 th aspect according to the 36 th or 37 th aspect, the second moving chain (93) of the moving device (69) includes:

a first planar hinge (93 a) constrained to the frame (3), wherein a first lever (94) of a second planar kinematic chain is engaged with said first planar hinge (93 a) for rotation about a second axis of rotation (A2);

a second planar joint (93 b), wherein the second rod (95) of the second planar kinematic chain has:

a first terminal portion (95') hinged to the first bar (94) by means of the second planar hinge (93 b) interposed between the first bar (94) and the second bar (95) of the second planar kinematic chain, and

a second terminal portion (95 '') constrained to the upper tool (6) by means of a third plane hinge (93 c).

In the 39 th aspect according to any one of the 36 th to 38 th aspects, the first rotation axis (A1) of the first planar kinematic chain (83) coincides with the second rotation axis (A2) of the second planar kinematic chain (93).

In the 40 th aspect according to any one of the 36 th to 39 th aspects, the first planar kinematic chain and the second planar kinematic chain are arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to the upper tool (6) with respect to a plane passing through the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis and placed orthogonally to a plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool (6).

In a 41 st aspect according to any one of the 36 th to 40 th aspects, the second lever (85) of the first kinematic chain (83) is hinged to an upper portion of the upper tool, while the second lever (95) of the second planar kinematic chain (93) is hinged to a lower portion of the upper tool (66), the lower portion being opposite to said upper portion.

In a 42 th aspect according to any one of the 36 th to 41 th aspects, the movement device (69) comprises a first actuator member (70 a) mounted on a first lever (84) of a first kinematic chain (83) and configured for rotating said first lever (84) about said first axis (A1),

and wherein the movement means (69) comprise a second actuator member (70 b) mounted on a first lever (94) of a second kinematic chain (93) and configured for rotating said first lever (94) about said second axis (A2),

wherein the first actuator member (70 a) and the second actuator member (70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in opposite directions so as to allow the upper tool (6) to rotate about said first (A1) and second (A2) rotation axes,

wherein the first actuator member (70 a) and the second actuator member (70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in the same direction so as to allow the upper tool (6) to translate close to and away from said first (A1) and second (A2) rotation axes.

In a 43 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the first actuator member (70 a) and the second actuator member (70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in the same direction for defining at least:

a ganged state, in which the first and second levers of the first kinematic chain and in which the first and second levers of the second kinematic chain define an acute angle, optionally, in the ganged state the upper tool is arranged in a position close to the first (A1) and second (A2) axes of rotation,

an extended state, in which the first and second rods of the first kinematic chain and the first and second rods of the second kinematic chain define an obtuse angle, optionally, in the extended state, the upper tool (6) is arranged in a spaced position with respect to the first (A1) and second (A2) axes of rotation.

In a 44 th aspect according to any one of the 34 th to 43 th aspects, the movement device (69) comprises a guide member (86) engaged in an interposed manner between the upper tool (6) and the frame (3), said guide member being configured for preventing oscillation of the upper tool (6) about a planar hinge where it engages with the second bars (85, 95) of the first and second planar kinematics chains.

In a 45 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the guide member (86) comprises a respective first lever (86 a) and second lever (86 b) constrained to each other by means of a planar hinge, wherein the first lever (86 a) of the guide member (86) is also constrained to the frame (3) by means of a further planar hinge, while the second lever (86 b) is constrained to the upper tool (6) by means of a further planar hinge,

wherein the planar hinge of the guide member (86) is placed transverse, optionally orthogonal, to the planar hinges of the first and second planar kinematics chains.

In any one of the aspects from 1 to 5 or 46 th aspect according to 33, the motion device (69) includes:

a screw (97) hinged to the frame (3),

a first actuator (96) engaged with the frame (3) and acting on the screw (97), the first actuator (96) being configured for rotating the screw (97),

a lead screw nut (98) which is also engaged with the screw (97) via rotation,

a first rod (98 a) which is coupled at one end by means of a planar hinge with the spindle nut (98) and at the opposite end by means of a planar hinge with the upper tool (6),

a second lever (98 b) engaged at one end by means of a planar hinge with a first actuator (96) and at the opposite end by means of a planar hinge with an intermediate point of the first lever (98 a),

wherein the first actuator (96) is configured for rotating the screw (97) so as to allow the approach and movement away of the lead screw nut with respect to the first actuator (96) for at least defining:

a grouping state of the first and second bars, wherein an upper tool (6) is brought close to a screw (b:)97），

An extended state of the first and second bars, wherein the upper tool (6) is spaced apart from the screw (97),

wherein the upper tool (6) is placed at a greater distance from the screw (97) in the extended state than is present between the upper tool (6) and the screw (97) in the grouped state.

In a 47 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the movement means (69) comprise at least one second actuator acting on at least one from among: the device comprises a first actuator, a screw nut, a first rod piece and a second rod piece;

wherein the second actuator lever system is configured for rotating an upper tool (6) around the screw (97) at least between:

a pick-up position, in which the upper tool (6) faces a portion (5 a) of said film (5 b) which is also placed at a respective predetermined pick-up position,

a packaging position, wherein the upper tool (6) faces the lower tool (2) which is also placed in the respective packaging position.

In a 48 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the first actuator is configured for commanding an extended state of the first and second bars for defining the first position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool is in the picking position,

wherein the first actuator is further configured for commanding an extended state of said first and second levers when the upper tool (6) is in the packing position so as to define said second position of the upper tool (6).

In a 49 th aspect according to any one of the 46 th to 48 th aspects, the movement device (69) comprises a guide member (99) engaged in an interposed manner between the upper tool (6) and the frame (3), said guide member (99) being configured for preventing oscillation at the upper tool (6) about an axis at which the upper tool (6) is hinged to said second lever (98 a).

In a 50 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the guide member (99) comprises a respective first bar (99 a) and second bar (99 b) constrained to each other by means of a planar hinge, wherein the first bar (99 a) of the guide member (99) is also constrained to the frame (3) by means of a further planar hinge, while the second bar (99) of the guide member (99) is constrained to the upper tool (6) by means of a further planar hinge,

wherein the planar hinges of the guide member (99) are placed transversally, optionally orthogonally, to at least one of said planar hinges, these planar hinges:

connecting a lead screw nut (98) to a first rod (98 a),

connecting a first rod (98 a) to the upper tool (6),

connecting a first actuator (96) to the second rod (98 b),

the first pin (98 a) is connected to the second pin (98 b).

In any one of the aspects from 1 to 5 or 51 according to 33, the motion device (69) includes:

a rod (110) hinged to the frame (3) and extending in a direction orthogonal to the lying plane of the predetermined movement trajectory of the upper tool (6),

a first bar (113) joined at one end to the rod (110) by means of a planar hinge,

a motor (114) coupled to the first lever (113) by means of a planar hinge, said motor (114) being hinged to the first lever at the opposite end to the end of the first lever hinged to the lever (110),

a second lever (115) engaged at one end with the lever (110) by means of a planar hinge and at the opposite end with the upper tool by means of a planar hinge,

wherein the first and second levers are configured to define at least:

a grouped state in which the upper tool (6) is close to the rod (110),

an extended state, in which the upper tool (6) is spaced apart from the rod (110),

wherein the upper tool (6) is placed at a distance from the rod (110) in the extended state that is greater than the distance that exists between the upper tool (6) and the rod (110) in the ganged state, wherein the motor (114) acts on the first and second levers for commanding the ganged state and the extended state.

In a 52 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the movement means (69) comprise at least one actuator (111) acting on at least one between the rod (110) and said first stem (113), said actuator (111) being configured for rotating the upper tool (6) around the rod (110) at least between:

a pick-up position in which the upper tool (6) faces a portion (5 a) of said film (5 b) which is also placed at a respective predetermined pick-up position,

In a 53 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the motor (114) is configured for commanding an extended state of the first and second bars for defining the first position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool (6) is in the picking position,

wherein the motor (114) is further configured for commanding an extended state of the first and second levers for defining the second position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool (6) is in the packaging position.

In a 54 th aspect according to any one of the 51 th to 53 th aspects, the movement device (69) comprises a guide member (116) engaged in an interposed manner between the upper tool (6) and the frame (3), said guide member (116) being configured for preventing oscillation at the upper tool (6) about an axis at which the upper tool (6) is hinged to the second lever (116).

In a 55 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the guide member (116) comprises a respective first and second bar constrained to each other by means of a planar hinge, wherein the first bar of the guide member is also constrained to the frame by means of a further planar hinge, while the second bar is constrained to the upper tool (6) by means of a further planar hinge,

wherein the planar hinges of the guide member (116) are placed transversely, optionally orthogonally, to at least one of said planar hinges, these planar hinges:

connecting the rod (110) to the first rod (113),

connecting the first rod (113) to a motor (114),

connecting the second rod (115) to a motor (114),

the second rod (115) is connected to the upper tool (6).

In a 56 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the apparatus comprises a single upper tool (6) movable along the trajectory at least between a position along a vertical plane in a state of use of the apparatus:

In a 57 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the movement means (69) are configured for moving the single upper tool (6) along an outward stroke and a return stroke.

In a 58 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the movement means (69) is configured for moving the upper tool (6) between the first position and the second position, optionally in a use state of the device, by rotating the upper tool (6) by 90 degrees.

In a 59 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the lower tool (2) is movable relative to the frame (3) between at least:

a packaging position in which the lower tool (2) is aligned with the upper tool (6),

a loading position spaced apart from the packaging position, wherein the lower tool (2) is configured for receiving the support (4).

In a 60 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the movement device (69) comprises a synchronous movement system (75) mechanically interconnecting the lower tool (2) and the upper tool (6) for synchronizing the passage of the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position (passage) with the passage of the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position.

