ITMI990583A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR THE AUTOMATIC PACKAGING OF PRODUCTS IN CONTAINERS SUCH AS EXAMPLE TRAYS AND SIMILAR - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described an apparatus for packaging goods in containers such as tubs and the like, which comprises a support base (4) defining a horizontal operating path on which a plurality of plate-like modular elements (13) are moved, said elements being each provided with through housings in which the containers or tubs (2) to be filled and subsequently closed are engaged. The plate-like modular elements are moved by actuator members (14) disposed along the operating path, said members imparting to the modular elements step-by-step movements of a predetermined amount and independent of the sizes or formats of the tubs being processed. A closure unit (11) can be positioned along the operating path and it carries out application of a sealing film to the previously filled containers. This closure unit comprises a holding body (21) provided with a heating unit (22) and a die-cutting unit (23) housed within the holding body itself which can be disengaged from the support structure by virtue of interconnection means (26) of the bayonet coupling type. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION

attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION entitled:

EQUIPMENT FOR THE AUTOMATIC PACKAGING OF PRODUCTS THE CONTAINERS SUCH AS FOR EXAMPLE TRAYS AND THE LIKE "

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic packaging of products in containers such as for example trays and the like.

Preferably, the equipment in question is intended for packaging in pre-formed trays of products such as foodstuffs even, if evidently, the equipment in question can be used for packaging products or articles of any kind in containers of suitable dimensions.

As is known, the packaging apparatuses currently on the market comprise a support frame designed to house a feed mechanism typically consisting of a chain arranged in a closed loop which has an upper branch designed to move horizontally a plurality of pins or bars which to in turn they exert a thrust action on a plurality of containers thus made mobile along a predetermined longitudinal operating path.

In greater detail, the known apparatuses provide a longitudinal path along which the containers are set in motion from a refueling station, in which the empty trays are placed on the operating path, up to an unloading station, in which the trays suitably filled with the product or products in the case in question are sent to a storage station.

In correspondence of an intermediate zone between the refueling station and the unloading station there is a station for closing the container which, by means of known means, typically carries out the following steps:

- possible extraction of air from the container;

- possible insertion of a gas mixture in the container itself, if you are dealing with food products for which you want to limit degradation over time as much as possible;

- closing with a plastic film suitably fed at the closing station.

It should be noted that, generally, the plastic film is made of a material intended to be thermally fixed to the edge of the tray and, subsequently or simultaneously with this operation, cut along the edges of the tray by a perimeter punch also associated with the closing station. . Downstream of the closing station, the trays come out adequately filled and suitably closed in order to be stowed in a warehouse or sent to the consumer. With reference to the chain feed system with pegs or bars currently used in known apparatuses, it should be emphasized that the tray is positioned in a sliding manner above a longitudinal track in correspondence with which pegs or bars are moved thanks to the aforementioned kinematic mechanism. chain. The push bars or pegs of the trays are arranged mutually spaced at a constant pitch so that in the interval between one peg or bar and the next it is possible to position one or more trays.

Although the apparatuses and in particular the system for moving the trays described above are widely used, these devices in any case have various drawbacks and poorly satisfactory functional aspects.

In particular, it should be emphasized that for those who use the packaging equipment described above, there typically exists the need to pack products, for example food products, in trays of different formats or different shapes. Even this need can occur in relatively short time intervals, so that the operator assigned to the equipment in question is forced to intervene on the latter several times in a working day to adapt the equipment to the dragging of trays having formats, dimensions and more in general dimensions different from time to time.

It is clear that the traditional equipment described briefly above is not suitable for easy replacement of tray formats as the chain feed system with pegs is extremely rigid in this sense. It should in fact be noted that first of all it is necessary to physically disassemble the pegs or push bars from the movement chain and reposition them according to the new pitch which takes into account the changed dimensions of the tray. Not only that, also the movement that the chain kinematics will have to impart to the rungs must be adjusted so as to make step-by-step advances of variable magnitude according to the effective distance that is imposed each time between one pushing element or rung and the next; in this regard, please note that the forward movement imparted to the trays must necessarily be of the step-by-step type to allow, on the one hand, the filling of the trays with the product or products and, on the other, the closure of the trays in the station for this purpose.

