ES2926169T3 - Installation and procedure for product packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention refers to a plant (100) for packaging products (P) arranged on a support (4), said plant comprising: a conveyor configured to move a plurality of supports (4) along a path of advance ( A); a plurality of packaging apparatuses (1), each configured to fit a part of a film (5a) with a support (4) to make a package (40); a transfer device (30) configured, in at least one operating condition, to transfer a support (4) from said conveyor (30) to a respective packaging apparatus (1). The transfer device (30) comprises: a guide (31) that presents a section (T1) transversal to the path of advance (A) of the supports (4) and fixed with respect to said packaging devices (1) at least when the transfer device (30) is in operational condition; a displacement element (32) coupled to the guide (31) and configured to be displaced, at least when the transfer device (30) is in said operative state, along said path (T1) and to intercept a support (4) on the conveyor (20), transferring it to the respective packaging apparatus (1). The present invention also relates to a packaging process using such a packaging plant. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Installation and procedure for product packaging

find field

The object of the present invention is an apparatus and a relative procedure for the packaging of products with the capacity to carry out multiple packaging cycles simultaneously. In particular, the finding refers to devices and methods that use a base support or tray, intended to house at least one product, and at least one plastic film, intended to be coupled with the base support to enclose the product itself in a container. . The finding can find application in vacuum packaging or in controlled atmosphere of products of various kinds.

State of the art

In the field of packaging, relative apparatus and methods are known for packaging, for example under vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere, of products such as meat and fish, cheese, processed meats, ready meals and similar foods.

The vacuum packaging process - also called vacuum packaging (VSP) - is a thermoforming process that allows a product (food) to be arranged inside or on top of a rigid or semi-rigid support, for example defined by a flat tray, or by a bucket or by a glass. The support and the relative product are arranged inside the chamber, in which a thermoplastic film is sealed on an upper edge of the support; next, the air present inside the container is extracted so that the thermoplastic film can adhere to the product placed inside the support.

The controlled or modified atmosphere packaging procedure -also called modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)- foresees instead, before the hermetic closure of the support by means of a plastic film, the discharge of the natural atmosphere between the space present between the support and the plastic film and the injection of gas of controlled composition.

Sophisticated apparatus and methods have been devised and developed for automatically transferring a plurality of carriers in a packaging apparatus in which a portion of plastic film is attached to the carriers on which the products have been loaded, in order to obtain effective and quickly a certain number of packaged products. For example, this type of known apparatus and procedures are described in the following Patent Applications WO 2014/060507 A1,W ^or 2014/166940 A1. Although the solutions described in the mentioned patent applications are highly developed and allow to efficiently form quality packages with high productivity, said solutions were designed for large productions and, therefore, are adapted to be used if it is desired to simultaneously make a large number of identical containers. In connection with a high degree of automation and productivity, several of the apparatuses described in the mentioned applications have a complex structure and a not insignificant size: said apparatuses therefore require considerable capital investments and the availability of ample spaces for their installation . Furthermore, devices with a high degree of automation require a high level of production quality and maintenance, since otherwise reliability is reduced, since the failure - even of a single component - can cause a complete stoppage of the the machine, with the need for only highly qualified technical personnel to intervene to restore operating conditions. It should also be considered that large automatic packaging devices usually have little flexibility in use: these devices cannot be easily adapted to small production batches or to the packaging of products on supports of different geometries.

Therefore, in order to be able to sustain small productions of containers, the packaging devices are currently used with manual operation, for which the stages of loading the tray in the machine, the closing of the machine for the packaging stage and the container unloading stage are carried out manually by an operator. These devices are designed to manufacture one container at a time and, therefore, can be suitable for formats of various sizes; furthermore, if small batch productions are requested in limited time periods, two more manually operated devices can be placed side by side in order to satisfy the needs that may arise from time to time.

Although the manually operated apparatuses are structurally simple, relatively inexpensive and have some flexibility in use, the Applicant has also indicated that they can be improved in several respects.

Object of the find

The object of the present invention is therefore to substantially resolve at least one of the drawbacks and/or limitations of the preceding solutions.

A first objective of the present invention is to provide a packaging installation and procedure characterized by great operating flexibility: capable of adapting to small production batches and large and, optionally, capable of carrying out containers of different shapes and sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact packaging installation, achievable with a limited investment and simultaneously capable of high productivity, considerably higher than that typical of known manual apparatus. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging installation that, although compact and achievable with a limited investment, has a degree of automation such that manual interventions are reduced to a minimum. Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging installation and method capable of creating vacuum-type or modified atmosphere packaging. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging facility and method capable of operating safely, without compromising the appearance of the final packaged product.

These and other objects, which will become more apparent from the following description, are substantially achieved by means of a packaging facility and method as set forth in one or more of the appended claims and/or the following aspects, taken alone or in any combination with each other or in combination with any one of the appended claims and/or in combination with any of the other aspects or features described below.

Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments and aspects of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for illustrative purposes only and, therefore, not by way of limitation, in which:

> Figures 1 and 2 are respective schematic views of a packaging installation according to the present invention;

> Figures 3 and 4 are respective top views of a packaging installation according to the present invention in different operating conditions;

> Figures 5 to 10 are other schematic views of a packaging installation according to the present invention in different operating conditions.

conventions

It should be noted that in the present detailed description, the corresponding parts illustrated in the different figures are indicated with the same reference numbers. The figures can illustrate the object of the invention through representations that are not to scale; therefore, the parts and components illustrated in the figures related to the object of the invention can refer to schematic representations.

The terms upstream and downstream refer to a direction of advance of a container -or a support for the manufacture of said container- along a predetermined path that starts from a starting or formation station of a support for said container, through a packaging apparatus and then to a container unloading station.

Definitions

Product

The term product P means an article or a composite of articles of any kind. For example, the product may be food-grade and in solid, liquid or gel form, ie in the form of two or more of the aforementioned states of aggregation. In the food sector, the product may include: meat, fish, cheese, processed meats, prepared and frozen meals of various types.