In a 61 th aspect according to the 59 th or 60 th aspect, the movement device (69) comprises a synchronous movement system (75) mechanically interconnecting the lower tool (2) with the upper tool (6) for synchronizing the passage of the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position with the passage of the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position, such that when the lower tool (2) is in the loading position, the upper tool (6) is in the first position for picking up the film portion (5 a) and when the lower tool (2) is in the packaging position, the upper tool (6) is in the second position for engaging the film portion (5 a) with the at least one support (4) accommodated by the lower tool (2) and thus making the at least one package (40).

In a 62 nd aspect according to the 59 th or 60 th or 61 th aspect, a single actuator member (70) acting on the movement means (69) can be commanded for synchronously moving the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position and the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position, and for synchronously moving the upper tool (6) from the second position to the first position and the lower tool (2) from the packaging position to the loading position.

In a 63 th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 59 to 62, the apparatus comprises guiding means adapted to move the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position according to a straight line trajectory, optionally a horizontal straight line trajectory.

In a 64 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the apparatus comprises a transverse cutting device (76) for cutting the film, which comprises a cutting unit supported by the frame (3) or by the upper tool (6) and acting on the film (5 b) coming from the supply station (5).

In a 65 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the cutting unit comprises at least one blade (76 a) configured for being arranged transversally with respect to the advancing direction of the film from the supply station (5).

In a 66 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the blade (76 a) is movable transversely to the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) in a reciprocating manner in the picking position.

In a 67 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the upper tool (6) comprises at least one sealing head configured for heating at least one portion of said active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) for heat-sealing the film portion (5 a) to the support (4) so as to define a hermetically closed package.

In a 68 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the upper tool (6) comprises means (77) for holding the membrane portion (5 a) at the action surface (6 a), said means for holding optionally comprising one or more of:

at least one vacuum source connected to a suction opening present on the active surface (6 a),

one or more mechanical retainers associated with the active surface (6 a),

one or more adhesive portions associated with the active surface (6 a),

at least one electric circuit electrically connected to the active surface (6 a) for charging such surface with a predetermined polarity.

In a 69 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the lower tool (2) and the upper tool (6) are configured for defining a chamber in which said support (4) supporting the product and said film portion is housed, in a second position of the upper tool in which the upper tool and the lower tool are approached.

In a 70 th aspect according to the previous aspect, the packaging apparatus (1) comprises a suction system in fluid communication with the chamber, the suction system being configured for removing air from the interior of the chamber so as to define a sub-atmospheric pressure in the interior of the chamber.

In a 71 th aspect according to the 69 th or 70 th aspect, the packaging apparatus (1) comprises a blowing system in fluid communication with the chamber and configured for introducing a gas into the chamber so as to define a modified atmosphere environment inside the chamber.

In a 72 th aspect, a process is provided for packaging at least one product (P) by means of using a packaging apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding aspects, said process comprising the steps of:

arranging at least one support (4) supporting at least one product (P) on a lower tool (2) placed in a loading position,

moving the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position,

positioning an upper tool (6) at the first position,

optionally, separating the film portion (5 a) from a continuous film (5 b) provided by a supply station (5),

-picking up a film portion (5 a) from a supply station (5) with the upper tool (6) in the first position. />

In a 73 rd aspect according to the previous aspect, the process comprises the steps of:

the upper tool (6) is moved from the first position to the second position by means of a movement device (69),

moving the lower tool (2) from the loading position to the packaging position such that when in the packaging position the upper tool (6) in the second position is aligned with and in close proximity to the lower tool (2),

-joining said film portion (5 a) with a support (4) for obtaining at least one package (40).

In a 74 th aspect according to the 72 th or 73 th aspect, the step of moving the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position and the step of moving the lower tool from the loading position to the packaging position are synchronized with each other.

In a 75 th aspect according to the 72 th or 73 th or 74 th aspect, the step of engaging the membrane portion (5 a) with the support (1) comprises the sub-steps of:

-holding the membrane portions (5 a) above the respective supports by means of an upper tool (6),

-heating the membrane portions (5 a) held above the respective supports.

In a 76 th aspect according to the preceding aspect, the step of engaging the membrane portion (5 a) with the support (1) comprises the sub-steps of: the film portion is hermetically heat-sealed to at least one portion of the support for defining a containment compartment of the package, inside which the product (P) is contained.

In a 77 th aspect according to the 75 th or 76 th aspect, the step of engaging the membrane portion (5 a) with the support (1) comprises the sub-steps of: removing at least a portion of the air present between the membrane portion (5 a) and the respective support.

Drawings

Some embodiments and aspects of the present finding will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided as non-limiting examples only, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging installation comprising a packaging device according to the invention;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

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

fig. 5 to 7A schematically illustrate possible movements of the upper tool of the packaging device according to fig. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

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

fig. 9A and 9B are respective schematic representations of components of the apparatus according to fig. 8;

fig. 9C to 9H schematically illustrate possible movements of the upper tool of the packaging device according to fig. 8;

fig. 10 and 11 show embodiment variants of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of a packaging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

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

fig. 13A to 13D schematically illustrate possible movements of the upper tool of the packaging device according to fig. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of components of the apparatus according to FIG. 12;

fig. 15 is a perspective view of a packaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

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

figures 16A to 16D schematically illustrate possible movements of the upper tool of the packaging device according to figure 15;

fig. 17 is a schematic illustration of components of the apparatus according to fig. 15. />

Detailed Description

Engagement

It should be noted that, in the present detailed description, corresponding portions illustrated in the respective drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals. The figures may illustrate the object of the invention by representations which are not to scale; accordingly, parts and components illustrated in the figures for the purpose of the invention may relate only to schematic representations.

The terms upstream and downstream refer to the direction of advance of the packages (or of the supports used to make said packages) along a predetermined path starting from a starting or forming station of the supports for said packages, passing through the packaging plant and then up to a package unloading station.

Definition of

Product(s)

The term product P means an article or a composition of articles of any kind. For example, the product may be of the food type and be in solid, liquid or gel form, i.e. in the form of two or more of the above-mentioned aggregated states. In the food industry, products may include: meats, fish, cheese, treated meats, prepared meals of various kinds, and frozen meals.

Control unit

The packaging device described and claimed herein comprises at least one control unit designed to control the operations performed by the device. Obviously, the control unit may be only one unit, or may be formed of a plurality of different control units according to design choice and operational requirements. With the term control unit, it is intended to be an electronic component which may comprise at least one selected in the group of: a digital processor (e.g., at least one selected from the group consisting of a CPU, a GPU, a GPGPU), memory(s), analog circuitry, or a combination of one or more digital processing units and one or more analog circuitry. The control unit may be "configured" or "programmed" to perform some steps: this may in practice be done by any means allowing the control unit to be configured or programmed. For example, in the case where the control unit includes one or more CPUs and one or more memories, one or more programs may be stored in an appropriate memory group connected to the one or more CPUs; the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the one or more CPUs, program or configure the control unit to perform the operations described with respect to the control unit. Alternatively, if the control unit is or includes analog circuitry, the circuitry of the control unit may be designed to include circuitry that is configured, in use, to process the electrical signals in order to perform steps relating to the 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 may be configured to coordinate all actions necessary to execute one instruction and multiple instruction sets.

Actuator

The term actuator means any device capable of inducing a motion on the body, for example according to the commands of the control unit (the actuator receiving the commands sent by the control unit). The actuator may be of an electric, pneumatic, mechanical (e.g., with a spring) type, or another type.

Support piece

By the term support, it is intended to be both a flat support and a tray comprising at least one base and at least one side wall projecting from the outer periphery of the base, and optionally a terminal flange projecting radially outwards from the upper peripheral edge of the side wall. The outer flange may extend along a single main extension plane, or it may be shaped; in the case of a shaped outer flange, the outer flange may, for example, have a plurality of portions extending along main extension planes which are different from each other, in particular parallel to each other but offset. The support defines an upper surface on which the product P can be placed and/or a volume within which the product can be contained.

The tray may comprise an upper edge portion projecting radially from a free edge of the side wall opposite the base: the upper edge portion protrudes from the side wall according to a direction moving outwards from the volume of the tray itself.

The flat support may be any shape, such as rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or elliptical; similarly, a tray with side walls may have a base of any shape, such as rectangular, rhomboidal, circular or oval. The support may be formed by means of a specific manufacturing process separate from the packaging process, or it may be made in line with the packaging process (e.g. via thermoforming).

The support may be made entirely or partially of paper material, optionally presenting at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, of organic material comprising one or more of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin derivatives. The paper material in question extends between a first main extension surface and a second main extension surface. In an embodiment variant thereof, the sheet paper material used to make the support may be covered for at least one portion of the first and/or of the second main extension surface by means of a covering of plastic material (for example, a film for food use). If the cover is arranged so as to cover at least a portion of the first extended surface, the cover will define the inner surface of the support. On the other hand, if the cover is arranged on the second main extension surface, the cover will define the outer surface of the support. The covering may also be heat-treated so that it can serve as an engagement and fixing element for the parts of the support, as will be better described hereinafter. The cover may also be used to define a barrier to water and/or moisture, which is beneficial to prevent the structural weakening and loss of the support, which has the consequence that the paper material forming the support member deforms uncontrollably. The covering may be applied to the paper material (as specified above with respect to the inner and/or outer side of the support) in the form of a so-called coating or varnish, deposited as a solution or sprayed, the thickness of which is generally comprised, in a non-limiting manner, between 0.2 and 10 μm. Alternatively, the cover may comprise a plastic film (for example a polyethylene coating) which can be applied on one or both sides (inside and/or outside) of the paper material defining the support by means of a lamination process. If the covering is applied by means of lamination, the value of the plastic film (covering) may vary, for example, between 10 and 400 μm, in particular between 20 and 200 μm, still more particularly between 30 and 80 μm, of the covering material, i.e. polyethylene. By way of example, the plastic cover material may be chosen among: PP, PE (HDPE, LDPE, MDPE, LLDPE), EVA, polyester (including PET and PETg), PVdC.

