MX2008009716A - Folding assembly and method for producing a gable portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding assembly (90) for producing a gable portion (61) of a sealed package (2) of a pourable food product;the gable portion (61) has a first and a second wall (67, 69) sloping with respect to each other and joined at a seal (53), and a flap (70, 71) connecting lateral edges of the first and second wall (67, 69);the folding assembly (90) is supplied with packs (3), each having an axis (R), and each of which, at one end (50a) and on opposite sides of the axis (R), has two end portions (51a, 51b) which are folded to form the gable portion (61);the end portions (51a, 51b) have, respectively, a first and a second portion (52a, 52b) to be folded, which are joined by a lateral face (55) of the pack (3) interposed between the end portions (51a, 51b);and the folding assembly (90) is characterized by having folding means (100, 101) which interact, on opposite sides of the axis (R), with the first and second portion (52a, 52b) of the pack (3) to fold the second portion (52b) onto the lateral face (55), and the first portion (52a) onto the second portion (52b) to form the flap (70, 71).

Description

FOLDING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD TO PRODUCE AN INVERTED V PORTION OF A SEALED CONTAINER OF A FOOD PRODUCT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a folder assembly and method for producing an inverted "V" portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product. The folder assembly can be integrated into a folding unit of packaging machines to continuously produce sealed packages of pourable food products from a tube of packaging material. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many pourable food products, such as beverages, fruit juice, pasteurized milk or UHT (treated at ultra high temperature), wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in containers made from sterilized packaging material. An example of this type of container is the container with inverted top part for products, liquid or pourable food, as described in the European Patent EP1440010 and in the published Patent Application EP1584563, and known by the trade name Tetra Gemina ( MR) Aseptic. More specifically, the above package comprises a main portion in the form of a parallelepiped; and an upper portion in inverted V defined by two inclined walls Ref .: 194594 joined along a seal strip. More specifically, the walls of the inverted V-shaped portion are trapezoidal in shape, project from the upper portion of the container at their respective major bases, and are joined by means of a seal strip at their respective minor bases. The inverted V portion comprises two side flaps bent out of the volume of the package available for the food product. Each of the flaps project from a respective oblique side of a first wall, and are folded towards the second wall and superimposed, on the seal strip, on respective oblique sides of the second wall. The above package is produced by folding and sealing laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure substantially comprising a base layer for stiffness and strength, which may comprise a layer of fibrous material, eg, paper, or polypropylene material filled with mineral; and several layers of heat sealing plastic material, eg, polyethylene film, covering both sides of the base layer. In the case of aseptic packages for prolonged storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of barrier material for gases and light, for example, aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol film (EVOH), which is overlaid on a layer of heat sealing plastic material, and in turn covered with another layer of heat sealing plastic material forming the inner face of the container that is finally brought into contact with the food product. As is known, packages of this kind are produced in fully automatic packaging machines, in which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material. More specifically, the web of packaging material is unwound from a reel and fed through an aseptic chamber onto the packaging machine, where it is sterilized, for example, by applying a sterilizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, which then it is evaporated by heating and / or subjecting the packaging material to radiation of appropriate wavelength and intensity; and the thus sterilized web is maintained in a closed and sterile environment, is folded into a cylinder, and longitudinally sealed to form a continuous tube in known manner. The tube of packaging material, which actually forms an extension of the aseptic chamber, is fed in a vertical direction, is filled with the sterilized food product processed in sterile form, and is fed through a forming unit to produce the individual packages. That is to say, inside the forming unit, the tube is sealed along several equally spaced cross sections to form a continuous strip of pads in the form of pads connected together by means of respective transverse seal strips, i.e., extending perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the tube. And the pads packs are separated by cutting the relative transverse seal strips, and then folding further to form the respective packs with the finished inverted V-shaped top. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a folding assembly to produce an inverted V-shaped portion of the above packages in a fast, economical, and reliable manner, and at the same time achieve an optimum finish of the V-portion itself. inverted In accordance with the present invention, a bending assembly is provided to produce an inverted "V" portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product.; the inverted V portion comprises a first and a second wall inclined one with respect to the other and joined in a seal, and at least one flap connecting both corresponding side edges of the first and second walls; the folder assembly is supplied with packages that have an axis; and that, at one end and opposite sides of the shaft, they comprise two end portions which are folded to form the inverted V-portion of the container; the end portions have, respectively, a first and a second portion to be folded, which are joined by means of a side face of the container interposed between the end portions; and the folder assembly is characterized in that it comprises folding means which interact, on opposite sides of the axis, with the first and second portion of the package for folding the second portion on the side face, and the first portion on the second portion for forming the flap . The present invention also relates to a folding method for producing an inverted "V" portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product; the inverted V portion comprises a first and a second wall inclination with respect to one another and joined in a seal, and at least one flap connecting corresponding side edges of the first and second walls; the method comprises the steps of: - providing a folder assembly with at least one sealed package having an axis, and having, on one end and on opposite sides of the axis, two terminal portions having, respectively, at least one first and a second portion that will be folded; the first and second portions are joined by a side face of the package interposed between the end portions; and the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: folding the second portion on the lateral face; and - folding the first portion over the second portion to form the flap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A preferred non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a folding unit comprising a folding assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of several component parts of the folding assembly of the figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 show an additional component part of the folder assembly of Figure 1 in two different operating configurations; Figure 6 shows an additional component part of the folder assembly of Figures 2-5, interacting with a pad pack during formation of the inverted V-portion; Figure 7 shows a package produced by the unit of Figure 1; Figure 8 shows a weft of a packaging material having several folding lines (folding pattern). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Number 1 in Figure 1 includes as a whole a folding unit of a packaging machine (not shown) to continuously produce sealed packages of inverted V-shaped upper part 2 (Figure 7) of a pourable food product, such as pasteurized milk or UHT, fruit juice, wine, etc., from a tube (not shown) of known packaging material. The tube is formed in known manner upstream from the unit 1 by longitudinally folding and sealing a web of thermally sealed sheet material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure substantially comprising a base layer for stiffness and strength, which may comprise a layer of fibrous material, eg, paper, or polypropylene material filled with ore; and several layers of heat sealing plastic material, eg, polyethylene film, covering both sides of the base layer. In the case of aseptic packages 2 for prolonged storage products such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of barrier material for gases and light, for example, aluminum foil or ethyl vinyl alcohol film (EVOH), which is overlaid on a layer of heat sealing plastic material, and in turn covered with another layer of heat sealing plastic material forming the inner face of the container 2 which is finally brought into contact with the food product. With particular reference to Figure 8, the weft of the packaging material comprises a folding pattern 10, ie several fold lines, along which the material is folded, during the folding operation, to first form a pack of pad 3, and then pack 2. Folded pattern 10 comprises four folding lines 11, 12, 13, 14. Lines 11, 12 are located near the ends of the packaging material, and define respective areas of upper and lower seal lia, 12a. The folding pattern 10 comprises, in known manner, four longitudinal folding lines 15, 16, 17, 18 extending between the transverse folding lines 13, 14. The plague pattern 10 also comprises several additional folding lines 20 located in the area between the line 14 and the sealing area 12, and forming lateral flaps (not shown) which are subsequently folded to form a bottom wall 62 of the container 2. The pattern of the fold lines 20 is known and therefore it is not described in detail.

The lines 15, 18 are located near the side edges 19 of the packaging material, and the lines 16, 17 are interposed between the lines 15 and 18. The folding pattern 10 also comprises several additional folding lines in the area between the lines. lines 11 and 13. The additional lines comprise two fold lines 22, 23 which extend obliquely between lines 11, 13 and converge from line 11 to line 13; and two folding lines 24, 25 extending between lines 11, 13 and converging from line 13 to line 11. Lines 22, 23, 24, 25 originate the respective intersection points 15a, 18a, 16a, 17a of the respective lines 15, 18, 16, 17 and line 13, and, in the embodiment shown, they are inclined slightly in the longitudinal direction. The lines 22 and 24, the line portion 13 between the points 15a and 16a, and the line portion 11 between the intersection point 11 and 24 and a point of intersection lie of the lines 22 and 