Control unit

The packaging installation described and claimed herein comprises at least one control unit designed to control the operations carried out by the installation. Obviously, the control unit can be a single one or be made up of a plurality of different control units according to design choices and operational needs.

With the term control unit is intended an electronic component that may include at least one selected from the following group: a digital processor (for example, comprising at least one selected from the group among: CPU, GPU, GPGPU), a memory (or memories), an analog circuit, or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog circuits. The control unit may be "configured" or "programmed" to carry out some steps: this can be carried out in practice by any means that allows the control unit to be configured or programmed. For example, in the case of a control unit comprising one or more CPUs and one or more memories, one or more programs may be stored in appropriate memory banks connected to the CPU or CPUs; the program(s) contain instructions which, when executed by the CPU(s), program or configure the control unit to carry out the operations described in connection with the control unit. Alternatively, if the control unit is or includes analog circuitry, then the control unit circuitry may be designed to include analog circuitry. configured, in use, to process electrical signals in order to perform the steps related 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 the actions necessary to execute an instruction and sets of instructions.

actuator

The term actuator means any device capable of causing a movement in a body, for example, from an order from the control unit (reception by the actuator of an order sent by the control unit). The actuator can be electrical, pneumatic, mechanical (for example spring-loaded) or of another type. Support

With the term support, both a flat support and a tray are intended, comprising at least one base and at least one side wall emerging from the outer perimeter of the base and, optionally, a terminal rim emerging radially outward from a peripheral edge. side wall top. The outer flange may extend along a single major extension plane or may be shaped; in the case of the shaped outer flange, this may, for example, have multiple portions extending along main extension planes that are different from each other, in particular parallel but offset from each other. The shaped outer flange portions can be radially displaced. The support defines a top surface on which the product P can be placed and/or a volume within which the product can be housed. The tray may comprise an upper edge portion emerging radially from the free edge of the side wall opposite the base: the upper edge portion emerges from the side wall in a direction starting from the volume of the tray itself.

The flat support can have any shape, for example rectangular, rhomboid, circular or elliptical; Similarly, the sidewall tray may have a base of any shape, eg rectangular, diamond, circular or elliptical. The support can be formed by means of a specific manufacturing process other than the packaging process or it can be implemented in-line with the packaging process.

The support may be made, at least in part, of paper material, optionally having at least 50% by weight, optionally at least 70% by weight, of organic material comprising one or more of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, derivatives of the lignin. The paper material in question extends between a first and a second main extension surface. The sheet paper material used to make the tray may, in a variant of an embodiment, be covered by at least part of the prevailing first and/or second developing surfaces by means of a coating of plastic material, for example a food grade film. If the coating is arranged to cover at least a portion of the predominant first development surface, the coating itself will define an interior surface of the support. On the other hand, if the coating is disposed on the second predominant development surface, the coating itself will define an outer surface of the support. The coating can also be heat treated so that it can act as an element for hooking and fixing parts of the support, as will be better described below. The coating can also be used to define a kind of barrier to water and/or humidity, useful to prevent the weakening and loss of structure of the support with the consequent uncontrolled deformation of the paper material that constitutes this last component. The coating can be applied to the paper stock (as specified above on the inside and/or outside of the backing) in the form of a so-called solution-deposited or spray-on lacquer, the thickness of which is generally between 0.2 and 10 p.m. Alternatively, the coating can consist of a plastic film, for example polyethylene, which can be applied by means of a rolling process, on one or both faces (inside and/or outside) of the paper material that defines the support. In case the coating is applied by means of lamination, the values of the plastic film (coating) can range, for example, between 10 and 400 pm, in particular, in particular between 20 and 200 pm, and even more in particular, between 30 and 80 pm, of coating material (ie, polyethylene). The plastic lining material can be selected, for example, from the following materials: PP, PE (HDPE, LDPE, MDPE, LLDPE), EVA, polyesters (including PET and PETg), PVdC.

The support may alternatively be made, at least in part, of a monolayer and multilayer thermoplastic material. The support may be provided with gas barrier properties. As used herein, this term refers to a film or sheet of material having an oxygen transmission rate of less than 200 cm3/(m2 * day * bar), less than 150 cm3/(m2 * day * bar), less than 100 cm3/(m2 * day * bar) when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3985 at 23°C and 0% relative humidity. Suitable gas barrier materials for single layer thermoplastic packaging are, for example, polyesters, polyamides, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), PVdC and the like. The support can be made of a multilayer material comprising at least one gas barrier layer and at least one heat-sealable layer to allow the coating film to be sealed to the surface of the support. Gas barrier polymers that can be used for the gas barrier layer are PVDC, EVOH, polyamides, polyesters, and mixtures thereof. Generally, a PVDC barrier layer will contain plasticizers and/or stabilizers as known in the art. The thickness of the gas barrier layer will be established to provide the material of which the support an oxygen transmission rate at 23°C and 0% relative humidity of less than 50 cm3/(m2*day*atm), preferably less than 10 cm3/(m2*day*atm), when measured in accordance with the ASTM D-3985 standard. 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, ionomers and homo or copolyesters, for example PETG, a terephthalate glycol-modified polyethylene.

Additional layers, such as adhesive layers, for example to make the gas barrier layer adhere better to adjacent layers, may preferably be present in the material from which the support is made and are selected based on the resins specific used for the gas barrier layer.

In the case of a multilayer structure, part of it may be formed as foam. For example, the multilayer material used to form the support may comprise (from the outermost layer to the innermost layer in contact with food) one or more structural layers, typically made of a material such as expanded polystyrene, expanded polyester, or expanded polypropylene. , or cardboard, or on film, eg polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester; a gas barrier layer and a heat sealable layer. An easy-open frangible layer can be placed next to the heat-sealable layer to facilitate opening of the final package. Low cohesion polymer blends that can be used as a frangible layer are, for example, those described in WO99/54398. The total thickness of the support can be, for example, 5 mm, optionally between 0.04 and 3.00 mm, more optionally between 0.15 and 1.00 mm.