Alternatively, the support may be made entirely or partially of single and multi-layer thermoplastic materials. The support may be provided with gas barrier properties. As used herein, the term refers to a film or sheet of material having an oxygen transmission rate of less than 200 cm/(m day bar), less than 150 cm bulks/(m day bar), when measured according to ASTM D-3985 at 23 ℃ and 0% relative humidity. Suitable gas barrier materials for single layer thermoplastic containers are, for example, polyester, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), PVDC, etc. The support may be made of a multilayer material comprising at least one gas barrier layer and at least one heat-sealable layer to allow sealing of the cover film on the surface of the support. Gas barrier polymers that can be used in the gas barrier layer are PVDC, EVOH, polyamides, polyesters and mixtures thereof. Typically, the PVDC gas barrier layer will comprise a plasticizer and/or a stabilizer as known in the art. The thickness of the gas barrier layer will preferably be set so as to provide the material constituting the support with an oxygen transmission rate smaller than 50 cm length/(m x day atm), preferably smaller than 10 cm length/(m x day atm) at 23 ℃ and 0% relative humidity, when measured according to 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/vinyl acetate copolymers); an ionomer; and homopolyesters or copolyesters (e.g., PETG, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate).

For example, in order to make the gas barrier layer adhere better to the adjacent layer, an additional layer (such as an adhesive layer) may preferably be present in the material from which the support is made, and is selected based on the particular resin used for the gas barrier layer. In the case of a multilayer structure, a portion thereof may be formed into a foam. For example, the multilayer material used to form the support may include (from the outermost layer to the contact layer with the more internal food product): one or more structural layers, typically made of a material such as expanded polystyrene, expanded polyester, or expanded polypropylene, or made of cardboard or sheet (e.g., polypropylene, polystyrene, poly (vinyl chloride), polyester); a gas barrier layer; and a heat sealable layer.

An easy-open frangible layer may be positioned adjacent to the heat sealable layer to facilitate opening of the final package. Mixtures of polymers having a low cohesion which can be used as a brittle layer are, for example, those described in document WO 99/54398. The total thickness of the support may be equal to or less 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 may be made entirely of paper material (optionally with a covering made of plastic material film), or it may be made entirely of plastic material. In a further embodiment variant, the support is made at least partially of a paper material and at least partially of a plastic material; in particular, the support is made of plastic material at its inside and is at least partially covered with paper material at the outside. The support may also be used to define a so-called "ready-to-eat" package; in such a configuration, the supports are made such that they can be inserted into an oven for heating and/or cooking a food product placed in the package. In such an embodiment (support for ready-to-eat meal packages), the support may be made, for example, of a paper material (in particular cardboard) coated with polyester, or it may be made entirely of polyester resin. For example, a support suitable for ready-made packaging is made of: CPET, APET or APET/CPET (foamed or non-foamed). The support may also include a heat-weldable layer of low-melting material on the membrane. The heat-weldable layer may be coextruded with the PET-based layer (as described in patent applications EP 1 529 797A and WO 2007/093495 A1), or it may be deposited on the base film by means of solvent deposition means or by means of extrusion coating (for example described in documents US 2,762,720A and EP 1 252 008A). In a further embodiment variant, the support can be made at least partially of a metallic material (in particular aluminum). The support may also be at least partially made of aluminum and at least partially made of a paper material.

Film

A film made of plastic material, in particular polymer material, is applied to a support (flat support or tray) in order to form a fluid-tight package containing the product.

If desired to achieve vacuum packaging, the film applied to the support is typically a flexible multilayer material comprising at least one first heat-weldable outer layer, optionally a gas-barrier layer, and a second heat-resistant outer layer, which can be welded to the inner surface of the support.

If desired under a controlled atmosphere (MAP) Making the package under or under natural (non-modified) atmosphere, the film (film made of plastic, in particular polymeric material) applied to the support is generally a single layer or a multilayer, having at least one heat-weldable layer and possibly capable of heat-shrinking under the action of heat. The applied film may also include at least one gas barrier layer and optionally a heat resistant outer layer.

Specification of material

The term paper material means paper or cardboard; in particular, the sheet material that may be used for making the paper layer may have a weight between 30 and 600 g/m, in particular between 40 and 500 g/m, even more particularly between 50 and 250 g/m.

PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymer wherein the major amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and the minor amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith, typically vinyl chloride and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (e.g., methyl acrylate or methacrylate) and mixtures thereof in varying proportions.

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

The term polyamide is intended to indicate homopolymers and copolymers or terpolymers. The term specifically includes aliphatic polyamides or copolyamides, such as 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 partially aromatic polyamides or copolyamides such as polyamide 61, polyamide 6I/6T, polyamide MXD6/MXDI; and mixtures thereof.

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

The term "copolymer" means a polymer derived from two or more types of monomers, and includes terpolymers. Ethylene homopolymers include High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (HDPE)LDPE). Ethylene copolymers include ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers. Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally include copolymers of ethylene and one or more comonomers selected from alpha-olefins having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms such as, for example, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, and the like. The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer generally has a molecular weight in the range of from about 0.86 to about 0.94 g/cm ³ A density in the range of (a). It is generally understood that the term Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) comprises a group of ethylene/a-olefin copolymers falling within a density range between about 0.915 and about 0.94 g/cm, and in particular between about 0.915 and about 0.925 g/cm for harvesting. At times, linear polyethylenes in the density range between about 0.926 and about 0.94 g/cm are called Linear Medium Density Polyethylenes (LMDPE). The lower density ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may be referred to as Very Low Density Polyethylene (VLDPE) and Ultra Low Density Polyethylene (ULDPE). The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer may be obtained using a heterogeneous or homogeneous polymerization process. Another useful ethylene copolymer is an ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, which is a copolymer of ethylene and one or more unsaturated ester monomers. Useful unsaturated esters include: vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids, wherein the esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, such as vinyl acetate; and alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, wherein the esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms. Ionomers are copolymers of ethylene and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having a carboxylic acid neutralized with a metal ion such as zinc or preferably sodium. Useful propylene copolymers include: a propylene/ethylene copolymer which is a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and has a major weight percent content of propylene; and propylene/ethylene/butene terpolymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene and 1-butene.

Detailed Description

Packaging device 1

Reference numeral 1 generally indicates a packaging apparatus usable for packaging (for example, under vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere) at least one product P arranged on a support 4.

The packaging apparatus 1 comprises a support frame 3 defining a fixed structure intended to abut against the ground. The frame 3 supports a supply station 5 for supplying a film 5b, optionally made of plastic material wound in reels; the reel is supported by the frame and is configured for unwinding in order to arrange at least one portion 5a of the film 5b at a predetermined pick-up position. In order to position the portion 5a of film properly, the supply station 5 comprises an abutment plate 74 receiving the continuous film from the reel and configured for defining an abutment surface for the portion 5a of film 5b (see, for example, fig. 5 and 6). In the illustrated example, the abutment surface of the abutment plate 74 is flat and arranged on a vertical plane, such that the film portions received by the abutment surface are also arranged according to a flat and vertical configuration. In order to hold the membrane portion 5a on the abutment surface, the plate 74 may be provided with clamping means 77 (see the schematization of fig. 1 and 3), such as: a vacuum source connected to a suction opening present on the abutment surface; one or more mechanical retainers (clips, clamps or otherwise) associated with the abutment surface; one or more adhesive portions associated with the abutment surface; a circuit electrically connected to the abutting surfaces for charging such surfaces with a predetermined polarity for exerting an attractive force of electrical nature on the film.

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 hereinafter, the upper tool 6 holds a film portion 5a which it picks up from the supply 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.

The apparatus 1 comprises movement means 69 between the frame 3 and the upper tool 6: said means 69 are configured for moving the upper tool 6 at least between the first and the second position.

In the first position, the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 is in close proximity to the abutment plate 74 and therefore also to the portion of film 5a located in the predetermined picking position (fig. 3 and 5). The active surface 6a is in turn configured for receiving the film portion 5a present at the abutment plate 74 from the supply station 5 and for retaining the film portion 5a during the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position; for this purpose, the upper tool 6 may be provided with respective means 77 for retaining the membrane portion 5a at the action surface 6a, which means may comprise one or more of the following: at least one vacuum source connected to a suction opening present on the active surface 6a; one or more mechanical retainers (grippers, clamps or others) associated with the active surface 6a; one or more adhesive portions associated with the active surface 6a; a circuit electrically connected to the active surface 6a for charging such surface with a predetermined polarity; or other devices.

In the second position, the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 is aligned with the lower tool 2 and in close proximity to the lower tool 2 for engaging the film portions 5a picked up from the supply station 5 with at least one support 4 present in the lower tool 2 and thus making at least one package 40.

Furthermore, thanks to suitable guides, the lower tool 2 can move with respect to the frame 3 between a loading position and a packaging position spaced apart from the loading position. In the loading position (visible, for example, in fig. 1 to 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 automatic loading system to access the lower tool 2 in order to position the support or supports 4 in the corresponding seat or seats defined in the lower tool 2. In the packaging position, when the upper tool 6 is in the respective above-mentioned second position, the lower tool 2 is aligned with the upper tool 6, so 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.