It is clear that having to disassemble countless thrust elements or pegs mechanically connected to the chain movement kinematics and having to adapt the feed of the chain to the new pitch that from time to time it is necessary to have involves an intervention by personnel with consequent stops. prolonged machine and obvious drawbacks in terms of economic performance of the equipment. On the other hand, to avoid a problem of this type, the only alternative is to have several machines that can operate simultaneously in order to treat various tray formats. However, as can be understood, this does not completely solve the problem since, even having several machines available, it is certainly not possible to satisfy any type of tray format or size; however, having more equipment available, in addition to entailing significant purchase and management costs, can sometimes be inconvenient, particularly for small industrial companies where limited production and high operational flexibility are required.

In addition to the drawback described above, it should be noted that, by their very nature, the chain movement systems with bars or pegs are also unable to ensure perfect positioning both transversely to the direction of advancement and along the latter since the tray is not adequately blocked by stop elements, but simply pushed in correspondence with a side or point of its contour. It is evident that, in particular if the tray has a curvilinear lateral surface or a contour of non-straight shaping, the pegs or the push bars are absolutely unable to exercise effective control in position on the entire perimeter of the tray. The same thrust action is also extremely localized and not carried out on the entire perimeter edge or side wall of the tray itself.

It is clear that poor control of the tray position can sometimes make it difficult to fill the tray itself, since the product, in particular if the tray is small, could not be correctly addressed, causing problems such as soiling of the entire equipment. , unwanted waste and the inaccurate filling of the tray itself.

A further negative aspect of known equipment is given by the in-line arrangement of the entire advancement system. In fact, having to prepare one or more filling stations (think of cases in which it is necessary to insert more products in a single tray), one or more weight control stations to check if the quantity of product inserted in the tray is within the range expected nominal values, and one or more auxiliary filling stations to complete the product insertion phase if the weighing stations report errors, the traditional equipment has a sufficiently wide longitudinal extension that in some cases does not combine well with the availability of spaces available. On the other hand, it is evident that the greater the space available on the trays advancement line, in particular upstream of the closing station, the greater the number of operations that can be carried out and the more devices that can be associated with the packaging equipment: it is possible to arrange de-stackers or loaders, various dosers in longitudinally successive positions to carry out the insertion of the products as briefly mentioned, weighing stations, marking or labeling stations as well as, downstream of the equipment, a possible automatic unloading station .

A further negative aspect present in traditional packaging equipment is given by the difficulty in disengaging the operating head from the closing station when it is necessary to change the format of the trays. In fact, it should be noted that in the operating head of the closing station there are provided a perimeter cutting die, a system of resistances which carry out the welding and abutment elements to keep the trays in an adequate position. These members must necessarily be replaced every time a variation of the shapes or formats of the trays subjected to treatment has to be made. Inside the operating head there are also gas inlet and air intake ducts which, conventionally, are used to create a controlled atmosphere regime inside the tray if food is housed in the latter.

Having to remove this head, the operators currently have to intervene on numerous ducts and mechanical coupling systems, which involves a manual intervention of considerable duration, with further negative aspects in terms of profitability of the machine as a whole.

In this situation, the fundamental purpose of the present invention is to offer an apparatus for the automatic packaging of products in containers which has a high operating flexibility and which is particularly suitable for being easily adapted to operate with trays or containers of different formats without involve difficult interventions by the assigned operators.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can host a plurality of devices (for filling, control, loading, etc.) adjacent without causing excessive longitudinal bulk of the machine as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of carrying out an extremely precise control not only in the advancement, but also in the longitudinal and lateral position of the tray along its operating path, from the tray loading station. empty, at the filling station (s), at the closing station and finally at the unloading station.

These and other objects which will become clearer in the course of the following description are substantially achieved by an apparatus for the automatic packaging of products in containers such as for example trays and the like, according to what is described in one or more of the appended claims.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an equipment for the automatic packaging of products in accordance with the invention.