The support can be made entirely of a paper material (optionally, the coating is made of a film of plastic material) or it can be made entirely of plastic material. In another embodiment variant, the support is made, at least in part, of paper material and, at least in part, of plastic material; in particular, the support is made internally of plastic material and externally lined, at least in part, with paper material.

The support can also be used to define so-called "prepared food" packages; in this configuration, the supports are made so that they can be inserted into the oven to heat and/or cook the food product placed in the package. In this embodiment (supports for prepared food packages), the support may, for example, be made of paper material, in particular cardboard, coated with polyester, or it may be entirely made of a polyester resin. For example, suitable carriers for ready packs are made from the following materials: CPET, APEt or APET/CPET, expanded or unexpanded. The backing may further comprise a heat-sealable layer of low-melting material on the film. This heat-sealable layer can be coextruded with a PET-based layer (as described in Patent Application Nos. EP 1529797A and WO2007/093495) or can be deposited on the base film by means of solvent media deposition or by extrusion coating means (for example, described in US 2,762,720 and EP 1252008 A).

In another embodiment, the support can be at least partially made of metallic material, in particular aluminum. The support can also be made at least in part from aluminum and at least in part from paper material. In general, the support can be made of at least one of the following materials: metal, plastic, paper.

Movie

A film of plastic material, in particular polymeric material, is applied to the supports (flat supports or trays), to create a fluid-tight package for housing the product. In order to manufacture a vacuum package, the film applied to the support is typically a flexible multilayer material comprising at least a first heat-sealable outer layer capable of being welded to the inner surface of the support, optionally a gas barrier layer and a second layer. heat resistant outer. If it is desired to manufacture packaging under controlled atmosphere (MAP) or packaging under natural atmosphere (unmodified atmosphere), the film applied with the support (plastic film, in particular polymeric material) is typically monolayer or multilayer, having at least a heat-sealable layer and possibly capable of shrinking under the action of heat. The applied film may further comprise at least one gas barrier layer and optionally an outer heat resistant layer.

material specifications

The term paper material means paper or cardboard; in particular, the sheet material that can be used to make the support can have a weight of between 30 and 600 g/m2, in particular between 40 and 500 g/m2, even more particularly between 50 and 250 g/m2.

PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymer in which a prevalent amount of the copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a lesser amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith, typically vinyl chloride and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (e.g. acrylate or methyl methacrylate) and their mixtures in different 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 from about 28 to about 48 molar percent, more preferably from about 32 and about 44 molar ethylene and even more preferably, and a degree of saponification of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%.

The term polyamides refers to homo- and co- or ter-polymers. This term specifically includes aliphatic polyamides or copolyamides, for example, 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, polyamide MXD6/MXDI , and their mixtures.

The term polyesters refers to polymers obtained from the polycondensation reaction of dicarboxylic acids with dihydric alcohols. Suitable dicarboxylic acids are, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and the like. Suitable dihydric alcohols are, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and the like. Some examples of useful polyesters are polyethylene terephthalate and copolyesters obtained by reacting one or more carboxylic acids with one or more dihydric alcohols.

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 (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 co-monomers selected from alpha-olefins having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1 -octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene and the like. Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers generally have a density ranging from about 0.86 g/cm3 to about 0.94 g/cm3. The term linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is generally understood to include that group of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers that are in the density range between about 0.915 g/cm3 and about 0.94 g/cm3 and , in particular, between about 0.915 g/cm3 and about 0.925 g/cm3. Linear polyethylene in the density range between about 0.926 g/cm3 and about 0.94 g/cm3 is often referred to as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE). Lower density ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers may be referred to as very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) and very low density polyethylene (ULDPE). The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers can be obtained with heterogeneous or homogeneous polymerization processes. Another useful ethylene copolymer is an ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer which is the copolymer of ethylene and one or more unsaturated ester monomers. Useful unsaturated esters include the vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids, in which the esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms, such as vinyl acetate, and the alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, in which the esters have between 4 and 12 carbon atoms. Ionomers are copolymers of an ethylene and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having the carboxylic acid neutralized by a metal ion, such as zinc, or preferably sodium. Useful propylene copolymers include propylene/ethylene copolymers, which are copolymers of propylene and ethylene with a majority weight percent of propylene, and propylene/ethylene/butene terpolymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene, and 1 -butene.

Detailed description

Packaging facility 100

Reference number 100 globally indicates a packaging installation, adapted to manufacture packages comprising at least one product P.

As schematically illustrated, for example, in Figures 1 to 20, the packaging installation 100 comprises a conveyor belt 20 configured to receive and move a plurality of supports 4 along a predetermined advance path A. Figure 20 illustrates an installation 100 in which the carriers 4 moving along the conveyor belt 4 do not carry the product P: the products P can, in fact, be loaded once the carrier 4 reaches a predetermined packaging apparatus 1. Alternatively, as shown Schematized in Figure 2, the products P can be loaded onto the supports 4 - manually by an assigned operator or automatically by means of suitable stations - moving on the conveyor belt 20.

The conveyor belt 20 comprises an operating section 21 which extends along a plane and is configured to move the supports 4 along an advance path A (see Figure 2); the operating section 21 essentially represents the part of the conveyor belt 20 adapted to support and move the supports 4. In the attached figures, the rest plane of the operating section 21 extends horizontally, at least in conditions of use of the installation 100; the advance path A lies in said plane and is essentially defined by a rectilinear direction of movement of the supports 4. In the attached figures, the advance path A is straight, but the possibility of realizing a defined path A is not excluded by a non-linear trajectory that is located in the plane of the operating section.

As for the structure, the conveyor belt 20 can comprise a belt (condition illustrated in the attached figures) moved by means of one or more motors, for example electric. Alternatively, the conveyor belt 20 may comprise a roller conveyor (condition not illustrated) again moved by means of electric motors.