In detail, the movement means 69, which provide to move the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position, are configured for moving the upper tool 6 itself along a predetermined trajectory between the first position and the second position, the position of which is along a vertical plane in the use condition of the apparatus; in fact, during the passage from the first position to the second position (and vice versa), all the points defining the active surface 6a move onto respective vertical planes parallel to each other. In other words, the movement imparted to the upper tool 6 by the device 69 is a planar movement in the following directions: both during the outward movement from the first position to the second position and along the return stroke from the second position to the first position, all points of the active surface of the upper tool cover respective planar vertical trajectories which extend through vertical planes which are parallel to each other. In this way, throughout the movement step, the lateral volume (lateral bulk) of the upper tool 6 is not changed, so that the volume in which the apparatus 1 operates appears to be very compact.

As can be seen in the figures, the apparatus comprises a single upper tool 6 movable along a single trajectory, which is located along a vertical plane in the use condition of the apparatus; said single upper tool 6 is movable at least between:

a first position and a second position so as to define the outward stroke of the upper tool 6;

a second position and a first position in order to define the return stroke of the upper tool 6.

The movement means 69 are configured for moving the upper tool 6 along an outward stroke and a return stroke.

As can be seen in the figures, the first and second positions define a position of the upper tool 6 (in particular the active surface 6a of the upper tool) which is angularly offset by an angle equal to or lower than 120 °, optionally comprised between 100 ° and 50 °, still more optionally angularly offset by an angle substantially equal to 90 °. The movement means 69 act on the upper tool so as to allow angular movement of the upper tool 6 between the first and second positions and vice versa.

The apparatus 1 may comprise at least one actuator 70 (for example, an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic motor) acting on the movement means 69 and configured for guiding the upper tool 6 between the first and second positions, and vice versa.

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

In the first embodiment illustrated in fig. 5 to 7A, the movement means 69 are constituted by a planar kinematic chain, which therefore does not produce any movement transverse to said parallel planes when the upper tool 6 passes between the first and second positions.

Such movement means 69 (i.e. the planar kinematic chain defining the means) comprise: a drive member 71 configured for rotation about a first axis of rotation a orthogonal to a predetermined vertical planar trajectory (i.e., orthogonal to the vertical parallel plane); and a driven member 72 having a terminal portion hinged to driving member 71 and a second terminal portion fixed to upper tool 6. In more detail, the movement means 69 comprise a first planar hinge 73a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the above-mentioned first rotation axis a: the drive member 71 is in hinged engagement with the first planar surface for rotation about the first axis of rotation a. The device 69 also comprises a second planar hinge 73b interposed between the driving member and the driven member so as to rotationally constrain one to the other. For this purpose, the driven member 72 has a first terminal portion hinged to the driving member 71, thanks to a second planar hinge 73b interposed between the driven member and the driving member. The driven member 72 also has a second terminal portion fixed to the upper tool 6 and an intermediate portion extending between these two terminal portions. Finally, the movement means 69 comprise a guide member 73c engaged via rotation relative to the frame 3 about a second axis of rotation B parallel and spaced apart with respect to the first axis of rotation a. The guide member 73c is also shaped so as to slidably receive a third portion of the driven member 72 intermediate between said first and second terminal portions of the driven member. For example, the guide member 73c may comprise a sleeve, the interior of which slidably receives the intermediate portion of the driven member 72, such sleeve then being rotatably hinged to the frame 3 about the axis B.

Into structural detail, the driving member 71 may have the shape of a rod, opposite ends of which are engaged with the first and second planar hinges 73a and 73b, respectively; the driven member 72 may in turn have the shape of a rod, in particular having a greater length, more particularly at least twice the length of the rod forming the driving member 71. As already stated above, the driven member 72 has opposite ends engaged respectively with the second planar hinge 73b and with the upper tool 6; the guide member 73c is constituted by a cylindrical sleeve engaging with the frame, the interior of which slidably receives the intermediate portion of the driven member 72.

As can be observed by comparing fig. 5, 5A, 6A and 7, 7A, the movement means 69 and therefore the driving member 71, the driven member 72, the first planar hinge 73a, the second planar hinge 73b and the guide member 73c are arranged and coupled directly (or indirectly) to each other to the frame 3, so that after a rotation (for example, equal to 270 degrees) of the driving member 71 about the axis a, there is a rotation overall (for example, 90 degrees of the driven member 72) and at the same time the driving member 71 slides with respect to the guide member 73 c: the drive member, although free to rotate, cannot translate relative to the frame 3. The movement of the driven member 72 from the position shown in fig. 5A to the position shown in fig. 7A, which is determined by the driving member 71, includes the following steps. The driven member 72 (first step) first rotates and slides within the guide member 73c, causing the upper tool 6 to rotate and move away from the abutment plate 74 without risk of mechanical interference; then (second step), the driven member 72 continues its rotation, thereby causing the upper tool 6 to approach the guide member 73c (fig. 6A); finally (third step), the driven member 72 completes its rotation and at the same time slides with respect to the guide member 73c in the opposite direction to the first step, so as to move the upper tool 6 away from this guide member 73c and bring the upper tool 6 in close proximity to the lower tool 2 (fig. 7A).

Still with particular reference to the first embodiment of the movement means 69 illustrated in fig. 5, 5A, 6A, 7A, the movement means 69 may be configured so 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 state, the moving 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 means 69 are 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 state, the device 69 arranges the driving member 71 horizontally and the driven member 72 vertically, with the upper tool 6 (which is rotated 90 degrees from the first position to the second position) in the second position.

Still according to the first embodiment of the movement means 69, the movement means 69 may be guided by a single actuator member 70 (optionally an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic motor) of the apparatus. A single actuator 70 acts on the movement means 69 and can be commanded for selectively moving the upper tool 6 from the first to the second position and vice versa. In particular, the actuator member 70 acts on the drive member 71 and comprises, for example, a motor mounted on a first axis a to rotate the drive member 71 about said first axis of rotation a: in this way, by arranging only the 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, so that the solution is simple and compact (given the components used and the flat vertical trajectory imparted to the upper tool 6).

In a second embodiment, illustrated for example in fig. 8 to 11, the movement means 69 comprise a first planar kinematic chain 83 and a second planar kinematic chain 93 configured for allowing the movement of the upper tool 6 along said predetermined trajectory when the upper tool 6 passes between a first position and a second position, the position of said predetermined trajectory being in a vertical plane in the use condition of the apparatus (and therefore in which the point of the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 moves along said flat parallel plane).

The first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93 of the kinematic means 69 are spaced from each other according to an axis transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of motion of the upper tool (and in particular transverse to the vertical parallel plane along which the point of the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 moves). In detail and as can be seen in fig. 9A, the first planar kinematic chain 83 and the second planar kinematic chain 93 are engaged at an end portion of the upper tool 6; still in more detail, the first kinematic chain 83 engages the upper tool 6 at an upper portion of the upper tool 6, while the second kinematic chain 93 engages at a lower portion of the upper tool 6 opposite said upper portion (see, for example, fig. 9A).

As can be seen in the figure, the first planar kinematic chain 83 comprises: a first lever 84 configured for rotation about a first rotation axis A1 orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined motion trajectory of the upper tool 6 (i.e. orthogonal to said vertical parallel plane); and a second rod 85 having a first terminal portion 85' hinged to the first rod 84 and a second terminal portion 85 ″ hinged to the upper tool 6. In particular, the first rod 84 has a first terminal portion 84 '(fixed hinge) hinged to the frame 3 and a second terminal portion 84 ″ (movable hinge) hinged to the first terminal portion 85' of the second rod 85.

In more detail, the first kinematic chain 83 comprises a first planar hinge 83a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the above-mentioned first rotation axis A1: the first lever 84 is engaged with the first planar hinge 83a for rotation about the first rotation axis A1. The first kinematic chain 83 also comprises a second movable planar hinge 83b interposed between the first 84 and second 85 levers so as to constrain rotatably one to the other. For this purpose, the second lever 85 has a first terminal portion 85' hinged to the first lever 84, thanks to a second planar hinge 83b interposed between the latter and the latter. The second rod also has a second terminal portion 85 ″ constrained to the upper tool 6 by means of a further planar hinge 83 c. The plane hinges (83 a, 83b and 83 c) of the first kinematic chain 83 are configured for allowing the rotation of the respective rod in a plane parallel to the plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool 6.

Into structural detail, the first lever 84 may have the shape of a rod having opposite ends engaged with the first and second planar hinges 83a and 83b, respectively; the second bar 85 may in turn have the shape of a bar, in particular having a length substantially the same as the length of the bar forming the first bar 84.

As can be seen in the figures, the second planar kinematic chain 93 comprises a respective first lever 94 configured for rotation about a respective second axis of rotation A2 orthogonal to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool; the movement means 69 also comprise 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, first bar 94 has a first terminal portion 94 'hinged to frame 3 and a second terminal portion 94 ″ hinged to first terminal portion 95' of second bar 95. In more detail, the second kinematic chain 93 comprises a first planar hinge 93a constrained to the frame 3 for defining the above-mentioned first rotation axis A2: the first lever 94 is engaged with the first planar hinge 93a for rotation about the first rotation axis A2. The second kinematic chain 93 also comprises a second planar 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 a first terminal portion 95' hinged to the first lever 94, thanks to a second planar hinge 93b interposed between the latter and the latter. The second rod also has a second terminal portion 95 ″ constrained to the upper tool 6 by means of a further planar hinge 93 c. Likewise, the plane hinge of the second kinematic chain 93 is configured for allowing the rotation of the respective lever in a plane parallel to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool 6.

