JP2006001648A - Packaging machine characteristic of improving apparatus for packaging and filling and producing seal-packaging of pourable food - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packaging machine which enables rapid and accurate manufacturing of packaging without tearing of a packaging material and pollution of food and produces seal packaging of food pourable from a tube of a sheet shaped packaging material. <P>SOLUTION: The packaging machine includes a package-forming assembly which grasps the tube firmly and seals it, a filling pipe which is extended in the tube and send the food to the tube, and a buffer member which is extended in the tube and forms an air chamber to buffer an upward flow of the food during package-forming work together with the filling pipe. The buffer member and the filling pipe are extended to be brought nearest in a range not interfering with the package-forming assembly and prevent disturbed flow of the food during packaging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging machine for producing a hermetically sealed food that can be poured and having an improved packaging and filling apparatus.

  For example, many pourable foods such as fruit juice, sterilized or UHT (ultra high temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging materials.

  A typical example of this type of packaging is a parallelepiped shape for liquid or pourable foods known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (TM), which is made by folding and sealing a packaging material consisting of laminated strips. Packaging.

  The packaging material has a multilayer structure consisting of a layer of paper material coated on both sides with a layer of heat-seal plastic material, for example polyethylene. In the case of long-term storage preservative packaging, such as UHT milk, the packaging material includes a layer of oxygen barrier material, such as aluminum foil, for example, which is overlaid on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and then It is coated with another layer of heat-seal plastic material that ultimately forms the inner surface of the package in contact with the food.

  As is well known, this type of packaging is produced by a fully automatic packaging machine, in which a continuous tube is formed from the packaging material delivered on the web. Specifically, the web of packaging material is unwound from the reel and sent through a preservative chamber in the packaging machine, where the packaging material is given a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide that evaporates by subsequent heating, for example. And / or sterilized by applying radiation of the appropriate wavelength and intensity to the packaging material, the sterilized web is held in a closed sterilization environment, folded into a cylinder and sealed lengthwise A continuous tube is formed in a known manner.

  In practice, the packaging material tubes that form an extension of the preservative treatment chamber are fed continuously in the vertical direction, filled with sterilized or sterilized food, sent through the packaging forming device, and individually Form the packaging. That is, within the forming device, the tubes form a continuous strip of pillow-like packaging that is connected to each other by respective transverse sealing bands, ie extending perpendicular to the direction of tube movement. Thus, sealing is performed at a number of equally spaced cross sections. Pillows are separated by cutting the associated transverse seal strips and transported to a folding station where they are mechanically folded to form each finished parallelepiped package.

  A packaging forming device comprising two chains defining respective endless tracks and each fitted with a number of jaws is described, for example, in EP-B-0 877 265. Known. The two tracks have respective branches that are facing each other and parallel to each other, between which a tube of packaging material is fed, along which the jaws on one conveyor along said branches. Cooperates with the corresponding jaws on the other conveyor to grip the tube in a number of series of cross sections, seal and cut the package.

  In other words, each jaw on one conveyor and a corresponding jaw on the other conveyor define a package forming assembly that periodically interacts with the tubes of packaging material.

  The portion of the tube that is gripped between each pair of jaws is carried by one jaw and is heated by heating means that locally melt the layer of heat-seal plastic material that is securely gripped between the jaws. Sealed at right angles.

  A packaging forming apparatus comprising only two pairs of jaws that act on a tube of packaging material in a periodic and sequential manner to grip and seal the tube along a number of equally spaced transverse sections Is also known. This type of packaging forming equipment includes Tetra Pak Carton Ambient AB (Ruben Roussingsgata, LUND (Sweden)) of Ruben Roussing Garter in Lund (Sweden) and Tetra Deli Street 1 in 41100 Modena (Italy). Packing machines manufactured by Tetra Pak Carton Ambient S.p.A., Via Delfini 1,41100 Moderna (Italy), TB / 21, TBA / 19, TBA / 21 and Tetra Pak A3 Represented by

  As each pair of jaws completes the sealing operation, the cutter carried by one of the associated pair of jaws is actuated and acts on the tube of packaging material along the centerline of the just-sealed cross section. The tube is cut and thus the pillow-like package is cut off from the bottom end of the tube of packaging material. When the bottom end of the tube is sealed laterally, when the associated jaws reach bottom dead center, they can be opened to avoid interference with the top portion of the tube. At the same time, the other pair of jaws, operating correctly and in the same way, descends from the middle of the tube top throat and repeats the gripping / wrapping, sealing, and cutting steps described above.