Installation 100 further comprises a plurality of packaging apparatuses 1, schematically shown in Figure 1, spaced apart from each other and adjacent to conveyor 20. In particular, packaging apparatuses 1 are located adjacent to conveyor belt 20 and configured to receive the products. supports 4 that transport the products P moved by the conveyor belt 20. Figures 1 to 20 illustrate an embodiment of the installation 100 in which all the devices 1 are arranged on the same side of the conveyor belt 20 and aligned along a path parallel to advance path A. Alternatively, a predetermined number of fixtures 1 may be arranged on one side of the conveyor while a predetermined number of fixtures 1 may be arranged on another side: fixtures may be arranged on sides opposite sides of conveyor belt 20.

Each packaging apparatus 1 is configured to receive at least one support 4 carrying a product P and to engage a portion of a film 5a with said support 4 in order to manufacture at least one container 40. In detail, each packaging apparatus 1 comprises at least one lower tool 2 configured to receive and support one or more supports 4 and an upper tool 6 configured to couple a portion of film 5a with at least one support 4 to manufacture at least one package 40; the upper tool 6 and the lower tool 2 are movable relative to each other at least between a moving away condition and an approaching condition. In detail, in the remote condition, the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 are configured to allow the positioning of at least a portion of film 5a and a support 4 that carries the product between said tools, or in interposition between the tool lower tool 2 and upper tool 6. In the approach condition, upper tool 6 and lower tool 2 are configured to allow film portion 5a to engage support 4 and form package 40. In more detail, each of The packaging apparatus 1 comprises at least one heating device associated with the upper tool 6 that is configured to heat at least a portion of the film 5a before or during a packaging step of the product P, in order to allow the thermal sealing of said film with support 4. The heating device comprises a heat-sealing plate configured to come into contact with the film 5a , heating it and pressing it against the support 4, in particular against a perimeter closing rim of the support and exerting a contact pressure between said film 5a and the support 4.

The installation 100 further comprises at least one transfer device 30 configured, in at least one operating condition, to transfer at least one support 4 from the conveyor belt 20 to one of said packaging apparatus 1. The transfer device 30 is configured to transfer the moving supports 4 from the conveyor belt 20 to one or more packaging apparatuses 1: in this configuration, the transfer device 30, in the operating condition, is configured to intercept the moving supports on the conveyor belt 20 Alternatively, conveyor belt 20 may be configured to stop for predetermined time points; the transfer device 30 may be configured to come into contact with the support 4 on the conveyor belt 20 during said stopping step.

In an embodiment illustrated, for example, in Figures 1 and 2, the installation 100 comprises a transfer device 30 for each of the packaging apparatuses 1, so that each of the transfer devices 30 is configured to move the least one support 4 moving on the conveyor belt 20 towards a respective packaging apparatus 1. Each of the transfer devices 30 is configured to deliver the supports 4 to only one of said packaging apparatuses 1.

In more detail, each transfer device 30 comprises at least one guide 31 having a section T1 transverse to the advance path A of the supports 4 on the conveyor belt 20; the guide 31 is fixed with respect to the packaging apparatuses 1, at least when the transfer device 30 is located in said operative condition. In particular, the section T1 of the guide 31 is rectilinear and extends along the conveyor belt 20 to at least one packaging device 1. The guide 31 of the transfer device 30 comprises a rectilinear bar arranged, in use conditions of the packaging installation 100, above the conveyor belt 20. In particular, at least part of the section T1 of the guide 31, optionally the entire section T1, extends parallel to the plane of rest of the operating section 21 of the belt conveyor belt 20. The rectilinear section T1 of the guide 31 is inclined with respect to the advance path A of the conveyor belt 20 by an angle between 10° and 80°, optionally between 20° and 70°. In more detail, the guide 31, in particular the guide bar 31, extends to completely cover the width of the conveyor belt 20. Said guide 31 extends between a first and a second end portion: only the second end portion is arranged in a respective packaging apparatus 1 and, in particular, arranged in the lower tool 2 of the respective packaging apparatus 1. Instead, the first end portion of the guide 31 is separated from the respective packaging apparatus 1 and, in particular, it is arranged on the side of the conveyor belt 20 opposite to the side along which the respective packaging apparatus 1 is arranged. Each transfer device 30 is located, in conditions of use of the installation 100, above the operating section 21 of the conveyor belt 20.

As mentioned above, installation 100 comprises a plurality of transfer devices 30; in said configuration, the sections T1 of the guides 31 are parallel to each other (see, for example, Figure 2) and, in particular, parallel to the rest plane of the operating section 21; all the sections T1 of the guides 31 are transverse with respect to the advance path A of the supports 4 on the conveyor belt 20.

As can be seen in the attached figures, the transfer device 30 further comprises at least one displacement element 32 coupled to the guide 31 and configured, at least in the operating condition of the transfer device 30, to move along the section T1 above the conveyor belt 20. In particular, the displacement element 32 is configured to intercept at least one support 4 arranged on the conveyor belt 20, displacing it in the respective packaging apparatus 1. The displacement element 32 moves along the section T1 of the guide 31 between a loading position and an exit position. The displacement element 32, in the loading position, is distanced from one of said packaging apparatuses 1 and is configured to intercept one or more supports 4 moving on the conveyor belt 20: moreover, in said loading position, the displacement element 32 is placed in an end portion of the guide 31 opposite with respect to the respective packaging apparatus 1. The displacement element 32, in the exit position, is placed in the vicinity of the respective packaging apparatus 1 next to the conveyor belt 20.