This description will be carried out hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for indicative purposes only, and therefore not limitative, in which: - Figure 1 shows in front elevation a possible preferred embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the found;

- figure 1a is a plan view of the apparatus of figure 1, in operating conditions during the handling and packaging of the containers by the same apparatus;

- figure 1b is a plan view similar to figure 1a showing a possible variant of the apparatus in question, always shown in operating conditions during the handling and closing of containers; - figure 2 is a plan view of the equipment shown in figure 1; - figure 3 is a side elevation view of the equipment referred to in figure 1;

- figure 4 shows in plan an embodiment of a modular element intended to be moved by the apparatus of figure 1 and designed to accommodate a plurality of containers or trays; - figure 5 is a cross section of the modular element of figure 4; - figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the equipment of figure 1, which shows in particular the closing unit associated with the equipment itself;

- figure 7 shows a detail of figure 6 in cross section relating to the unit responsible for closing the containers;

- Figure 8 is a section on a vertical plane of an upper connection element associated with the closing unit;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the element of Figure 8;

- figure 10 is an elevation view of the upper connection element in figure 8;

- Figure 11 is a vertical section relating to a lower connection element associated with the closing unit referred to in Figure 7; - figure 12 is a plan view of the lower connection element in figure 11.

With reference to the accompanying figures, 1 indicates an apparatus for packaging products in containers, such as trays and the like, as a whole.

In particular, the following description will describe an apparatus intended for the packaging of products in thermoformed trays 2 to which a closing film 3 is subsequently applied, possibly after removing air from the tray and inserting a controlled atmosphere.

The apparatus 1 comprises a support structure or base 4 arranged to rest on the ground, for example by means of conventional support feet 5.

As can be seen in the accompanying figures, the support structure or base 4 comprises a lower frame 6, for example substantially parallelepiped, to which said support feet and an elongated upper frame 7 are associated, above which an operating path is defined along which the trays 2 to be filled and consequently closed are moved, as will be better detailed below. Associated with the support structure are handling means 8 (fig. 2) which are able to move the containers along the aforementioned operating path (see arrows 7) from at least one feeding station 9 of the trays to at least one unloading station 1Q , according to a step-by-step trend.

It should be noted that the feeding station may provide for the use of automatic tray loaders or, alternatively, manual loading of the trays may be provided.

Similarly, in correspondence with the unloading station, automated manual unloading systems can be provided.

Along the operating path, downstream from the tray feeding station, one or more product loading stations can be provided inside the trays, as well as possible control and weighing stations after which further loading stations of the product (s) can be provided. products to be placed in the various trays. Downstream of the product loading and possible control stations, for example by weighing, and then provided a closing unit 11 designed to associate each tray, previously filled with an adequate quantity of product, with a corresponding closing element.

In the case shown here, the closing unit is designed to apply a closing film 3 at an upper perimeter edge 2a of each tray.

Conventionally, the film is fed by reels provided in proximity to the closing unit so that the film can be adequately positioned above the trays and therefore be engaged with the latter by heat sealing with subsequent perimeter notching or punching to carry out the edging of the film. closure applied to each tray. Still in correspondence with the closing unit 11, there are conventionally suction means for the area possibly present in the tray, as well as means for introducing a controlled atmosphere, if one wishes to carry out a packaging, for example of food products where the presence inside is required. the packaging of gas or gas mixtures designed to minimize the deterioration phenomena of the food product itself.

Going now into the structural detail of the apparatus 1, it should be noted that the support structure or base (see Fig. 6) defines, in correspondence with the upper frame 7, at least a guide portion 12 which defines a substantially flat operating path.

The handling means 8 operate on a predetermined number of modular elements 13, arranged adjacent to each other, as shown in Figures 1a and 1b along the operating path and removably engaged with the guide portion 12 of the support structure or base 4.

Each modular element houses one or more trays 2.

At least one movement member 14a (see Fig. 2 in which the movement member consists of a pneumatic member without rod) is associated with the support structure and, at each step imposed on the trays, acts on a modular element, determining this last, a predetermined movement equal to said pitch.

The various modular elements 13 are arranged adjacent to each other and are capable of exerting a thrust action on the next modular element, at least for a predetermined section of the operating path; following the thrust imparted by the movement member to a first of said modular elements (indicated by 13a in fig. 1a), a corresponding movement of a predetermined number of modular elements subsequent to the first is obtained along the direction of movement that has been imparted to the first modular element itself.

Preferably, since the guide portion 12 defines a closed-loop operating path, shaped for example in a quadrilateral shape (see always Figures 1a and 1b), several movement members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d associated with a respective branch or side will be provided of the operational path.