11, define an area 26. Similarly, the lines 23 and 25, the portion of line 13 between the points 17a and 18a, and the portion of line 11 between an intersection point llf of the lines 11 and 23 and the point of intersection of lines 11 and 25, define an area 27. Lines 24 and 25, the portion of line 11 between the points of intersection of lines 24, 25 and line 11, and the portion of line 13 between points 165a and 17a, define a panel A, interposed between the areas 26 and 27 and in the form of an isosceles trapezium with the oblique sides converging from line 13 to line 11. Lines 22 and 23, the portion of line 11 that is extends between the points lie and llf, on the opposite sides to panel A, and the portion of line 13 that extends between points 15a and 18a, on opposite sides to panel A, define a panel B interposed between the areas 26 and 27 and in the form of an isosceles trapezium with the oblique sides converging from line 13 to line 11. Fold pattern 10 comprises, in area 26, two fold lines 30, 31 that originate respectively at points 15a, 16a and join at a point 11b along the line 11 to define an isosceles triangle with line portion 13 extending between points 15a and 16a. Similarly, the folding pattern 10 comprises, in the area 27, two additional folding lines 32, 33 that originate respectively at the points 17a and 18a and joined at a point 11c along the line 11 to define an isosceles triangle with line portion 13 extending between points 17a and 18a. Lines 31, 24 and line portion 11 extending between point 11b and the point of intersection of lines 24 and 11 define the outer limits of a triangular panel C adjacent to panel A. And, similarly, the lines 32 and the line portion 11 extending between point 11c and the point of intersection of line 25 and 11, define the outer limits of a triangular panel D adjacent to panel A and on opposite sides to panel C. The pattern of folding 10 comprises three lines 34, 35, 36 in area 26, and three lines 37, 38, 39 in area 27; the lines 34, 35, 36 extend respectively from the points 15a, 16a, 11b to a point 45 in the isosceles triangle in the area 26; and lines 37, 38, 39 extend respectively from points 17a, 18a, 11c to a point 46 in the isosceles triangle in area 27. Lines 34, 35 extend symmetrically on opposite sides of an extension of line 36; and the lines 37, 38 extend symmetrically on opposite sides of an extension of the line 39. Thus, in the area 26 is defined a panel E in the form of an isosceles triangle and joined by the lines 34, 35 and the portion of line 13 extends between points 15a, 16a; a triangular panel F joined by means of lines 30, 34, 36; and a triangular panel G joined by means of lines 31, 35, 36. Similarly, a panel H in the form of an isosceles triangle and joined by lines 37, 38 and the portion of line 13 are defined in area 27. it extends between points 17a, 18a; a triangular panel L joined by means of lines 32, 37, 39; and a triangular panel M joined by means of the lines 33, 39, 38. The folding pattern 10 also comprises, in the area 26, a line 40 extending between the point of intersection lie of the lines 11 and 22, and a point 47 located substantially at the intermediate point of the line 30. And, in the same way, the folding pattern 10 comprises, in the area 27, a line 41 extending between the intersection point llf of the lines 11 and 23, and a point 48 located substantially at the midpoint of line 33.

Therefore in the area 26 there is defined a triangular panel N joined by means of the lines 22, 40 and the line portion 30 extending between the points 15a and 47; and a triangular panel O joined by means of line 40, the portion of line 11 extends between points lie and 11b, and line portion 30 extends between points 11b and 47. Similarly, they are defined in the area 27, a triangular panel Q joined by lines 23, 41 and the portion of line 33 extends between points 18 and 48a; a triangular panel P joined by means of line 41, line portion 33 extends between points 11c and 48, and line portion 11 extends between points 11c and llf. Once formed, the tube of packaging material is filled with the food product for packaging, and is sealed and cut along equally spaced cross sections to form several pad packages 3 (shown in Figure 1). Figure 6 shows a partial view of a package 3 at the beginning of the formation of an inverted V-portion 61 (Figure 7) of a corresponding package 2. More specifically, the packages 3 extend along an axis R, and each comprises in known manner a main portion in the form of parallelepiped 49, and opposite end portions 50a, 50b (only one shown in Figure 6) are tapering from the portion 49 towards the respective transverse seal strips 53 of the package 3. The portion 49 corresponds to the area of the weft extending between the lines 13 and 14. More specifically, the area is folded along the lines 15, 16, 17 and 18 to form two parallel walls 49a (only one is shown). in figure 6), and two side walls 49b (only one is shown in figure 6) perpendicular to the walls 49a. The walls 49a correspond to the areas between lines 16 and 17 and between lines 15 and 18; and walls 49b correspond to the areas between lines 15 and 16 and between lines 17 and 18. Portions 50a, 50b correspond to the areas of the frame that extend between lines 11 and 13 and between lines 12 and 14 respectively; and the strips 53 correspond to the areas 1 a, 12 a of the weft of a packaging material. Each portion 50a, 50b is defined by a pair of respective walls 51a, 51b, which are substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, leaning slightly towards each other with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axes R of pack 3, and have major edges defined by respective