  While the aforementioned types of machines are superior in many respects, there is still room for further improvement, particularly with respect to injecting food into tubes of packaging material.

  In particular, the applicant of the present invention greatly reduces the vibration of food in the tube of packaging material, so even at relatively high production rates of up to 18,000 packages per hour, and for example viscosity, Recently, a filling device has been developed that can guarantee the accurate formation of packages for a wide range of foods with different characteristics such as foaming.

  This apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,614, and is essentially a filled pipe having ends extending coaxially within a tube of packaging material for delivering food. And this is also located inside the tube of packaging material and is in the form of an inverted cylindrical cup, i.e. the end opening is facing the packaging forming device and forms the transverse seal band when packaging material is formed A rigid portion secured to and surrounding at least a portion of the end portion of the filling pipe to define an air chamber with the filling pipe so as to buffer the upward flow of food within the tube. A buffer member.

  Specifically, the filling pipe and the cushioning member extend through the packaging material tube to the final point in the packaging machine where the packaging material tube is supported and guided before entering the packaging forming apparatus.

  The cushioning member has a cylindrical lateral wall located at a predetermined radial distance from the outer surface of the filling pipe, and an end opening, preferably projecting radially from the filling pipe and perpendicular to the transverse wall; Has an annular, disc-shaped end wall on the opposite side.

  The outer surface of the transverse wall of the cushioning member is radially separated from the inner surface of the packaging material tube by a minimum amount to prevent relative slippage between the packaging material tube and the cushioning member in use.

  During each package forming cycle, the associated pair of jaws collide to flatten the tube at the associated cross-section and gradually close around the tube so that the food in the tube of packaging material first moves upward. It is pushed up and then pushed down by moving the tube of packaging material down along a vertical track.

  In other words, the food is alternately pumped up and down and moves both inside the cushioning member and around it through the gap between the outer surface of the cushioning member and the inner surface of the tube of packaging material, and thus above and below the cushioning member. Come to both down.

  The upward flow of food inside the cushioning member is counteracted by the room air defined between the cushioning member and the filling pipe and is thus formed when the jaws are impinging on the tube of packaging material. Delays the allocated volume of each package that is coming "empty".

  Furthermore, any upward splashing action caused by the flow of food in the gap between the buffer member and the packaging material tube is suppressed to the liquid column above the buffer member.

  In summary, the cushioning member greatly reduces the variation in food level within the tube of packaging material, thereby ensuring accurate formation of the package and adequate filling.

  Nevertheless, it has been found that with an increase in production speed, for example, at a speed of 18,000-24,000 packages per hour, the packaging material tears, resulting in a suspension of production. After careful examination, it has been found that the reason for such tearing is in packaging materials that tend to deform at high speed and in particular tend to deflate when the packaging material enters the packaging forming apparatus and is therefore pinched by the jaws. That is, when the jaws close around the tube of packaging material, turbulence and vacuum are generated in the volume of food for the next packaging, resulting in the packaging material deforming inward of the tube and thus the jaws. Makes it easier to twist.

  The object of the present invention is to produce a hermetically sealed package for pourable foods which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks in a simple and low-cost manner and in particular ensures the correct formation of the package at any production rate. It is to provide a packaging machine for doing.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging machine for producing a sealable package of pourable food as claimed in claim 1.