In greater detail, as can be seen in the accompanying figures 1, 1a, 1b, the closed-loop operating path provides a first longitudinal branch 15a, a second consecutive branch 15b transversal to the first branch, a third consecutive branch 15c transverse to the second branch and finally a fourth consecutive branch 15d and transversal to the third branch and joining with the first branch.

In this case, therefore, a first actuator member 14a will be provided, operatively associated with the support structure to move the modular elements 13 along the first branch 15a of the operating path, a second actuator member 14b to move the modular elements along the second branch 15b of the path operative, a third actuator 14c to move the modular elements along the third branch 15c of the operative path and a fourth actuator 14d to move the modular elements along the fourth branch 15d of the operative path.

The various actuators 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d will be synchronized with each other in order to carry out a step-by-step movement that allows the closing unit to apply the film to the upper edge of each tray.

The various actuators impose a rectilinear movement on the modular elements according to a predetermined direction, parallel to the branch on which each actuator operates, of an extent equal to the extension in that direction of the modular element itself.

In practice, since each modular element has a plate-like shape (Fig. 6) and a rectangular configuration in plan, the movement pitch imparted to the modular elements along the first and third branches will be equal to the longitudinal extension Ύ of the modular elements, while the pitch imparted to the modular elements along the second and fourth branches will be equal to the transversal extension "t" of the same modular elements.

In fact, as preferably shown in figures 1a and 1 b, the first and third branches parallel to each other and orthogonal to the second and fourth branches of the operating path have an extension having a length value which is a multiple of the longitudinal extension Ύ of the elements modular.

Similarly, the second and fourth branches have an extension equal to a multiple of the transversal extension "t" of each modular element. Advantageously, the modular elements move smoothly on the guide portion 12; more precisely, the latter comprises opposing elements or tracks 16 on which the opposite lateral edges of each of said modular elements slide in bearing relationship.

To facilitate sliding, the opposing elements or tracks of the guide portion will be made or coated with anti-friction material such as Teflon or other suitable material.

As mentioned, each modular element 13 comprises a substantially plate-like main body 17 and one or more through seats 18 in which the containers or trays can be engaged; each of said through seats will therefore have in plan a configuration that is counter-shaped to the containers or trays it must house.

During movement along the operating path, each modular element constantly has two opposite perimeter edges in sliding support on the guide track and at least one edge adjacent to the aforementioned opposite edges and transversal to the direction of advancement along the operating path intended to act in thrust on the element modular next.

In practice, along each branch (for example 15a) of the operating path, the respective actuator 14a acts in thrust on the modular element 13a which is further upstream with respect to the direction of advancement "f; by acting in thrust on this modular element, the consequent movement of all the modular elements subsequent to the one on which the actuator acts and present on the affected branch of the actuator itself is obtained.

Obviously, to obtain a movement it is necessary that the branch on which the actuator is working is not completely occupied by modular elements.

More precisely, it should be noted that the operating path is divided into a plurality of consecutive stations "s", each designed to house a single modular element. It should be noted that the number of stations "S" and therefore the dimensions of each branch as well as of the whole operating path may be any according to requirements. The direction of movement can also be chosen without departing from the invention in question. In the case illustrated in fig. ta or 1b each of the stations "s" is exactly shaped as a modular element; of these stations "s" the various modular elements can be positioned successively during their step-by-step movement (see figs. 1a, 1b).

To allow the sequential displacement of the various modular elements along the operating path at least one of the stations into which the operating path is divided must be free: only in this way, in fact, the intervention of the actuating members responsible for moving the modular elements will result in the displacement of the modular elements themselves so as to occupy this free station and consequently free another one.

Since preferably, as briefly mentioned above, the operating path is quadrilateral in shape, in particular rectangular, the free station is constantly placed in a corner area of the operating path.

This is because each actuator intervenes only on a respective branch or side of the operating path, therefore being able to move along a direction parallel to this branch only the modular elements present therein; in this way, when an actuator intervenes on a predetermined branch by moving modular elements enslaved to it, the guides 16 of the consecutive branch substantially operate as limit switches, determining a precise positioning of the various modular elements.