Into structural detail, the first rod 94 of the second kinematic chain 93 may have the shape of a rod, the opposite ends of which are engaged with the first and second planar hinges 93a and 93b, respectively; the second link 95 of the second kinematic chain may in turn have the shape of a rod, in particular having a length substantially the same as the length of the rod forming the first link 94. In fact, the first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93 have the same structure, the only difference between them being represented by the orientation and position in which the

second levers

85, 95 are constrained to the upper tool 6, such levers being fixed to the upper and lower parts of the upper tool 6, respectively, as illustrated for example in fig. 9. In more detail, the first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93 are configured for arranging in an extended state (fig. 8D and 9G) in which the levers (84, 85, 94 and 95) define respective obtuse angles: in the extended state, the upper tool 6 may be immediately adjacent to the plate 74 (i.e. arranged in the first position of the upper tool (fig. 9D)), or immediately adjacent to the lower tool 2 (i.e. arranged in the second position (fig. 9G)). The first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93 are also configured for being arranged in a grouped condition (fig. 9C, 9E, 9F, 9H) in which the bars (84, 85, 94 and 95) define respective acute angles: in the ganged state, the upper tool 6 is spaced close to the plate 74 and the lower tool 2.

As can be observed by comparing fig. 9C to 9H, the movement device 69 is in its second embodiment arranged and coupled with the frame 3 so that after rotation of the

first bars

84, 94 about the respective axes A1, A2 (for example, equal to 90 degrees), there is generally a rotation of the upper tool 6 between the first and second positions, or a transition of the first and second kinematic chains from the extended state to the ganged state (passage), so as to allow the upper tool 6 to approach/be spaced from the plate 74 and to approach/be spaced from the lower tool 2. In more detail, due to the structure and position of the first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93, following the opposite rotation of the

first levers

84, 94 about the respective axes, the

kinematic chains

83, 93 are configured for transition from the extended condition to the grouped condition and vice versa; on the other hand, following a rotation of the

first levers

84, 94 in the same direction about the respective axes, the

kinematic chains

83, 93 are configured for allowing the entire kinematic device 69 and the upper tool 6 to rotate about an axis transverse to the vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (and therefore orthogonal to said vertical parallel plane to effect the movement of the point of action surface 6 a), so as to allow the upper tool 6 to face the plate 74 and the lower tool 2. In fact, due to the rotation of the

first bars

84, 94 in the same or opposite direction, the movement means 69 are configured in its second embodiment for managing the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position, so as to allow gripping of the film 5a and heat-sealing of the film 5a on the support carried by the lower tool.

In the figures, the movement means 69 are illustrated in a second embodiment thereof, in which the rotation axes A1 and A2 of the first bars coincide; in such a state, the movement means 69 and the upper tool 6 are configured for rotating about said axes of rotation (A1 and A2) when the first rod is rotated in the same direction.

As can be seen in the figures, the movement means 69 also comprise, in its second embodiment, a guide member 86 which engages on one side with the frame 3 and on the other side with the upper tool 6; the guide member 86 is configured for preventing oscillation of the upper tool 6 around the plane hinge of the

second bars

85, 95, to which the upper tool 6 is directly constrained. The guide member 86 may comprise a pin 86a for connecting the

first bars

84, 94, which pin is free to rotate with respect to the

first bars

84, 94 and with respect to the frame 3; the guide member 86 may also comprise a rod fixed on one side to the upper tool 6 and engaged to the pin 86a by means of a constraint of the bracket type.

The guide member 86 may comprise, as an alternative to a rod, a first lever 86b and a second lever 86c hinged to each other and to the pin 86a (or to a portion of the movement means 69, such as an actuator configured for rotating the first or second planar kinematic chain) and the upper tool 6, respectively (fig. 9). The first 86b and second 86c levers of the guide member 86 are configured for defining a planar kinematic chain orthogonally placed with respect to the planar

kinematic chains

83, 93, so as to prevent undesired oscillations of the upper tool 6.

Hereinafter, the moving means 69 during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position is briefly described. Starting from the configuration of fig. 9C, in which the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced apart from the plate 74 (grouped state of the

levers

84, 85, 94 and 95), the reverse rotation of the first lever 84 of the first planar kinematic chain 83 and of the first lever 94 of the second planar kinematic chain 93 is performed, respectively. So as to allow the first and second planar

kinematic chains

83, 93 to pass from the ganged condition to the extended condition, so as to bring the upper tool 6 close to the plate 74 in a manner (first position of the upper tool illustrated in fig. 9D) so as to allow the film 5a to be gripped. Then, the

first levers

84, 94 are again counter-rotated (according to the opposite direction with respect to the previous counter-rotation) so as to allow the first and second planar

kinematic chains

83, 93 to pass from the extended state to the ganged state (fig. 9E). The first levers 84, 94 are then rotated according to the same direction so as to allow the movement means 69 and the upper tool 6 to rotate so as to bring the upper tool 6 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 a position, the

first levers

84, 94 are once again put in counter-rotation so as to allow the first and second planar

kinematic chains

83, 93 to pass from the ganged state to the extended state (fig. 9G): in such an extended state, the upper tool 6 is brought close to the lower tool 6, and the upper tool 6 is configured to allow the film 5a to be fixed (heat-sealed) on the support 4 (second position of the upper tool 6).

After the film is fixed, the upper tool 6 is spaced apart from the lower tool by means of a further counter-rotation of the

first levers

84, 94, so as to allow the first kinematic chain 83 and the second kinematic chain 93 to pass from the extended state to the grouped state (fig. 9H). Finally, due to the new same-direction rotation of the first levers 84, 94 (clockwise in this step), the upper tool 6 is brought into the starting condition, so that the upper tool 6 faces the plate 74.

Still according to the second embodiment of the movement means 69, the movement means 69 may be guided in motion by two

separate actuator members

70a, 70b (optionally electric, hydraulic or pneumatic) of the apparatus 1. These actuators act on the respective

first levers

84, 94 and can be commanded for activating the rotation of the

first levers

84, 94. Each

actuator member

70a or 70b may comprise, for example, a motor mounted on a respective first rod coinciding with the axis of rotation (A1, A2).

In a third embodiment of the movement device 69 illustrated in fig. 12 to 13D, the movement device 69 comprises an actuator 96 engaged with the frame 3 and configured for rotating a worm screw 97, which in turn engages with a lead screw nut 98 (see fig. 13). The screw 97 extends orthogonally 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 rod 98a; said first rod 98a is constrained at one end to the lead screw nut 98 by means of a plane hinge and at the opposite end to the upper tool 6 by means of a corresponding plane hinge. In addition to engaging with the frame 3, the actuator 96 is also kinematically connected to the first lever 98a by means of a second lever 98 b; in particular, the second lever 98b is constrained to the actuator 96 at one end by means of a planar hinge and engages, at the opposite end by means of a planar hinge, with an intermediate point of the first lever 98a, interposed between the ends of the first lever 98 a.

In more detail, the actuator 96 and the screw 97 are engaged with each other by means of a constraint of the bracket type, such as a lead screw nut 98 with the screw 97. In fig. 14 a diagram of a movement means 69 in a third embodiment thereof is reported. The actuator 96, the screw 97, the lead screw nut 98, together with the first 98a and the second 98b levers, are configured for allowing the movement of the upper tool 6 close to and away from the plate 74 and the lower tool 2, as will be better described hereinafter.

The movement means 69 further comprise, in its third embodiment, a guide member 99 which engages on one side with the frame 3 or the actuator 96 and on the other side with the upper tool 6; the guide member 99 is configured for preventing oscillation of the upper tool 6 about an axis defined by the point in which the first lever 97 is hinged to the upper tool 6. The guide member 99 may be, for example, a first rod 99a and a second rod 99b, hinged to each other and constrained to the actuator and to the upper tool 6 by means of a plane hinge: said planar hinge of the guide means 99 is placed orthogonally with respect to the planar hinge constraining the first 98a and second 98b bars, so as to prevent undesired oscillations of the upper tool 6.

The movement means 69 further comprise an actuator 70 configured for allowing the upper tool 6 to rotate (for example by 90 °) so as to allow the upper tool 6 to pass from a position in which it faces the plate 74 to a position in which it faces the lower tool 2. Actuator 70 may be stably fixed to actuator 69 acting on screw 97 or to lead screw nut 98.

Hereinafter, the moving device 69 during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position will be briefly described. Starting from a configuration in which the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced apart from the plate 74, the screw 97 and the lead screw nut 98 are spaced apart from each other in such a way that the

rods

98a and 98b are arranged in a grouped state in which the upper tool is brought close to the actuator 96, the screw 97 and the lead screw nut 98. The actuator 96 is then actuated in a manner to allow the lead screw nut to approach the actuator 96, with the upper tool 6 spaced from the screw-lead screw nut set; in this way, it is possible to bring the upper tool close to the plate 74 for clamping the membrane 5a, so as to define said first position of the upper tool (fig. 13A). The actuator 96 is then actuated again for again spacing the screw from the lead screw nut and thus the upper tool from the plate 74 (fig. 13B).

Subsequently, the actuator 70 is activated so as to allow the upper tool to rotate (for example, by 90 °), so as to bring the upper tool into a position in which it faces the lower tool 2 (fig. 13C). Actuator 96 is then actuated in a manner to allow lead screw nut 98 to move closer to actuator 96, with the result that upper tool 6 is spaced from the screw-lead screw nut set; in this way, it is possible to bring the upper tool 6 close to the lower tool 2 for engaging the membrane 5a with the support 4, so as to define said second position of the upper tool (fig. 13D). The actuator 96 is then actuated again for spacing the screw 97 and the spindle nut 98 again and thus the upper tool 6 and the lower tool 2. Subsequently, the actuator 70 is activated so as to allow the upper tool 6 to rotate (for example, by 90 °), so as to bring the upper tool 6 into a position in which the upper tool 6 faces the plate 74 and is spaced therefrom. During such a step, the upper tool 6 is moved along said predetermined trajectory from the first position to the second position, said predetermined trajectory being in a position along a vertical plane in the use condition of the apparatus.