The displacement element 32 is movable with respect to the guide 31 between an active condition and an inactive condition. The displacement element 32, in the active state and when it is movable along the section T1 of the guide 31, is capable of intercepting at least one support 4 arranged, optionally in movement, on the conveyor belt 20. On the other hand, in the inactive condition, the displacement element 32, when it moves along the section T1 of the guide 31, is adapted to avoid contact with the supports 4 placed on the conveyor belt 20 (optionally moving on the conveyor belt 20) . In fact, in the active condition, the displacement element 32 is arranged at a minimum distance from the conveyor belt 20 less than a minimum distance between the conveyor belt 20 and the displacement element 32 when the latter is located in the inactive condition. In other words, the minimum distance between the conveyor belt 20 and the moving element 32 increases when going from the active condition to the inactive condition. The active condition is shown for example in Figures 5 and 6 while the inactive condition is shown, according to a first embodiment of the displacement element 32, in Figures 7 and 8 and, according to a second embodiment of the displacement element displacement 32, in Figures 9 and 10. The first embodiment of the displacement element 32 foresees that it is movable by translation from the active position to the inactive position, and vice versa; in particular, in the first embodiment, the displacement element 32 is movable along a path perpendicular to the rest plane of the operating section 21 of the conveyor belt 20, optionally vertically depending on a condition of use of the installation . In the second embodiment, the displacement element 32 is movable by rotation between the active condition and the inactive condition, and vice versa. From a structural point of view, the displacement element 32 comprises a coupling portion 32a directly constrained to the guide 31 and at least one final contact portion 32b oriented, at least in the loading position, towards the conveyor belt 20. coupling portion 32a essentially represents the connection element between the displacement element 32 itself and the guide 31; in the attached figures, a coupling portion is illustrated comprising a sliding carriage, below which the contact portion 32b is constrained.

The contact portion 32b instead represents the element adapted to directly intercept the support 4 arranged, optionally in motion, on the conveyor belt 20. In greater detail and according to a preferred embodiment, the contact portion 32b of the transfer device 30 it may comprise, without limitation, a plate having a substantially "L" shape that defines a seat adapted to receive a support 4. The contact portion 32b is thus configured to receive at least one support 4 within said seat and guide it in the outward movement of the conveyor belt 20 along the section T1 of the guide 31. In this configuration, the transfer device 30 acts, without limitation, as a pusher; however, it is also possible to carry out a different contact portion 32b which can, for example, act as a pulling element.

The transfer device 30 comprises at least one motor, for example an electric motor, connected to the displacement element 32 and configured to move the latter between the loading position and the exit position. Furthermore, the transfer device 30 may comprise an additional electric motor or actuator configured to move the displacement element 32 between the active condition and the inactive condition.

The installation may also comprise at least one damping station (not shown in the attached figures) interposed between the conveyor belt 20 and the at least one packaging apparatus 1 and configured to receive at least one support 4, optionally a support carrying a product, when the lower tool 2 is in the packaging position, optionally also when the station is in the waiting position. The damping station is configured in this way to allow the positioning of the support 4 carried by the same damping station on the lower tool 2. In other words, the damping station allows the transfer device 30 to position a support 4 in, particularly in the vicinity of, a packaging apparatus 1 even when the latter has the lower tool 2 in the packaging position: in this way, when the lower tool 2 has finished the packaging step and has unloaded the respective packaging, the support 4 it is immediately ready to be positioned on the lower tool 2, without having to wait for the arrival of a support 4 from the conveyor belt 20. The buffer station may comprise a support plane in which the support 4, coming from the conveyor belt 20 , awaits the arrival of the lower tool: the transfer device 30 is then configured to complete and l displacement of the support 4 from the buffer station to the lower tool 2 of the relative packaging apparatus.

Also illustrated in the attached figures is a lower tool movable between:

- a packaging position in which the lower tool is aligned with the upper tool,

- a support loading position (see Figures 5 to 10), distanced from the packaging position, in which the lower tool is configured to receive said support,

Indeed, when it is in the packaging position and in conditions of use of the installation, the lower tool is vertically aligned with the upper tool and they define a kind of virtual size with vertical extension. The lower tool, when in the loading position, is at least partially disposed outside said virtual size. The lower tool when in the loading position substantially overlaps the buffer station. Indeed, when the lower tool moves from the packaging position to the loading position, it is configured to automatically receive the support of said damping station.

In one embodiment, the damping station may be associated with the lower tool. In particular, the lower tool may be connected to a catenary, optionally with a closed path, which is configured to follow the movement of the lower tool between the packing position and the loading position. In particular, the catenary or belt, when the lower tool is in the packaging position, is configured to define a plane adapted to adjoin at least one support 4 (damping station). The plane defined by said catenary is configured to be reduced when the lower tool 2 reaches the loading position, so that the support 4 is arranged on said lower tool 2. During the reduction of the catenary, the packaging device 30 is configured to maintain the position of the displacement element 32, so that said displacement element 32 can inhibit a displacement of the support 4 during the movement of the catenary: in this way, the displacement element 32 is configured to allow the discharge of the support in the lower tool when it reaches the loading position.

In another embodiment, the damping station may be defined by a base coupled to the lower tool 2 and movable together with the latter. Said base is supported on an upper part of the lower tool 2.

The installation may comprise a control unit 50 connected to the transfer device 30 and, in particular, to the plurality of devices 30; the control unit is configured to command the operating condition of the transfer device 30 so as to allow the transfer of at least one support 4, optionally in motion on the conveyor belt 20, from the conveyor belt 20 to one of the transfer devices. packaging 1. The control unit 50 is configured to control, in particular to define, the position of the displacement element 32; In greater detail, the control unit 50 is configured to control the movement of each displacement element 32 between the load position and the exit position, as well as to control its active and inactive condition. The control unit 50 is configured to command the active condition of at least one displacement element 32 of a transfer device 30 during the command of a movement of said element 32 from the loading position to the exit position; in more detail, the control unit 50 is configured to command the active condition of a displacement element 32 when it moves in the direction of a relative packaging apparatus 1 (condition illustrated in Figure 6). The control unit 50 is further configured to command the inactive condition of a displacement element 32 of a transfer device 30 during the command of a movement of said element 32 from the starting position to the loading position; in more detail, the control unit 50 is configured to order the inactive condition of a displacement element 32 when it moves away from a respective packaging apparatus 1 in order to avoid any contact between said displacement element 32 and one or more moving supports on the conveyor belt 20. In other words, the control unit 50 is configured to synchronize the active and inactive condition of each displacement element 32 with the movement of the latter (the displacement elements 32) between the load position and the load position. starting position; in this way, the control unit 50 can allow:

- that the displacement elements 32 move along the respective guide 31 and approach a respective apparatus 1 to intercept a support 4 (optionally a support 4 carrying a product P) carried by the conveyor belt, and

- that the displacement elements 32 move along the respective guide 31 and move away from a respective apparatus 1 to avoid contact with the supports 4 (optionally a support 4 carrying a product P), supported by the conveyor belt twenty.