It should be noted that, preferably, the apparatus 1 provides that two stations are constantly free, which can be sequentially occupied by said modular elements; this allows greater automation of step-by-step handling; these free stations are arranged, in operating conditions of the equipment, in correspondence with the respective opposite corner areas of the operating path.

In practice, as shown for example in figure 1a (note that figure 1b is absolutely similar to figure 1a apart from the direction of movement of the modular elements along the operating path which is inverted, as well as the position of the loading station of the empty trays and unloading of the filled and closed trays, which are positioned differently with respect to Figure 1a) it is noted that the trays are manually loaded into a predetermined loading station 9 of said station "s" moved to the right along the third branch 15 where they can operate one or more product insertion stations, until reaching a weighing station, possibly followed by an additional loading or dosing station for the product or products to be inserted into the trays. Then the product through the fourth branch 15d returns along the first branch 15a of the operating path proceeding to the left until it reaches the closing unit 11 which applies the closure film on the trays after having previously eliminated air and inserted a controlled atmosphere if this is required.

Subsequently, the trays, always proceeding along the first branch, arrive at a station "s" in this case arranged in the corner area between the first and the second branch of the operating path in which an extractor device 18 operates (fig. 2) which provides for disengaging the various containers or trays from their respective seats provided on each modular element.

The extractor device comprises a vertical actuator member 18a and an operating portion 18b associated at the top with the actuator member and intended to act on a lower portion or bottom of each container to cause its lifting and extraction from the seats defined on the modular element 13 concerned. from the extraction.

For example, the operating portion of the extractor device can be equipped with counter-shaped projections to the seats provided on the modular element so as to be inserted into the latter from below and determine the necessary lifting of the trays.

Subsequently, an auxiliary movement member 19, which is also part of the extractor device, moves each container vertically extracted from its respective seat 17 in a direction parallel to the plane of the modular element until it is brought in the direction of an unloading station 10 provided adjacent to the operational path.

The auxiliary movement member 19 can be constituted by a simple bar which, with reference to Figure 2, is moved by a respective actuator member 20 from right to left causing the consequent movement of the trays from the modular element involved in the extraction up to to the unloading station 10.

Alternatively, the extractor device 18 can be constituted by a pneumatic suction cup device active in grip on an upper side of each container or tray. Also in this case the extractor device 18 will be able to move the trays from their seats up to one or more unloading areas.

Going now into the detail of the step-by-step handling procedure of the trays when two free stations are provided (see again Figure 1a), it is noted that the trays are moved along the first branch 15a by the first actuator 14a which intervenes to move the modular element present in correspondence with the first corner zone (between the fourth and first branch) towards the immediately following station; in this way the modular element present on the first branch itself and resulting the most downstream with respect to the direction of movement along the operating path will abut against the guide 16 of the second branch 15b of the operating path, preventing any further movement of the plurality of modular elements (in this case 4) present on the first branch and ensuring a perfect positioning of these elements which therefore are moved by a step exactly corresponding to the longitudinal extension "l" of each modular element along the direction of development of the first branch itself.

Simultaneously with the above, the third actuator 14c operating in correspondence with the third branch 15c carries out a movement of the sequence of consecutive modular elements present on the same third branch so as to bring them to the condition of Figure 1 a; in this condition it is noted that in the corner areas between the second and third branches and between the fourth and the first branch free stations are defined, that is, not occupied by any modular element.

Subsequently, the second and fourth actuators 14b, 14d can intervene which, by moving the modular elements present on the second and fourth branches respectively along the directions defined by the latter, will bring a modular element to occupy said free stations.

Following this movement, free stations will be defined in correspondence with the corner areas provided between the first and second branches and between the third and fourth branches of the operational path.

At this point, the first and third actuators will be able to intervene again and repeat the cycle described above, by moving step by step the modular elements and the trays housed therein along the operating path.

Going now to the structural detail of the sealing unit 11 (see Figures 6 and 7), it should be noted that the latter comprises a housing or containment body 21 inside which means are housed for carrying out the application of said element closure to each container.

In practice, the containment body 21 consists of a box-like element open at the bottom and capable of sequentially cooperating with each of the modular elements 13 which, during the operating process, appear one after the other at the closing unit.

In greater detail, the means for applying the closure element, if the latter consists for example of a thermo-adhesive film, comprise a heating unit 22 capable of heat-sealing the upper edges of the containers of the aforementioned heat-sealable film.