In a fourth embodiment of the movement means 69 illustrated in fig. 15 to 17, the movement means 69 comprise a bar 110 hinged to the frame 3, on which a first actuator 111 is mounted, 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 planar hinge 113a and on the other side to a second actuator 114 by means of a respective planar hinge 113 b; the lever system 112 further comprises a second lever 115 hinged on one side to the second actuator 114 by means of a planar hinge 115a and on the other side to the upper tool 6 by means of a planar hinge 115 b.

The second actuator 114 is configured to rotate the first and

second levers

113 and 115 and move them between an extended state in which the levers define an obtuse angle and a grouped state in which the levers define an acute angle. In the extended state, the rod system 112 is configured for spacing the upper tool 6 from the rod 110; in the ganged state, the rod system 112 is configured for bringing the upper tool 6 close to the bars 110.

The movement means 69 also comprise, in its fourth embodiment, a guide member 116, which engages on one side with the frame 3 and on the other side with the bar 110; the guide member 116 is configured for preventing oscillation of the upper tool 6 about an axis defined by the point in which the second lever 115 is hinged to the upper tool 6. The guide member 116 may for example comprise a first lever 116a and a second lever 116b hinged to each other and constrained to the bar and to the upper tool 6 by means of a plane hinge: the planar hinge of the guide 116 is orthogonally positioned relative to the planar hinge of the rod system 112.

In the following, the movement means 69 during the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position is briefly described. Starting from a configuration in which the upper tool 6 faces and is spaced from the plate 74, the first and second levers of the lever system 112 are put into a ganged state. Then, the second actuator 114 is actuated in such a way as to arrange the first rod 113 and the second rod 115 in the extended state, with the upper tool 6 spaced from the bar 110; in this way, it is possible to bring the upper tool 6 close to the plate 74 for clamping the membrane 5a, so as to define a first position of the upper tool 6 (fig. 16A). Then, the second actuator 115 is actuated again for arranging the first stem 113 and the second stem 115 in a grouped state, with the consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 (support membrane 5 a) from the plate 74 (fig. 16B). Subsequently, the first actuator 111 is activated so as to allow the upper tool to rotate (for example, by 90 °), so as to bring the upper tool into the position in which it faces the lower tool 2 (fig. 16C); the rotation of the upper tool takes place around the axis of the rod 110 along a plane orthogonal to the predetermined trajectory of movement of the upper tool 6. Then, the second actuator 114 is actuated in such a way as to arrange the first stem 113 and the second stem 115 in the extended state, with consequent spacing of the upper tool 6 from the bar 110; in this way, it is possible to move the upper tool 6 close to the lower tool 2 for engaging the membrane 5a with the support 4, so as to define said second position of the upper tool 6. Then, the second actuator 114 is actuated again for arranging the first and second bars again in the grouped state and thus spacing the upper tool 6 from the lower tool 2. Subsequently, the first actuator 111 is activated so as to allow the upper tool 6 to rotate (for example by 90 °), so as to bring the upper tool 6 into a starting position in which the upper tool 6 faces the plate 74 and is spaced therefrom. During such a step, the upper tool 6 is moved along said predetermined trajectory from the first position to the second position, said predetermined trajectory being in a position along said vertical plane in the use condition of the apparatus.

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 apart from the packaging position, wherein the lower tool 2 is configured for receiving said support 4. The movement device 69 (in any of its embodiments) may comprise a synchronous movement system 75 mechanically interconnecting the lower tool 2 with the upper tool 6 for synchronizing the passage of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position with the passage of the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position. In this way, when the lower tool 2 is in the loading position, the upper tool 6 is in the first position for picking up the film portion 5a, while when the lower tool 2 is in the packaging position, the upper tool 6 is in the second position for engaging said film portion 5a with said at least one support 4 accommodated by the lower tool 2 and thus making said at least one package 40. The synchronous motion system 75 may, for example, comprise a lever system connected to the drive member 71 and capable of transforming the rotary motion of the drive member 71 into a motion (e.g., a reciprocating translational motion) of the lower tool 2. For this purpose, the apparatus 1 may also comprise guide means for moving the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position according to a rectilinear trajectory (optionally a horizontal rectilinear trajectory). Thanks to the synchronous movement system 75, the movement device 69 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. Similarly, thanks to the synchronous movement system 75, the movement device 69 can 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. In particular, such movement is activated as a result of an actuator which produces a rotation of the upper tool 6 from a position in which it faces the plate 74 to a position in which it faces the lower tool 2 and vice versa.

Alternatively, the movement of the upper tool and the lower tool may be independent; for example, the movement means 69 may be movable by means of one or more actuator members, while the lower tool 2 may be reciprocally movable by means of different actuator members (e.g. hydraulic actuators or electric motors). In the case of independent movement of the upper and lower tools, the members governing the movement of these tools are synchronized with each other so as to define simultaneously a first position of the upper tool 6 and a loading position of the lower tool 2, and moreover simultaneously a second position of the upper tool 6 and a packing position of the lower tool 2, in which the upper tool 6 faces the lower tool 2.

In an optional embodiment, during the movement of the active surface 6a from the first position to the second position of the upper tool 6, the trajectory defined by any one point of the active surface may be obtained substantially by: in various embodiments of the device 69 the kinematic chains described above are omitted and they are replaced by one or more actuators. For example, the upper tool 6 may be moved by means of a single drive member having one end constrained via rotation about the first axis a, wherein said single drive member comprises an actuator configured for changing its length during movement of the upper tool from the first position to the second position.

As described above, the apparatus 1 may comprise a feeding station 5 set to supply the film 5a in the form of a continuous strip; the apparatus 1 may then comprise a cutting unit 76 placed transversely to the film 5 and supported by the frame 3 or by the upper tool 6; the cutting unit 76 acts on the film 5b coming from the supply station 5. The cutting unit comprises a blade 76a configured for being arranged transversely with respect to the advancing direction of the film from the supply station 5: when in the picking position, the blade 76a can be moved transversely to the active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 in a reciprocating manner by means of one or more actuators (for example, of the pneumatic or oil-hydraulic type).

The membrane 5a may be made of plastic material; as mentioned above, the upper tool 6 may comprise a sealing head configured for heating at least one portion of said active surface 6a of the upper tool 6 for heat-sealing the film portion 5a to the support 4 so as to define a hermetically closed package. The upper tool 6 may also be provided with means for holding the membrane portion 5a at the active surface 6a; the retaining means may comprise one or more of: at least one vacuum source connected to a suction opening 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 to the active surface 6a for charging such surface with a predetermined polarity.

The lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 can be configured for defining, in the approached position, a chamber in which the support 4 supporting the product P and said film portion 5a are housed; the packaging apparatus 1 may further comprise at least one between:

a suction system in fluid communication with the chamber, the suction system configured to remove air from an interior of the chamber so as to define a sub-atmospheric pressure within the interior of the chamber. In such a configuration, the apparatus 1 is capable of making vacuum packages, also known as skin-type packages;

a blowing system in fluid communication with the chamber and configured for introducing a gas into the chamber so as to define a modified atmosphere environment inside the chamber. In such a configurationThe apparatus 1 is configured for extracting at least one portion of the air present in the chamber and introducing a gas into the interior of the chamber, so as to be able to make packages with a modified atmosphere.

Packaging process

Also forming the object of the present invention is a process for packaging products of this type using an apparatus according to any one of the appended claims and/or according to the detailed description reported hereinafter.

The process described hereinafter may use the above-described apparatus 1 and according to one or more of the appended claims. The process comprises various steps that can be carried out by a control unit 50 acting on suitable actuators and/or motors and/or pumps and/or valves in order to carry out the various described steps and, in particular, to determine the movement of the movable part; the control unit 50 may also be used to control the suction and/or injection of gas into the packaging compartment in which the package 40 is at least partly formed.

The process comprises the step of arranging at least one support 4 on the lower tool 2 placed in the loading position. In fig. 1 to 3, an apparatus 1 is illustrated, wherein a lower tool 2 is placed in a loading position: when aligned with the upper tool 6 in the packaging position, the lower tool 2 is outside the virtual volume defined by the lower tool 2 and is therefore free to receive the support correctly (fig. 3).

In the figures, the steps for arranging/moving the empty support 4 are illustrated: the product P to be packaged is not present on the support 4 (fig. 1). It is also possible to load the lower tool 2 with a support 4 supporting the product. It is further possible to load the support 4 without product and to proceed with the loading of the product P once the support 4 has been correctly arranged on the lower tool 2.

After loading the support 4, the process provides for movement of the lower tool 2 from the loading position to the packaging position (the packaging position illustrated in fig. 4).

The process also provides for positioning 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 such a way that the film 5b may at least partially cover the abutment plate 74; once the membrane 5b is placed covering the plate 74, the upper tool is placed in the first position in such a way that the membrane 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 so as to define the film portions 5a (discrete elements) which, thanks to the means 77, are held by the upper tool 6: then, the upper tool 6 picks up the film portion 5a in the first position.

The process then provides for the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position in such a way that the active surface 6 of the upper tool faces the lower tool in the packaging position. Usefully, thanks to the synchronization means, the movement of the upper tool 6 from the first position to the second position can occur simultaneously with the movement of the lower tool 2 from the packaging position to the loading position (synchronization movement): in the packaging position, the upper tool and the lower tool are aligned and in close proximity to each other.