  Preferred and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 generally designates a packaging machine for continuously producing a sealed package of pourable foods such as sterilized milk, ie UHT milk, fruit juice, wine, etc., from a tube 3 of packaging material. To instruct.

  The tube 3 is formed in a known manner by folding and sealing the web 4 (FIG. 7) of the heat-sealing sheet packaging material in the longitudinal direction, and the tube 3 is formed by a known device not shown along the vertical track A. Sent to machine 1.

  The web 4 of packaging material has a multilayer structure (not shown) and is conveniently composed of a layer of paper material coated on both sides with a layer of heat-seal plastic material, such as polyethylene. In the case of antiseptic packaging for long-term foods such as UHT milk, the packaging material includes a layer of oxygen barrier material, such as aluminum foil, for example, which is overlaid on a layer of heat-seal plastic material. It is overlaid and then coated with another layer of heat-seal plastic material that forms the inner surface of the package 2 that ultimately contacts the food.

  The machine 1 substantially has a filling device 5 that continuously feeds sterilized or sterilized food for packaging to the tube 3 and a transverse cross section spaced equidistantly to form a series of packagings 2. And a jaw-type package forming device 6 for gripping and sealing the tube 3.

  For example, by means of a known support and guide assembly defined by rollers, the tube 3 is in a coaxial relationship with the track A, and the tube 3 is initially gripped by the packaging forming device 6 along the associated cross section. It is sent to a predetermined maximum distance D. In order to simplify the illustration, the support and guide assembly located farthest downstream in the direction of the forming device 6 and defining the distance D is only partly illustrated, and is generally designated by the numeral 18. Instructed in. In other words, the assembly 18 defines the last support and guide station for the tube 3 of packaging material before the tube 3 enters the packaging forming device 6.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the packaging forming apparatus 6 is firmly fixed between two side walls 8a and 8b and the side walls 8a and 8b, and defines the cavity 10 together with the side walls 8a and 8b. A frame 7 defined by two parallel lateral walls 9a, 9b formed, and supported by said frame 7, the respective jaws 13, 14 being trajectory A through each other and through the cavity 10. Two chain conveyors 11, 12 having jaws 13, 14 cooperating with tubes 3 of packaging material being fed along.

  The conveyors 11 and 12 are endless tracks P along which the jaws 13 and 14 are fed, respectively, extend around the respective walls 9a and 9b of the frame 7 and are symmetrically positioned on both sides of the track A. A defined endless orbit P is defined.

  The conveyor 11 includes an articulated chain 15 that extends along the track P and two drive wheels 16 that mesh with both sides of the chain 15 at the bottom end of the track P. The jaw 13 is an integral part of the chain 16 and defines alternating links of the chain and is connected to each other in a manner of joint connection by a pair of rods 17 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6). ing.

  Specifically, each jaw 13 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6) includes a main body 20, which is perpendicular to the track A and parallel to the wall 9a. The first and second pins 23, 24 are elongated and each end 21, 22 is enlarged, spaced from each other and having axes B, C parallel to the main dimension direction of the main body 20. It protrudes. The rod 17 pivots on the pins 23 and 24 of the jaw 13 and connects the pin 23 of one jaw 13 to the pin 24 of the adjacent jaw 13.

  Similarly, the conveyor 12 includes an articulated chain 25 extending along the track Q and two drive wheels 26 meshing with the chain 25 at the bottom end of the track Q. The chain 25 is defined by a number of jaws 14 that are articulated and connected to each other, and only the differences from the jaws 13 will be described in detail. The members of jaw 14 that are the same as or correspond to the members of jaw 13 are indicated using the same reference numbers. In summary, each jaw 14 includes a body 20 having a pair of end pins 23, 24 about which a pin 17 connecting an adjacent pair of jaws 14 pivots.

  Each jaw 13 is fitted to the main body 20 and includes an induction heating member 29 transverse to the track A of the tube 3. The heating member 29 includes two straight and parallel working surfaces 30 (FIG. 5), is fitted to the frame 7 and extends along a portion of the track P inside the cavity 10 when in use (see FIG. Power is supplied by two contact brushes 31 that slide along (not shown).