The application means preferably also comprise a cutting unit or punch 23 for effecting the edging of the heat-sealed film. Both the cutting unit and the heating unit can be moved with ups and downs towards and away from the modular element 13 present in correspondence with the closing unit.

More precisely, once the modular element subject to treatment is suitably positioned in correspondence with the closing unit, the heating unit 22 is brought closer to the modular element and therefore to the upper edges of the trays or containers, so as to carry out the heat-sealing to the latter of the film operatively interposed between the aforementioned heating unit and the modular element. Subsequently or simultaneously with the lowering of the heating unit 22, the movement of the cutting unit 23 also takes place, which operates, as mentioned, the edge of the heat-sealed film.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the heating unit and the punch or cutting unit are operatively associated with a support member 24 also internal to the housing body and movable with latches upon action of an actuator member 25 operatively interposed between the closing unit 11 and the support structure 4 of the apparatus 1. Advantageously, between the actuator member 25 and the support structure 4 there are provided removable interconnection means 26 which allow the disengagement of the containment body 21 and of the cutting units and heating 22, 23 contained therein if it is desired to modify the type of trays on which to operate the closure.

In greater detail, the removable interconnection means comprise a lower half-part 27 associated with the containment body and an upper half-part 28 associated with the actuator member 25; the upper half part and the lower half part are coupled to each other by bayonet coupling or the like.

As can be seen from Figure 7, the lower half-part of the interconnection means has a guide tang 29 slidably through an upper wall of the containment body 21 and terminally constrained to the support member 24, for example consisting of a plate 30, active in thrust on the cutting unit and on the heating unit 22 and 23.

The lower half-part also comprises a cup-shaped portion 31 integral with the shank 29, extending above said guide shank and arranged to receive said upper half-part of the interconnection means.

The cup portion 31 has in detail (see Figures 11 and 12) an access edge 32 defining at least one undercut 33 and shaped so as to have radial outlets 34 to allow the insertion of corresponding radially protruding portions 35 provided on the upper half ( figures 8, 9 and 10).

Means for locking the reciprocal rotation of said upper half part and said lower half part are also provided once the latter are adequately coupled to each other.

It should be noted that the containment body 21 has at a lower edge 21 a facing the modular element present at the closing unit a sealing gasket 21 b necessary for any gas suction or insertion operations. In fact, it is noted that the housing body can lead to air intake ducts or gas or gas mixtures useful for creating a controlled atmosphere when it is necessary to pack food products inside the trays.

The containment body also advantageously leads to an electrical connector, for example multipolar for the power supply of said heating unit and any other electrically operated members not described in detail as they are not relevant with reference to the present invention.

Finally, it should be noted that, thanks to the configuration of the operating path, a unit can also be provided, downstream of the closing unit, for the automatic application of lids intended to be interlocked on the edges of the corresponding containers previously filled and equipped with closing film. The lid applicator can for example include an automatic lid de-stacker and one or more pressure devices active on the lids suitably positioned at the upper perimeter edge of each container. In order to allow the coupling between container and lid, the modular elements can obviously be equipped with appropriate drains extending in a radially external position to each container housing seat. The invention achieves important advantages.

Primarily it should be noted that thanks to the structure of the modular elements and the closing unit it is possible to adapt the apparatus 1 extremely quickly to any type of tray format intended to be packaged, that is, without problems in terms of prolonged downtime in the machine or difficulty of disassembly of parts for technically inexperienced personnel. It should be noted that, since each modular element is defined by a plate-like body of such dimensions as to contemplate all possible tray formats and since the pitch imposed on the modular elements is determined by the dimensions of each modular element itself, regardless of the tray formats under treatment the apparatus can always operate at a constant pace without any need for modification in the handling systems of the modular elements themselves.

It should also be noted that thanks to the particular shape and structure of the modular elements each tray is perfectly controlled in position both along the direction of advancement and transversely to the latter.

It is important to note how the perfect control in the position of the trays can ensure high production rates in terms of speed of the handling sequences and specify during the filling and control phase.