The control unit 50 can be configured to manage the electric motors and/or actuators that allow the movement of the displacement element 32 of each device 30 in order to control the displacement of the elements 32 both for the movement between the active and non-active conditions. inactive and for movement between the load and output positions.

As described above, also the conveyor belt 20 is moved by means of one or more electric motors; the control unit 150 is connected to said electric motors and is configured to command, in particular to adjust, the speed of the conveyor belt in order to command the speed of the supports 4 along along the advance path A. The conveyor belt 20 moves by means of an electric motor connected to the control unit 30, which is configured to adjust the speed of rotation of said motor in order to set or vary the speed of the conveyor. conveyor belt 20 and, therefore, the speed of movement of the supports along the path of advance A.

Control unit 50 is further configured to synchronize the movement of conveyor 20 with transfer device 30; in particular, the unit 50 is configured to synchronize the movement of the displacement element 32, between the active condition and the inactive condition, with the movement of the conveyor 20.

The installation 100 may comprise at least one sensor configured to emit at least one signal representative of the presence of a support 4 within a specific passage section of the conveyor belt 20; in particular, the sensor is configured to emit at least one signal representative of the relative position of a support 4 placed on the conveyor belt 20 with respect to at least one respective packaging apparatus 1. The installation 100 may also comprise another sensor configured to emit at least one signal representative of the speed of movement of the conveyor 20, in particular the speed of advance of the supports 4 along the advance path A of the conveyor 20.

The control unit 50 is connected to the transfer device 30 to the conveyor belt 20 and, optionally, to at least one of said sensors, and is configured to command the operating condition of the transfer device 30 based on the signals received from said sensors. sensors and/or as a function of the speed of movement of the conveyor belt 20, so that a specific transfer device 30 can intercept at least one support 4 moving on the conveyor belt 20 to move it to a relative packaging apparatus 1 .

The control unit 150 may be connected to each of the packaging apparatuses 1 and is configured to receive a monitoring signal from each of them; Based on the monitoring signal, the control unit 150 is configured to determine an operating parameter of each packaging apparatus 1 representative of at least one of a waiting condition and a packaging condition. In detail, in the waiting condition, the lower and upper tools are in the withdrawal condition and the lower tool is adapted to receive at least one support 4. In the packing condition, the lower and upper tools are in the off condition. approach and are configured to make at least one package 40.

Depending on the control signal and, therefore, depending on the operating conditions of the packaging devices 1, the control unit 50 is configured to order the operating condition of at least one transfer device 30 so that it can moving at least one support 4 to a packaging apparatus 1 placed in the waiting condition.

In general, the control unit 50 is configured to synchronize the movement of the transfer device 30, the movement of the upper and lower tools of each of the packaging apparatuses 1, the movement of the displacement member 32 from the active condition to the inactive condition, the movement of the displacement element 32 from the load position to the exit position and vice versa. In this way, the control unit can manage the plurality of transfer devices 30 so that they can correctly serve the supports to the packaging apparatus 1. In addition, the control unit 50 is configured to order the maintenance of the position of the element 32 at the buffer station of a relative packaging apparatus, optionally while awaiting the arrival of the lower tool at the loading position. In particular, the control unit 50 is configured to synchronize the movement of the transfer device 30, when the displacement element 32 is in said damping station, with the movement of the lower tool 2 of the respective packaging apparatus 1.

Packaging procedure

Also part of the object of the present invention is a packaging method using an installation 100 according to any one of the appended claims and/or according to the detailed description set forth above.

The method comprises a step of moving a plurality of supports 4 along the predetermined advance path by means of the conveyor belt 20. The supports 4 that move along said path 4 can be of the type that carries the least one product P or, alternatively, they may not be provided with it. The product P can be arranged on the support 4 before or during the movement of the supports 4 themselves on the conveyor belt 20. The positioning of the products P on the supports can be carried out manually by an operator (condition shown in Fig. Figure 2) or it can be carried out automatically by means of suitable stations. However, it is also possible to carry out the positioning of the products P on the supports 4 previously arranged in the packaging apparatus 1. The method further comprises a step of moving at least one support 4, optionally in movement on the conveyor belt 20, from the conveyor belt 20 to a packaging apparatus 1 by moving the displacement element 32 along the guide 31 of at least one device transfer 30. In more detail, said displacement step provides for the actuation of at least one transfer device 30 so that it can intercept a support placed on the conveyor belt 20 for its displacement within a respective packaging apparatus 1. As described above, the system 100 comprises a plurality of apparatuses 1 and an equal number of transfer devices 30; the step of moving the supports from the conveyor belt 20 to the packaging apparatus can provide for the simultaneous actuation of a plurality of devices 30, so that each of these can move a respective support 4 towards a specific apparatus 1.

The step of moving each transfer device 30 comprises the following substeps:

> arrange the displacement element 32 in the active condition;

> move said displacement element from the loading position to the exit position along the guide 31.

During the movement of the displacement element 32 from the loading position to the output position, the displacement element 32 intercepts one or more supports 4, optionally in motion, on the conveyor belt 20: the displacement element 32 is capable of intercepting the support 4 given that it is arranged in the active condition illustrated for example in Figure 6.

After the interception step, the displacement element 32 moving along the section T1 of the guide 31 moves the support 4 out of the conveyor belt and towards a respective packaging apparatus 1; in particular, the displacement element 32 places the support directly on the lower tool of the packaging apparatus 1. Once the support 4 (optionally the support 4 carrying the product P) has been loaded into the packaging apparatus, the procedure provides for a repositioning step of the displacement element 32 during which the latter moves from the exit position to the loading position: in this way, the transfer device 30 can then carry out a new operating condition to move another support 4 of the conveyor belt 20 towards the apparatus 1. During this stage of repositioning the displacement element 32, it is initially brought to the inactive condition and then moves from the exit position to the loading position always along the stretch T1 of the guide 31: in this way, the final contact portion 32b moves away from the conveyor belt and is configured to move above it, avoiding making contact with supports 4. The repositioning stage is schematically illustrated in Figures 7 to 10.