  Instead of the heating member 29, each jaw 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) may include a pressure bar 32 that cooperates with the corresponding heating member 29 of the jaw 13 to securely grip the cross section of the tube 3. . In use, in front of the corresponding jaw 13, the bar 32 opposes the working surface 30 of the heating member 29 and acts on the packaging material, two strips 33 made of a relatively flexible elastic material. Is installed in a known manner.

  In other words, each jaw 13 on the conveyor 11 and the corresponding jaw 14 on the conveyor 12 define a respective jaw assembly 35 that periodically interacts with the tube 3 of packaging material.

  The jaws 13 and 14 (FIGS. 3, 5, 6) also include respective devices 36 for controlling the volume of the package when forming the package. For example, each device 36 which is known from EP-B-0 877 265 and is therefore not described in detail therefore consists of a shell half 37 which is hinged to the main body 20 substantially about the axes B, C. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each shell half 37 cooperates with its counterpart shell half 37 in the front to form a generally parallelepiped-shaped cavity for receiving the package 2 being formed. . Each device 36 also includes a cam follower roller 38 that is fitted with play to a support bracket that is integrally fitted to the back of the associated shell half 37.

  The cam follower rollers 38 of the jaws 13 and 14 cooperate with respective cams 39 fitted on the walls 9a and 9b of the frame 7. Only cams associated with the conveyor 11 can be seen in FIG.

  The movement of the jaws 13 and 14 is fitted to the walls 9a, 9b of the frame 7 and cooperates with a respective pair of cam follower rollers 42, 43 fitted to the enlarged ends 21, 22 of the jaws 13 and 14. Controlled by each pair of cams 40, 41. Each pair of rollers 42, 43 is coaxial with the pins 24, 23 and is offset axially relative to each other to cooperate with the respective cams 40, 41.

  Specifically, the wall 9a (FIGS. 3 and 4) is mounted with two pairs of cams 40, 41 that cooperate with the respective pairs of rollers 42, 43 in the jaw 13, and similarly on the wall 9b in the jaw 14. Two pairs of cams 40, 41 are mounted which cooperate with each pair of rollers 42, 43.

  The cams 40, 41 (FIGS. 1 and 4) define respective walls 9a so as to define a return portion for each chain 15, 25 of the conveyor 11, 12 on the opposite side of the respective drive wheels 16 and 26. A generally U-shaped portion 40a, 41a extending around the top edge of 9b and a respective portion 40b, 41b extending through the interior of the cavity 10 along the respective wall 9a, 9b. Yes. Said parts 40a, 41a define two parts P1, Q1 of two tracks P, Q in which the jaws 13 and 14 move towards each other and collide with the tube 3 of packaging material, said parts 40b, 41b is two tracks P, Q that keep the jaws 13 and 14 pressed against and in contact with each other to form a seal that delimits the package 2 at each generally flat seal band 44. The substantially parallel portions P2 and Q2 facing each other are defined. In this way, a continuous strip consisting of a number of parallelepiped containers connected to each other by lateral bands 44 is formed, said lateral bands 44 being formed along track A or in the form of packaging. Downstream of the device 6, it is cut by a known cutter (not shown) incorporated in the jaws 13 or 14 to form the package 2.

  At the upstream end of the portions P2, Q2 of the tracks P, Q, each jaw assembly 35 defines a height at which the packaging material tube 3 is initially gripped as shown in FIG.

  The cams 40 and 41 release the associated chains 15 and 25 in the respective parts P3 and Q3 of the tracks P and Q on the output side of the respective drive wheels 16 and 26.

  Along the portions P3 and Q3, the chains 15 and 25 cooperate with the respective pair of tensioners 46 to ensure contact between the rollers 42 and 43 of the jaws 13 and 14 and the associated cams 40 and 41. Keep the chains 15 and 25 in a sufficiently tensioned state.

  Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, the filling device 5 includes a filling pipe 50 having an end portion 51 extending coaxially within the tube 3 of packaging material so as to deliver food. Is also located inside the tube 3 of packaging material and is in the form of an inverted cylindrical cup, i.e. the end opening 53 faces the packaging forming device 6 and is at least one of the end portions 51 of the filling pipe 50. The upper portion of the packaging material 3 is buffered when the tube 3 is flattened by the jaws 13, 14 so as to be fixed to the part and to surround and form a transverse seal band 44. And a rigid cushioning member 52 that defines an air chamber with the filling pipe 50.

  Specifically, the buffer member 52 is on the track A in the radial direction from the end portion 51 of the filling pipe 50 on the opposite side of the opening 53 and the cylindrical lateral wall 55 located at a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the filling pipe 50. And an annular disc-shaped end wall 56 projecting perpendicularly thereto.

  The lateral wall 55 extends coaxially with respect to the track A from the end wall 56 by a length that is larger than the outer diameter of the buffer member 52 and preferably at least twice as long.

  The outer surface of the lateral wall 55 of the cushioning member 52 prevents relative sliding between the tube 3 of the packaging material and the cushioning member when in use, so that the members sliding against each other wear or gradually deteriorate. Is removed radially from the inner surface of the tube 3 of packaging material by a minimum amount so that the material peeled off by friction prevents the risk of fouling food.

  The filling pipe 50 advantageously has a food outlet 57 projecting from the cushioning member 52 towards the jaws 13, 14 of the packaging forming device 6.

  The filling device 5 also includes a known control assembly 60 for adjusting the flow rate of food from the filling pipe 50. Specifically, the control assembly 60 substantially produces a signal S related to the level of food inside the tube 3 of packaging material and the flow regulating valve 61 located in series with the upstream portion 62 of the filling pipe 50. And a level sensor 63 that adjusts the flow rate of food passing through the valve 61 based on the generated value.

  That is, the signal S is the first when there is a predetermined food level L in the tube 3 of packaging material, for example the second logic when there is a high logic level and the food level below the level L, For example, a low logic level is indicated.

  The level sensor 63 (FIG. 7) forms a food column that applies a pressure of 0.03 to 0.3 bar, preferably 0.1 bar, against the cushioning member 52 inside the tube 3 of packaging material. Is advantageously located adjacent to the filling pipe 50 at a position along the track A.

  According to an important aspect of the present invention, the outlet 57 of the filling pipe 50 is adjusted from the height at which the tube 3 is first gripped by each jaw assembly 35 to its initial grip height and the maximum height of the tracks P and Q. Is located along the track A at a distance that is not more than 45% of the distance D1 (FIG. 2) between the shock absorbers 52 and the maximum height of the tracks P and Q from the initial gripping height. It extends to a distance that is below.

  Referring to the support and guide assembly 18, the outlet 57 of the filling pipe 50 has a track A at a distance of 30% or less of the maximum distance D from the height at which the tube 3 is first supported by each jaw assembly. So that the outlet 57 of the filling pipe 50 projects more than 70% of the maximum distance D from the support and guide assembly 18 towards the packaging forming device 6.

  Further, the buffer member 52 protrudes from 30% to 60% of the maximum distance D from the support and guide assembly 18 toward the package forming device 6.

  The filling pipe 50 and the buffer member 52 extend as far as they can move without interfering with the jaws 13, 14 of the packaging forming device 6, so that the outlet 57 of the filling pipe 50 and the opening 53 at the end of the buffer member 52. Is as close as possible to the height at which the tube 3 is initially gripped in the package forming device 6 and thus, as will be described in more detail below, the turbulence generated in the package 2 being formed Reduce.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 57 of the filling pipe 50 faces between the downstream ends of the portions P1, Q1 of the tracks P, Q of the respective jaws 13, 14, and extends to the point between them.

  The packaging machine 1 operates as follows.