The ring-shaped configuration of the operating path in accordance with the present invention is also advantageous, which allows to have limited longitudinal dimensions while being able to ensure the positioning of several tray filling and / or control stations along the perimeter of the operating path, as well as control devices. loading empty trays and unloading filled and closed trays operating in an automated way. In practice, thanks to its characteristics, the equipment 1 is extremely flexible from an operational point of view and also suitable for small industrial companies that have to ensure packaging of trays of various sizes over the course of a production day without a substantial reduction in production rates, even using a single packaging equipment.

Finally, the plate-like shape of the modular elements is advantageous which, in this way, cooperate adequately with the containment body and with the heating and cutting units provided in the closing unit so as to obtain an efficient, precise and rapid application of the film. closure to each container.

Claims (29)

CLAIMS 1. Equipment for packaging products in containers, such as trays and the like, comprising: - a support structure designed to rest on the ground; - movement means associated with the support structure for moving a predetermined number of containers along an operative path from at least one feeding station to at least one unloading station according to a step-by-step trend; - a closing unit, associated with the support structure in correspondence with a predetermined area of the operating path and arranged to engage a corresponding closing element with each tray previously filled with a predetermined quantity of at least one product, characterized by the fact that it includes: a predetermined number of modular elements engaging at least one of said containers, said modular elements being arranged adjacent along the operating path and removably engaged to the support structure, each of said modular elements being capable of exerting a thrust action on the adjacent modular element , at least for a predetermined stretch of said operating path; said movement means comprising at least one movement member also associated with the support structure which, at each step imposed on the modular elements, acts by exerting a predetermined movement on at least one of said modular elements. 2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that at least one movement member imposes a rectilinear movement on the modular elements according to a predetermined direction of entity equal to the extension in that direction of the modular element itself. 3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between each modular element and the adjacent subsequent modular element there is provided a center distance equal to or multiple of the movement pitch imposed on each of said modular elements by the movement member, said pitch being predetermined and independent of the dimensions or shapes of said containers. 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure comprises at least one guide portion at the top defining said operating path, the latter preferably presenting a horizontal lying plane; said modular elements moving step-by-step along said guide portion. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the modular elements move slidingly on said guide portion. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or according to claim 5, characterized in that said guide portion comprises opposing elements on which opposite lateral edges of each of said modular elements slide in resting relationship. 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said guide portion defines a closed-loop operating path. 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said modular elements comprises a substantially plate-like main body and one or more through seats in which said containers or trays can be engaged. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said through seats have in plan configuration counter-shaped to the containers or trays they must house, said plate-like body having constant plan dimensions independent of the shape or dimensions of said containers. 10. Apparatus according to claims 6 and 8, characterized in that said modular elements have a substantially rectangular shape in plan and, in operating conditions, have two opposite perimeter edges in sliding support on said guide track and at least one edge adjacent to the aforementioned two opposite edges and intended to act in thrust on a subsequent modular element. 11. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said guide portion defines a closed loop operating path preferably with a quadrilateral conformation and even more preferably with a rectangular shape, said operating path comprising a first branch, a second consecutive branch and transverse to the first branch, a third consecutive branch and transversal to the second branch and a fourth consecutive and transversal branch to the third branch. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said handling means comprise: a first actuator member for moving the modular elements along the first branch of the operating path; a second actuator for moving the modular elements along the second branch of the operating path; a third actuator to move the modular elements along the third branch of the operative path and a fourth actuator to move the modular elements along the fourth branch of the operative path. 13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said operating path is divided into a plurality of consecutive stations, in each of which the modular elements can be positioned during their step-by-step movement, at least one of said stations being free to allow the sequential displacement of the various modular elements. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that said free station is arranged in a corner area of the operating path. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two free stations which can be sequentially occupied by said modular elements, said free stations being arranged, in operating conditions of the apparatus, in correspondence with respective corner areas of the operating path . 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said first, second, third and fourth actuating members move sequentially and step by step said modular elements respectively along said first, second, third and fourth branches of the operating path in a way that said free stations are constantly in correspondence with opposite corners of the operating path itself. 17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an extractor device operating at or near said unloading station to disengage said containers or trays from the respective seats provided on each modular element. 