Once the upper and lower tools are facing each other, the process provides for bringing these tools close together so that they can define a chamber within which the support supporting the product and the membrane portion 5a are arranged. The process then provides a step of joining the film portion 5a with the support 4 for obtaining at least one package 40, which may comprise the steps of: the film portion 5a is thermally coupled to the support 4 so as to hermetically close the product P inside the package 40. The joining step of the membrane portion 5a may comprise the following sub-steps:

the membrane portions 5a are held above the respective supports 4 by means of an upper tool 6, for example by means of its air suction system;

optionally, the heating is maintained above the respective support 4 by means of a heating system again belonging to the upper toolThe membrane portion 5a. During the step of holding the portion 5a, a heating step may be performed for the upper element 6;

arranging the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 in an access position, wherein the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 define a chamber in which said support 4 bearing the product P and said film portion 5a are housed;

said film portion 5a is hermetically heat-sealed to at least one portion of the support 4 for defining a containing compartment of the package 40, in which the product P is contained. The heat-sealing step can be performed by means of the sealing head of the upper tool 6.

The step of heating the film portion 5a (if present) can be performed both during the spaced-apart position of the lower and upper tools (fig. 3) and during the close-up position (fig. 4).

The process may also provide the following steps: at least a portion of the air within the chamber defined by the lower tool and the upper tool is removed in order to remove the air present in the volume defined by the support 4 in cooperation with the film closing portion 5a, in order to make the vacuum package 40. This air removal step may be performed before the membrane portion is fixed to the support 4 or after the sealing portion 5a.

The process may alternatively comprise a step for removing air from the package while inserting a gas for defining the package 40 with a modified atmosphere.

After defining the package 40, the lower tool and the upper tool are arranged in spaced apart positions and in particular returned to the loading position and the first position, respectively; during such movement of these tools, the packages 40 are unloaded from the lower tool 2. Fig. 1 illustrates, in a non-limiting manner, the process steps of providing for the unloading of packages onto an exit conveyor 20.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for packaging at least one product (P) arranged on a support (4), said apparatus (1) comprising:

a supporting frame (3),

a supply station (5) of a film (5 b) supported by the frame (3) and configured for arranging at least one portion (5 a) of the film (5 b) at a predetermined pick-up position,

at least one upper tool (6) engaged with said frame (3) and cooperating with said lower tool (2) for engaging said film portion (5 a) with at least one support (4) and making at least one package (40),

-a movement device (69) interposed between the frame (3) and the upper tool, wherein the movement device (69) is configured for moving the upper tool (6) between:

a first position in which the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) is in the predetermined picking position in close proximity to the film portion (5 a) and is adapted to receive the film portion from the supply station (5), and

a second position in which the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool (6) is aligned with and in close proximity to the lower tool (2) for engaging the film portion (5 a) with at least one support (4) and making at least one package (40),

it is characterized by the following facts: the device comprises a single upper tool (6) movable along a predetermined trajectory at least between, in a use condition of the device, a vertical plane:

said first and second positions along said predetermined trajectory so as to define an outward stroke of said upper tool;

the second position and the first position along the predetermined trajectory so as to define a return stroke of the upper tool;

wherein the movement device (69) comprises:

a drive member (71) configured for rotating about a first axis of rotation (A) orthogonal to a vertical lying plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (6); and

a driven member (72) having one terminal portion hinged to said driving member (71) and a second terminal portion fixed to said upper tool (6), a first planar hinge (73 a) constrained to said frame (3), wherein said driving member (71) is engaged with said first planar hinge for rotation about said first rotation axis (A),

a second planar hinge (73 b), wherein the driven member (72) has:

A second terminal portion fixed to the upper tool (6);

a guide member (73 c) engaged via rotation about a second axis of rotation (B) parallel to the first axis of rotation (A), the guide member slidably receiving a third portion of the driven member (72) intermediate the first and second terminal portions of the driven member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion device (69) comprises a planar kinematic chain.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving member (71), the driven member (72), the first planar hinge (73 a), the second planar hinge (73 b) and the guide member (73 c) are configured such that after rotation of the driving member (71) about the first axis of rotation (a), there is movement of the driven member (72), including rotation of the driven member (72) and simultaneous sliding of the driven member relative to the guide member (73 c).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the movement of the driven member (72) comprises:

a first step in which the driven member (72) rotates and slides within the guide member, causing the upper tool (6) to rotate and move away from an abutment plate (74) for the film (5 b),

a second step in which the driven member (72) continues its rotation, causing the upper tool (6) to approach the guide member (73 c),

a third step, in which the driven member (72) completes its rotation and simultaneously slides with respect to the guide member in the opposite direction to the second step, so as to move the upper tool (6) away from the guide member, so as to bring it into close proximity to the lower tool (2).

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one actuator member (70) acting on said movement means (69) for moving said upper tool (6) from said first position to said second position or vice versa.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said actuator member (70) acts on said drive member (71) and commands the rotation of said drive member (71) about said first rotation axis (A).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one actuator member (70) is a single actuator member (70) acting on said movement means (69) and comprises an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic motor.

8. An apparatus (1) for packaging at least one product (P) arranged on a support (4), said apparatus (1) comprising:

a supporting frame (3),

wherein the movement means (69) are configured for moving the upper tool (6) along a predetermined trajectory between the first position and the second position, the predetermined trajectory being located along a vertical plane in a use state of the apparatus,

wherein the movement means comprise a first planar kinematic chain (83) and a second planar kinematic chain (93) both engaged on one side with the frame (3) and on the other side with the upper tool (6),

wherein the first planar kinematic chain (83) and the second planar kinematic chain (93) are spaced apart and apart from each other with respect to an axis transverse to a vertical plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (6).

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said movement means comprise a first planar kinematic chain (83) and a second planar kinematic chain (93) both engaged on one side with said frame (3) and on the other side with said upper tool (6),

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first planar kinematic chain (83) comprises:

a first lever (84) configured for rotation about a first rotation axis (A1) orthogonal to a vertical plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (6);

a second lever (85) having a terminal portion hinged to said first lever (84) and a second terminal portion hinged to said upper tool (6);

and wherein the second planar kinematic chain (93) comprises:

a respective first lever (94) configured for rotating about a second rotation axis (A2) orthogonal to a vertical plane of the predetermined trajectory of the upper tool (6);

a respective second lever (95) having a terminal portion hinged to said first lever (94) of said second planar kinematic chain and a second terminal portion hinged to said upper tool (6).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first planar kinematic chain (83) of the kinematic device (69) comprises:

-a first planar hinge (83 a) constrained to the frame (3), wherein the first lever (84) of the first planar kinematic chain is engaged with the first planar hinge (83 a) for rotation about the first axis of rotation (A1);

-a second planar hinge (83 b), wherein said second rod (85) of said first planar kinematic chain has:

a first terminal portion (85') hinged to the first bar (84) by means of said second planar hinge (83 b) interposed between the first and second bars, and

a second terminal portion (85') constrained to said upper tool (6) by means of a third plane hinge (83 c).

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second planar kinematic chain (93) of the kinematic device (69) comprises:

-a first planar hinge (93 a) constrained to the frame (3), wherein the first lever (94) of the second planar kinematic chain is engaged with the first planar hinge (93 a) for rotation about the second axis of rotation (A2);

-a second planar hinge (93 b), wherein said second rod (95) of said second planar kinematic chain has:

a first terminal portion (95') hinged to the first lever (94) by means of the second planar hinge (93 b) interposed between the first lever (94) and the second lever (95) of the second planar kinematic chain, and

a second terminal portion (95') constrained to said upper tool (6) by means of a third planar hinge (93 c).

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first rotation axis (A1) of said first planar kinematic chain (83) coincides with said second rotation axis (A2) of said second planar kinematic chain (93).

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first and second planar kinematic chains are arranged, with respect to said upper tool (6), symmetrically to each other with respect to a plane passing through said first and second rotation axes and orthogonally placed with respect to the lying plane of said predetermined trajectory of said upper tool (6).

15. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said movement device (69) comprises a first actuator member (70 a) mounted on said first lever (84) of said first planar kinematic chain (83) and configured for rotating said first lever (84) about said first rotation axis (A1),

and wherein the movement device (69) comprises a second actuator member (70 b) mounted on the first lever (94) of the second planar kinematic chain (93) and configured for rotating the first lever (94) about the second rotation axis (A2),

wherein the first actuator member (70 a) and the second actuator member (70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in opposite directions so as to allow the upper tool (6) to rotate about the first (A1) and second (A2) rotation axes,

wherein the first actuator member (70 a) and the second actuator member (70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in the same direction so as to allow the upper tool (6) to translate close to and away from the first (A1) and second (A2) rotation axes.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said movement means (69) comprise guide members (86) engaged in an interposed manner between said upper tool (6) and said frame (3), configured for preventing oscillation of said upper tool (6) about said plane hinge where it engages with said second bars (85, 95) of said first and second chains.

17. An apparatus (1) for packaging at least one product (P) arranged on a support (4), said apparatus (1) comprising:

a supporting frame (3),

wherein the movement device (69) comprises:

a screw (97) hinged to the frame (3),

a lead screw nut (98) also engaged with the screw (97) via rotation,

a first rod (98 a) which is coupled at one end by means of a planar hinge with the screw nut (98) and at the opposite end by means of a planar hinge with the upper tool (6),

a second lever (98 b) engaged at one end with the first actuator (96) by means of a planar hinge and at the opposite end with an intermediate point of the first lever (98 a) by means of a planar hinge,

wherein the first actuator (96) is configured for rotating the screw (97) so as to allow approaching and moving away of the lead screw nut with respect to the first actuator (96) for at least defining:

a grouping condition of the first and second bars, wherein the upper tool (6) is close to the screw (97),

wherein the upper tool (6) is placed at a distance from the screw (97) in the extended state that is larger than the distance that exists between the upper tool (6) and the screw (97) in the grouped state.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement device (69) comprises:

a screw (97) hinged to the frame (3),

a lead screw nut (98) also engaged with the screw (97) via rotation,

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the movement device (69) comprises at least one second actuator acting on at least one of the following: the device comprises a first actuator, a screw nut, a first rod piece and a second rod piece;

wherein the second actuator lever system is configured for rotating the upper tool (6) around the screw (97) at least between:

a picking position, wherein the upper tool (6) faces the portion (5 a) of the film (5 b) which is also placed at the respective predetermined picking position,

a packaging position, wherein the upper tool (6) faces the lower tool (2) also placed in the respective packaging position.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first actuator is configured for commanding the extended state of the first and second bars for defining the first position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool is in the picking position,

wherein the first actuator is further configured for commanding the extended state of the first and second levers when the upper tool (6) is in the packaging position so as to define the second position of the upper tool (6).

21. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said movement means (69) comprise guide members (99) engaged in an interposed manner between said upper tool (6) and said frame (3), said guide members (99) being configured for preventing oscillations about an axis at said upper tool (6), said upper tool (6) being hinged to said first lever (98 a) at said axis.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said guide member (99) comprises a respective first bar (99 a) and a second bar (99 b) constrained to each other by means of a planar hinge, wherein said first bar (99 a) of said guide member (99) is also constrained to said frame (3) by means of a further planar hinge, while said second bar (99 b) of said guide member (99) is constrained to said upper tool (6) by means of a further planar hinge,

wherein the planar hinges of the guide member (99) are placed orthogonal to at least one of the planar hinges, the planar hinges:

connecting the screw nut (98) to the first lever (98 a) to which the upper tool (6) is hinged,

connecting the first lever (98 a) to which the upper tool (6) is hinged to the upper tool (6),

connecting the first actuator (96) with the second rod (98 b),

connecting the first rod (98 a) with the second rod (98 b).

23. An apparatus (1) for packaging at least one product (P) arranged on a support (4), said apparatus (1) comprising:

a supporting frame (3),

wherein the movement device (69) comprises:

a rod (110) hinged to said frame (3) and extending along a direction orthogonal to said vertical plane of said predetermined trajectory of said upper tool (6),

a first lever (113) joined at one end to the rod (110) by means of a planar hinge,

a motor (114) coupled to the first lever (113) by means of a planar hinge, the motor (114) being hinged to the first lever at the end opposite to the end where the first lever is hinged to the lever (110),

a second stem (115) engaged at one end with the rod (110) by means of a planar hinge and at the opposite end with the upper tool by means of a planar hinge, wherein the first and second stems are configured for defining at least:

a grouping condition in which the upper tool (6) is brought close to the rod (110),

an extended state, wherein the upper tool (6) is spaced apart from the rod (110),

wherein the upper tool (6) is placed at a distance from the rod (110) in the extended state that is larger than the distance that exists between the upper tool (6) and the rod (110) in the grouped state,

wherein the motor (114) acts on the first and second levers for commanding the ganged state and the extended state.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement device (69) comprises:

a rod (110) hinged to said frame (3) and extending along a direction orthogonal to said lying plane of said predetermined trajectory of said upper tool (6),

a motor (114) coupled to said first lever (113) by means of a planar hinge, said motor (114) being hinged to said first lever at the opposite end to the end where said first lever is hinged to said lever (110),

a second lever (115) engaged at one end with the rod (110) by means of a planar hinge and at the opposite end with the upper tool by means of a planar hinge,

wherein the first and second levers are configured to define at least:

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said movement means (69) comprise at least one actuator (111) acting on at least one between said rod (110) and said first stem (113), said actuator (111) being configured for rotating said upper tool (6) around said rod (110) at least between:

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the motor (114) is configured for commanding the extended state of the first and second bars for defining the first position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool (6) is in the picking position,

wherein the motor (114) is further configured for commanding the extended state of the first and second levers for defining the second position of the upper tool (6) when the upper tool (6) is in the packaging position.

27. Apparatus as claimed in the preceding claim 23, wherein said movement means (69) comprise guide members (116) engaged in an interposed manner between said upper tool (6) and said frame (3), said guide members (116) being configured for preventing oscillations about an axis at said upper tool (6), at which axis said upper tool (6) is hinged to said second stem (115).

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said guide member (116) comprises a respective first and second stem constrained to each other by means of a planar hinge, wherein said first stem of said guide member is also constrained to said frame by means of a further planar hinge, while said second stem is constrained to said upper tool (6) by means of a further planar hinge,

wherein the planar hinges of the guide member (116) are placed orthogonal to at least one of the planar hinges, the planar hinges:

connecting the rod (110) to the first rod (113),

connecting the first rod (113) to the motor (114),

connecting the second lever (115) to the motor (114),

-connecting the second rod (115) to the upper tool (6).

29. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 8, 17 and 23, comprising a single upper tool (6) movable along said predetermined trajectory at least between, in a condition of use of the apparatus, a vertical plane:

said first position and said second position so as to define an outward stroke of said upper tool;

the second position and the first position so as to define a return stroke of the upper tool.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said movement means (69) are configured for moving said single upper tool (6) along said outward and return strokes.

31. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 1, 8, 17 and 23, wherein the film (5 b) is a plastic film, the supply station (5) of the plastic film (5 b) comprising an abutment plate (74) configured for defining an abutment surface of the portion (5 a) of the plastic film (5 b) at the predetermined pick-up position,

wherein the abutment surface (74 a) of the abutment plate (74) is flat and arranged on a vertical plane.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the motion device is configured such that:

-arranging, in a condition of use of the apparatus, the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool according to a vertical plane parallel to the abutment surface (74 a) of the abutment plate (74) when the upper tool (6) is in the first position;

when the upper tool (6) is in the second position, the active surface (6 a) of the upper tool is arranged according to a horizontal plane in a use state of the apparatus.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement device (69) is configured for:

-arranging the driving member (71) vertically and the driven member (72) horizontally with the upper tool (6) in the first position;

-arranging the driving member (71) horizontally and the driven member (72) vertically with the upper tool (6) in the second position;

moving the upper tool (6) between the first position and the second position by rotating the upper tool (6) 90 degrees around an axis orthogonal to the predetermined trajectory by 90 degrees.

34. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 1, 8, 17 and 23, wherein the lower tool (2) is movable with respect to the frame (3) at least between:

a loading position spaced from the packaging position, wherein the lower tool (2) is configured for receiving the support (4).

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said movement means (69) comprise a synchronous movement system (75) mechanically interconnecting said lower tool (2) and said upper tool (6) for synchronizing the passage of said upper tool (6) from said first position to said second position with the passage of said lower tool (2) from said loading position to said packaging position, so that when said lower tool (2) is in the loading position, said upper tool (6) is in said first position for picking up said film portions (5 a) and when said lower tool (2) is in the packaging position, said upper tool (6) is in said second position for engaging said film portions (5 a) with said at least one support (4) accommodated by said lower tool (2) and thus making said at least one package (40).

36. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims 1, 8, 17 and 23, wherein the lower tool (2) and the upper tool (6) are configured for defining, in the second position of the upper tool in which they are close, a chamber in which the support (4) supporting the product and the film portion is housed, the apparatus (1) further comprising at least one between:

a suction system in fluid communication with the chamber, the suction system configured to remove air from an interior of the chamber so as to define a sub-atmospheric pressure within the interior of the chamber,

a blowing system in fluid communication with the chamber and configured for introducing a gas into the chamber so as to define a modified atmosphere environment inside the chamber.

37. The apparatus of any one of claims 1, 8, 17 and 23, wherein the film (5 b) is a plastic film.

38. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second actuator members (70 a, 70 b) are configured for rotating the respective first levers (84, 94) in a same direction for defining at least:

a ganged state, wherein the first and second levers of the first planar kinematic chain and wherein the first and second levers of the second planar kinematic chain define an acute angle, wherein, in the ganged state, the upper tool is arranged in a position close to the first and second axes of rotation (A1, A2),

an extended condition, wherein the first and second levers of the first planar kinematic chain and wherein the first and second levers of the second planar kinematic chain define an obtuse angle, wherein, in the extended condition, the upper tool (6) is arranged in spaced positions with respect to the first and second axes of rotation (A1, A2).

39. Process for packaging at least one product (P) by means of using an apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1, 8, 17 and 23, said process comprising the following steps:

arranging at least one support (4) supporting at least one product (P) on said lower tool (2) placed in a loading position,

positioning the upper tool (6) at the first position,

picking up the film portion (5 a) from the supply station (5) with the upper tool (6) in the first position,

-moving the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position by means of the movement means (69),

moving the lower tool (2) from the loading position to a packaging position such that the upper tool (6) in the second position is aligned with and in close proximity to the lower tool (2),

-joining said film portion (5 a) with said support (4) for obtaining at least one package (40).

40. Process as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of moving the upper tool (6) from the first position to the second position and the step of moving the lower tool from the loading position to the packaging position are synchronized with each other.

41. Process as claimed in claim 39, wherein the step of joining the membrane portion (5 a) with the support (4) comprises the sub-steps of:

-holding the membrane portions (5 a) above the respective supports by means of the upper tool (6),

heating the film portions (5 a) held above the respective supports,

-hermetically heat-sealing the film portion to at least one portion of the support for defining a containment compartment of the package, within which the product (P) is contained.

42. Process as claimed in claim 39, wherein, before picking up the film portion (5 a) from the supply station (5) with the upper tool (6) in the first position, the process comprises a further step of separating the film portion (5 a) from the continuous film provided by the supply station (5).

43. Process as claimed in claim 42, wherein, before hermetically heat-sealing the membrane portion (5 a) to at least one portion of the support, the process comprises a sub-step of removing at least a portion of the air present between the membrane portion (5 a) and the respective support.