  The two conveyors 11 and 12 rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, so that each jaw 13 and 14 has its own trajectory P, Q according to the law of motion defined by the profile of the cams 40, 41. Acts on the tube 3 of packaging material along the respective parts P2, Q2 from the end of the parts P1, Q1.

  The operating cycle will be described in more detail below with reference to one jaw assembly 35, i.e. one jaw 13 of the conveyor 11 and the corresponding jaw 14 of the conveyor 12. It is clear that all jaws 13 and 14 perform the same cycle at time intervals that depend on the production rate.

  Along the sections P1 and Q1 of the track, the jaws 13 and 14 are mated together, gradually deforming the tube 3 in the lateral band 44 and finally “flattening”.

  At the end of the track parts P1 and Q1, the device 36 for controlling the volume of the package 2 is activated and the shell parts 37 of the jaws 13 and 14 are brought together in the front to form the container part of the package 2 being formed. A parallelepiped-shaped cavity defining a volume of 45 is defined.

  Along the portions P2, Q2 of the respective tracks P, Q, the jaws 13 and 14 are firmly gripped against the tube, the associated lateral band 44 is completely flattened and the heating member 28 is activated to act as packaging material. The two overlapping portions are sealed to form a lateral band 44.

  When the tube 3 of packaging material is gripped between the associated pair of jaws 13, 14, the food level rises to a level L in the tube 3 and the signal S changes from the second logic value to the first logic. The value is switched to a value and the shape of the valve 61 is changed in a known manner to reduce the flow rate of food from the filling pipe 50.

  When the packaging tube 3 moves downward continuously, the food level is lowered to a level L or lower, so that the signal S switches from the first logic value to the second logic value and the valve 61 opens automatically. The flow rate of food from the filling pipe 50 is increased.

  In other words, the food is alternately pumped up and down and flows both inside and around the cushioning member 52 through the gap between the outer surface of the cushioning member 52 and the inner surface of the tube 3 of packaging material. Comes up and down.

  The upward flow of food in the cushioning member 52 is counteracted by the air in the chamber 54 and is therefore typically generated when the jaws 13 and 14 impinge on the tube 3 of packaging material, Slows to “empty” the assigned volume of each package 2 being formed.

  Further, any upward splashing action caused by the flow of food in the space between the buffer member 52 and the packaging material tube 3 is also suppressed to the liquid column above the buffer member 52.

  The close proximity of the filling pipe 50 and the buffer member 52 relative to the height at which the tube 3 of packaging material is initially gripped by each pair of jaws 13, 14 greatly reduces turbulence at the food outlet, It is in the part of the tube 3 immediately upstream of the jaws 13, 14 by closing the jaws 13, 14 together with the buffering action of the air in the chamber 54 of the buffering member 52 against the upward flow of food. Eliminate the effects of vacuum that can occur in

  In other words, the volume of food to fill the associated packaging 2 that is being formed while each pair of jaws 13 and 14 is closed remains generally constant, thus reducing the deformation and deflation of the packaging material. The packaging machine 1 operates at a very high production rate, for example 18,000 to 24,000 packs per hour, without the risk of jamming and thus the packaging material being twisted by the interaction of the jaws 13 and 14 and thus tearing. It can be so.

  The inspection also showed that the weight difference of the packaging 2 produced in the packaging machine 1 was also markedly reduced.

  Obviously, modifications may be made to the packaging machine 1 described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

  In particular, the machine 1 may be characterized in that it comprises two pairs of jaws acting periodically and alternately on the tube 3 of packaging material.