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said extractor device comprises a vertical actuator member and an operating portion associated at the top with the vertical actuator member and intended to act on a lower portion of each container to cause an upward movement thereof , said extractor device also comprising an auxiliary movement member for moving each container vertically extracted from the respective seat provided on the modular element in a direction parallel to the plane of the modular element itself towards the unloading station. 19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure unit comprises a housing body inside which means are housed for effecting the application of said closure element to each container, said containment body cooperating sequentially with each of the modular elements. 20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said application means comprise: a heating unit, to heat-seal the upper edges of said containers of a heat-sealable film fed in correspondence with said closing unit, and a cutting unit or punch, to perform the edging of said heat-sealed film, said cutting unit and said heating unit being movable with up and down movements towards and away from the modular element present in correspondence with the closing unit in order to apply the film to each container. 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises a further actuator member active on said heating unit and on said cutting unit to move the latter according to said up and down trajectory, as well as removable interconnection means operatively interconnected between the member actuator and said heating and cutting unit. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that said removable interconnection means comprise a lower half-part associated with said containment body and an upper half-part integral with said actuator member, said upper half being engaged by bayonet coupling or similar to said lower half. 23. Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said lower half-part has a guide shank which slides through an upper wall of said containment body and is terminally constrained to a support member thrusting on said cutting unit and heating unit. 24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that said lower half-part comprises a cup-shaped portion designed to receive said upper half-part and having an access edge defining at least one undercut, said edge having radial outlets for the insertion of corresponding radially protruding portions provided on said upper half-part, means for locking the mutual rotation of said upper half-part and said lower half-part being active once the latter are adequately coupled to each other. 25. Equipment for packaging products in containers, such as trays and the like, comprising: - a support structure designed to rest on the ground; - movement means associated with the support structure for moving a predetermined number of containers along an operative path from at least one feeding station to at least one unloading station according to a step-by-step trend; - a closing unit, associated with the support structure in correspondence with a predetermined area of the operating path and arranged to engage a corresponding closing element with each tray previously filled with a predetermined quantity of at least one product, characterized in that said unit comprises a housing body inside which means are housed for effecting the application of said closing element to each container, said containment body cooperating sequentially with each of the modular elements, said application means comprising a heating unit to effect the heat-sealing at the upper edges of said containers of a heat-sealable film fed in correspondence with said closing unit, and a cutting unit or punch, to effect the edging of said heat-sealed film, said cutting unit and said heating unit being movable at up-down in a moving towards and away from the modular element present in correspondence with a closing unit upon action of an actuator member operating on said heating unit and on said cutting unit, removable interconnection means being provided between the actuator member and said heating and cutting unit. 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that said removable interconnection means comprise a lower half-part associated with the containment body and an upper half-part associated with the actuator member, said upper half being engaged by bayonet coupling or similar to said half-part inferior. 27. Equipment for packaging products in containers, such as trays and the like, comprising: - a support structure designed to rest on the ground; - movement means associated with the support structure for moving a predetermined number of containers along an operative path from at least one feeding station to at least one unloading station according to a step-by-step trend; - a closing unit, associated with the support structure in correspondence with a predetermined area of the operating path and arranged to engage a corresponding closing element with each tray previously filled with a predetermined quantity of at least one product, characterized in that it comprises a predetermined number of modular elements engaging at least one of said containers, said modular elements being arranged adjacent along the operating path in sliding bearing relationship on horizontal guide portions defining the operating path itself, said modular elements being each capable of exerting an action of thrust on an adjacent modular element at least for a predetermined portion of said operating path; said movement means providing at least one movement member also associated with the support structure which, at each step imposed on the modular elements, acts by exerting a predetermined movement on at least one of said modular elements. 28. Apparatus for packaging products in containers, such as trays and the like, comprising; - a support structure designed to rest on the ground; - movement means associated with the support structure for moving a predetermined number of containers along an operative path from at least one feeding station to at least one unloading station according to a step-by-step trend; - a closing unit, associated with the support structure in correspondence with a predetermined area of the operating path and arranged to engage a corresponding closing element with each tray previously filled with a predetermined quantity of at least one product, characterized in that it comprises a predetermined number of modular elements arranged adjacent along the operating path and arranged in sliding bearing relationship on the support structure, each of said modular elements having a plate-like conformation and being equipped with one or more through seats in which said containers or trays can be engaged. 29. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a unit for the application of lids located downstream of the closing unit and capable of interlocking a respective lid to each container or tray.