The method may further comprise a stage of monitoring the operating conditions of the installation 100 carried out by means of the control unit 50; said monitoring step comprises at least one substep for determining at least one parameter selected from the group of the following parameters representative of at least one of the following operating conditions:

^ the presence of a support 4 within a specific passage section of the conveyor belt 20, ^ the relative position of a support 4 placed on the conveyor belt 20 with respect to at least one respective packaging apparatus 1,

^ the speed of movement of the conveyor belt 20, in particular the speed of advance of the supports 4 along the advance path A of the conveyor belt 20,

^ a waiting condition of at least one packaging apparatus 1 in which the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 are in the distance condition and the lower tool 2 is adapted to receive at least one support 4,

^ a packaging condition of at least one packaging apparatus in which the lower tool 2 and the upper tool 6 are in the approaching condition and configured to make at least one packaging 40.

Depending on the operating conditions, the method provides for commanding the operating condition of at least one transfer device 30 so that it can move at least one support 4 towards a packaging device 1 placed in the waiting condition. In fact, through the monitoring step, the control unit 50 is capable of determining whether one or more packaging apparatuses 1 are in the waiting condition and therefore capable of receiving a support 4. Alternatively, or in combination, the control unit 50, due to the monitoring step, is able to recognize a support 4 moving on the conveyor belt 20 and, optionally, detect the relative position of the same with respect to an apparatus 1 and/or a speed of movement along the advance path A. Based on these additional operating conditions, the control unit 50 is configured to define the operating condition of one or more transfer devices 30 in order to determine which support 4 in movement on the conveyor belt 20 must be loaded into a specific packaging apparatus 1.

As described above, the section T1 of the guide 31, along which the displacement element 32 moves, is transverse to the advance path A of the supports; if the displacement of the supports by the transfer device 30 is carried out during the movement of the supports 4 along the path A, the control unit can calculate and/or adjust the speed of movement of the conveyor belt 20 and, therefore, the speed of advance of the supports 4 along the path A and manage the speed of movement of the displacement elements 32 in such a way that the speed of movement of the supports 4 on the conveyor belt 20 is substantially identical to that of the component of the movement speed of the elements of displacement 32 parallel to the path of advance A; in this way, the control unit 50 can ensure the extraction of a first support 4 from the conveyor belt 20 without it being able to impact against an adjacent second support placed immediately upstream or downstream of the first support with respect to the advance path of supports 4.

Once the support 4 has been loaded, in particular the support that carries the product 4, in the lower tool of an apparatus 1, the procedure provides for the performance of a packaging step during which:

^ the upper and lower tools of said packaging apparatus 1 are arranged in the approach condition;

^ at least a portion of the film 5a is arranged, for example by heat sealing, with at least a portion of said support 4 to define the packaging 40 that houses the at least one product P.

The packaging step can be of known type and also provides for at least one of the following steps:

^ a step of extracting gas from a chamber defined by the lower and upper tools placed in the approach condition, to define a vacuum package (also called a vacuum package); ^ a step of introducing a gas into a housing space defined by the support in cooperation with the film 5a, to define controlled atmosphere packaging.

At the end of the packaging step, the lower and upper tools are again placed in the away or distal condition to allow removal of the packaging 40 from the apparatus. Once the package 40 has been removed, the apparatus 1 returns to the standby condition and can receive a new support 4 to manufacture a new package.

Claims (15)