1 is a schematic side view, partly omitted, for the sake of clarity of a packaging machine according to the present invention for producing a pourable sealed package of food. It is the side view to which the detail of the packaging machine shown in FIG. 1 was expanded. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the jaw-type package forming apparatus of the packaging machine shown in FIG. 1 with a part removed for easy understanding. It is a perspective view of the flame | frame of the packaging formation apparatus shown in FIG. It is the enlarged perspective view seen from the both sides of the jaw of the packaging formation apparatus shown in FIG. It is the enlarged perspective view seen from the both sides of the jaw of the packaging formation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the packaging filling apparatus of the packaging machine shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing to which the detail of the packaging machine shown in FIG. 7 was expanded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging machine 2 Packaging 3 Tube of packaging material 5 Filling apparatus 11 Conveyor 12 Conveyor 13,14 Jaw 18 Support and guide means
35 Packaging forming assembly
44 Seal band 50 Filling pipe 51 Filling pipe part 52 Buffer member 54 Air chamber 57 Food outlet A Orbit D Distance P, Q orbit P1, P2, Q1, Q2 Orbit part

Claims (8)

In a packaging machine (1) for producing a sealed package (2) of pourable food from a tube (3) of sheet-like packaging material being fed along a vertical track (A),
A period for tightly grasping and sealing the tube (3) of said packaging material at equally spaced transverse sections defining the sealing strips (44) on both sides of the package (2) being formed; At least a pair of package forming assemblies (35) that are movable in an objective and sequential manner, each package forming assembly (35) extending on either side of said vertical track (A), said vertical track being First, each working part (P1, Q2, P2, Q2) is defined adjacent to (A), and the seal band (44) is formed along the tube (3) of the packaging material along the first part. And at least a pair of wrap forming assemblies (35) including first and second jaws (13, 14) moving along second endless tracks (P, Q), respectively.
A filling pipe (50) that extends at least partially into the tube (3) of packaging material to feed food into the tube, and also extends into the tube (3) of packaging material. Vertical of food in the tube (3) of packaging material when it is fixed to and surrounds at least a portion (51) of the filling pipe (50) and forms the sealing band (44) A filling device (5) comprising a rigid cushioning member (52) defining with the filling pipe an air chamber (54) for buffering directional flow;
The distance between the first gripping position and the maximum height of the first and second tracks (P, Q) from the height at which the tube is initially gripped by at least the filling pipe (50). A packaging machine (1) having a food outlet (57) located along the vertical track (A) at a distance of 45% or less of (D1).   The buffer member (52) extends from the initial gripping height to a distance equal to or less than the maximum height of the first and second tracks (P, Q). The machine according to claim 1.   A predetermined maximum distance (D) from said initial gripping height towards said jaws (13, 14) in a coaxial relationship with said tube (3) of said packaging material (A). Supporting and guiding means (18) for feeding to the distance, the outlet (57) of the filling pipe (50) being a distance not more than 30% of the maximum distance (D) from the initial gripping height 3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is located along said vertical track (A).   The buffer (52) projects from the support and guide means (18) towards the jaws (13, 14) by 30% to 60% of the maximum distance (D). 3. The machine according to 3.   The outlet (57) and the buffer member (52) of the filling pipe (50) extend in a range that can extend without buffering with the jaws (13, 14). Item 5. The machine according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The outlet (57) of the filling pipe (50) protrudes from the buffer member (52) toward the jaws (13, 14), according to any one of claims 1-5. The machine described.   The outlet (57) of the filling pipe (50) faces the upstream ends of the first and second tracks (P, Q) of the jaws (13, 14) and extends between them. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine is present.   A first chain conveyor (11) having a number of first jaws (13) defining a first endless track (P) along which the first jaws (13) move; A second chain conveyor (12) having a number of second jaws (14) defining a second endless track (Q) along which the second jaws (14) move; The first and second tracks (P, Q) are adjacent to the vertical track (A) of the tube (3) of packaging material and are generally symmetrical on both sides of the vertical track (A). Each of the working parts (P1, P2, Q1, Q2) so that the tubes (3) are firmly grasped and sealed in the cross-sections that are equally spaced from each other. Each jaw (13) cooperates with each said second jaw (14), Each of the first jaws (13) of the conveyor (11) together with the corresponding second jaw (14) of the second conveyor (12) define an associated packaging forming assembly (35). The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:

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