1. Installation (100) for packaging products (P) arranged on a support (4), said installation comprising: ^ at least one conveyor belt (20) configured to receive and a plurality of supports (4) along a predetermined advance path (A), ^ a plurality of packaging apparatuses (1) on the side of the conveyor (20), in which each packaging apparatus (1) is configured to receive at least one support (4) supporting a product (P) and to engage a portion of a film (5a) with said support (4) in order to manufacture at least one packaging (40), characterized in that the installation (100) further comprises: ^ at least one transfer device (30) configured, in at least one operative condition, to transfer at least one support (4) moving on the conveyor (20) from said conveyor (20) to at least one respective one of said packaging apparatus (1), wherein the transfer device (30) comprises: ^ at least one guide (31) that presents a rectilinear path (T1) transverse to the path of advance (A) of the supports (4) on the conveyor (20), said guide (31) extending through the conveyor (20 ) to at least one packaging apparatus (1) and which is fixed with respect to said packaging apparatus (1) at least when the transfer device (30) is in said operative condition, in which the tract (T1) of the guide (31) is inclined with respect to the advance path (A) of the conveyor (20) by an angle between 10° and 80°, ^ at least one displacement element (32) coupled to the guide (31) and configured, at least when the transfer device (30) is in said operative condition, to be displaced along said tract (T1) and intercept at least one support (4) on the conveyor (20), moving it towards the respective packaging apparatus (1). Installation according to claim 1, in which, when the transfer device (30) is in said operating condition, the tract (T1) extends above the conveyor (20), in which the displacement element (32), in the operative condition, is configured to be moved above the conveyor (20). Installation according to any of the preceding claims, in which the displacement element (32) is movable along the path (T1) of the guide (31) at least between: ^ a loading position in which the displacement element (32) is distanced from one of said packaging apparatuses (1) and configured to intercept one or more supports (4) moving on the conveyor (20), and ^ an exit position in which the displacement element (32) is placed in proximity to the respective packaging apparatus (1) on one side of the conveyor (20). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, in which the displacement element (32) is selectively movable, optionally by translation, with respect to the guide (31), at least between: ^ an active condition in which the displacement element (32) itself, when it moves along the path (T1) of the guide (31), is adapted to intercept the support (4) that moves on the conveyor ( 20), and ^ an inactive condition in which the displacement element (32) itself, when it moves along the section (T1) of the guide (31), is adapted to avoid contact with the supports (4) that move in the conveyor belt (20). 5. Installation according to any of the preceding claims, in which the displacement element (32) comprises: ^ a hook portion (32a) directly constrained to the guide (31), ^ a final contact portion (32b) which, at least in the loading position, points towards the conveyor (20) and is adapted to intercept the at least one support (4) moving on said conveyor (20), in which, in the active condition of the displacement element (32), the contact portion (32b) is arranged at a minimum distance from the conveyor (20) less than a minimum distance between the contact portion (32b) itself and the conveyor (20) in the inactive condition of the displacement element (32). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, in which the section (T1) of the guide (31) is rectilinear and extends along the conveyor (20) to at least one packaging device (1), in which the rectilinear section (T1) of the guide (31) is inclined with respect to the advance path (A) of the conveyor (20) at an angle between 20° and 70°. Installation according to any of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor (20) comprises an operating tract (21) that extends along a plane and is configured to move the supports (4) along said advance path (A), in which at least part of the tract (T1) of the guide (31), in particular the entire tract (T1), extends parallel to the plane of rest of the operative tract (21) of the carrier (20). 8. Installation according to any of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of transfer devices (30) operating in the forward path (A) of the conveyor (20), each transfer device (30) being configured to move the least one support (4) moving on the conveyor (20) towards a respective packaging apparatus (1), in which each transfer device (30) is fixed at least partially with respect to the packaging apparatus (1) and is configured to deliver supports (4) to only one of said packaging apparatuses (1). 9. Installation according to any of the preceding claims, in which each packaging apparatus (1) comprises: ^ a bottom tool (2) configured to receive one or more supports (4), ^ an upper tool (6) configured to engage a portion of film (5a) with at least one support (4) to manufacture at least one package (40), in which the transfer device (30) is configured to move at least one carrier (4) from the conveyor (20) directly onto the lower tool (2) of the respective packaging apparatus (1). 10. Installation according to any of the preceding claims, in which the upper tool (6) and the lower tool (2) -at least in the packaging position- are movable relative to each other at least between: ^ a distance condition in which the lower tool (2) and the upper tool (6) are configured to allow positioning at least a portion of film (5a) between the support (4) held by the lower tool (2) and the upper tool (6) itself, and ^ at least one approach condition in which said upper tool (6) and lower tool (2) are configured to allow the film portion (5a) to engage the support (4) and define the package (40), in which the transfer device (30) is configured to move a support (4) on the lower tool (2) in the spaced condition defined by said lower and upper tools. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (50) connected to the transfer device (30), in which the control unit (50) is configured to command the operating condition of said device transfer (30) in order to allow the transfer of at least one support (4) moving on the conveyor (20) from said conveyor to one of said packaging apparatuses (1), in which the installation comprises at least one sensor configured to emit at least one signal representative of at least one of the following parameters: ^ the presence of a support (4) within a specific passage section of the conveyor belt (20), ^ the relative position of a support (4) placed on the conveyor belt (20) with respect to at least one packaging (1) respective, ^ the speed of movement of the conveyor belt (20), in particular the speed of advance of the supports (4) along the advance path (A) of the conveyor belt (20), wherein the control unit (50) is connected to said sensor and is configured to: ^ receive the signal from the sensor, ^ depending on said signal, order the operating condition to the transfer device (30) so that it can intercept at least one support (4) that moves on the conveyor (20) to transfer it to a respective packaging device (1) . Installation according to the preceding claim, in which the control unit (50) is further connected to the packaging apparatus (1) and is further configured to: ^ receiving a control signal from each of said packaging apparatuses (1), ^ based on said monitoring signal, determining an operating parameter of each packaging device (1) representative of at least one of the following operating conditions: ° in the waiting condition, the lower and upper tools are in the withdrawal condition and the lower tool is adapted to receive at least one support (4), ° the packaging condition in which the lower and upper tools are in the approach condition and are configured to make at least one packaging (40), ^ depending on the control signal and, therefore, depending on the operating conditions of the packaging devices (1), command the operating condition of at least one transfer device (30) so that it can move at least a support (4) to a packaging apparatus (1) placed in the standby condition. Installation according to claim 11 or 12, in which the control unit (50) is connected to the conveyor (20) and is configured to adjust the speed of movement of the latter and, therefore, the speed of movement of the supports (4) along the path of advance (A), in which the control unit (50) is further configured to adjust the speed of movement of the displacement element (32) along the tract (T1) of the guide (31), in which the control unit (50 ) is configured to order a speed of movement of the displacement element (32) along the tract (T1) of the guide (31) so that a component of said speed, parallel to the operative tract of the conveyor, is substantially equal to the speed of movement of the conveyor (20), optionally equal to the speed of movement of the supports (4) along the advance path (A). 14. Method of packaging at least one product (P) by using a packaging installation (1) according to any of the preceding claims, in which said method comprises the following steps: ^ moving a plurality of supports (4) along the predetermined advance path (A) by means of the conveyor belt (20), ^ moving at least one support (4) moving on the conveyor (20), of the conveyor (20), from a loading position towards a packaging apparatus (1), to an output position by moving the displacement element (32) along the guide (31) of at least one transfer device (30), in which the guide (31) has a rectilinear path (T1) transverse to the advance path (A) of the supports (4) on the conveyor (20), in which the path (T1) of the guide (31) is inclined with respect to the advance path (A) of the conveyor (20) at an angle between 10° and 80 °. 15. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the step of moving the at least one support (4) comprises: ^ set the displacement element (32) of at least one transfer device (30) in the active condition; ^ intercept one or more supports (4) moving on the conveyor (20) by means of the displacement element (32), at least during the active condition; ^ moving the displacement element (32) along the path (T1) of the guide (31) from the loading position to the exit position, at least during the active condition, to arrange the at least one support (4 ) in the at least one packaging device (1), optionally in the lower tool (2) of the at least one packaging device (1), ^ optionally, by moving the displacement element (32) along the path (T1) of the guide (31) from the starting position to the loading position, at least during the idle condition.