terminal edges of the opposite walls 49a, and minor edges joined together by a relative strip 53. More specifically, the walls 51a, 51b of the portion 50a correspond respectively to the panels A, B of the web of material of packaging. Each package 3 comprises, on the wall 51a, two substantially triangular portions 52a projecting laterally on the opposite sides of the wall 51a and defined by the terminal portions of the wall 51a. Similarly, each package 3 comprises, on the wall 51b of the portion 50a, two substantially triangular portions 52b projecting laterally on opposite sides of the wall 51b and defined by the terminal portions of the wall 51b. The portions 52a of the wall 51a correspond respectively to the panels C and D, and the portions 52b of the wall 51b correspond respectively to the panels N, O and Q, P of the weft of the packaging material. Each portion 52a of the wall 51a is connected to a corresponding portion 52b of the wall 51b by means of a respective side face 55. Each face 55 comprises a respective surface 56 in the form of an isosceles triangle and extends upwards from the respective wall 49b; and a respective pair of triangular surfaces 57, 58 having a first side in common. Each surface 57, 58 also has a second side in common with the surface 56, and a third side in common with a relative portion 52a, 52b. The faces 55 correspond respectively to the isosceles triangle defined by the points 11b, 16a, 15a of the packaging material, and to the isosceles triangle defined by the points 17a, 18a, 11c. The surfaces 56 correspond respectively to the panels E, H of the container material web; the surfaces 57 and 58 of a first face 55 correspond respectively to the panels G, F of the web of packaging material; and the surfaces 57, 58 of a second face 55 correspond respectively to the panels L, M. The packages 3 are then sent to the unit 1, where they are mechanically folded to form the respective containers 2. With particular reference to figure 7 , the containers 2 substantially comprise a main portion in the form of parallelepiped 60 corresponding to the portion 49 of the package 3; and an inverted V-portion 61, which defines the upper portion of the portion 60 and is formed by the portion 50a of the package 3 in unit 1, as described in detail below. The package 2 also comprises the bottom wall 62 which defines the bottom of the portion 60 and formed by folding the portion 50b of the package 3 into the joint 1 in a non-described manner, as it is not essential for a clear understanding of the present invention; two parallel walls 63, 64; and two parallel walls 65, 66 extending perpendicularly between the walls 62, 64 of the container 2. More specifically, the walls 63, 64, 65, 66 extend perpendicularly to the plane of the wall 62. The walls 63 and 64 correspond respectively to the areas of the frame that extend between lines 16 and 17 and between lines 15 and 18; and the walls 65 and 66 correspond respectively to the areas of the weft extending between the lines 15 and 16 and between the lines 17 and 18. The portion 61 comprises a wall and an opening device 68; and a wall 69 attached to the wall 68 in the upper seal strip 53. More specifically, the walls 67 and 69 are each in the form of an isosceles trapezium, are inclined with respect to the walls 43, 64, 65 and 66, converge towards the upper strip 53, extend at their respective major bases from the respective walls 63 and 64, and join at their respective minor bases adjacent the upper strip 53. The walls 67 and 69 respectively correspond to the panels A and B of the plot of the packaging material. The portion 61 also comprises two side flaps 70, 71 folded out of the volume of the package 2 available for the food product, and extending along extensions of, and obliquely with respect to, the respective walls 65, 66. More specifically each flap 70, 71 is triangular and are defined by means of a respective oblique side wall 67, by a relative end 53a, 53b of the strip 53 folded on a relative oblique side of the wall 69, and by means of an edge relative 72 parallel, when folded, to the relative wall 65, 66. More specifically, the flaps 70, 71 selectively correspond to the panels D, C of the packaging material web, and are folded to overcome the lines 32, 31 in the respective lines 23, 22. With particular reference to Figure 1, unit 1 comprises a station 80 supplied with pad packages 3 and for folding the portion 50a to form the portion 61 of each package 2; a station 81 supplied with the packages 3 complete with the respective portions 61, and for forming the wall 62 of the container 2 corresponding to each package 3; and a transfer carriage 82 for transferring package 3, complete with portion 61, from station 80 to station 81. In a form not shown, station 81 also heats portion 61 and wall 62, seals flaps 70. , 71 to the oblique sides of the wall 69, and seals the wall 62 to the portion 60 to form the complete package 2. The carriage 82 moves back and forth between stations 80 and 81, and performs a forward movement for transfer pack 3, complete with portion 61, from station 80 to station 81, and a return movement in which it is empty. The station 81 is not described in detail, as it is not essential for a clear understanding of the present invention. More specifically, each station 80, 81 comprises a respective hub 84, 85 driven by a respective motor not shown; and a respective number of transport devices 86-four are shown in the example-angularly integral with the relative hub 84, 85. The station 80 also comprises a folder assembly 90 which interacts with the portion 50a of each package 3 for forming the portion 61 of a corresponding container 2. More specifically, the devices 86 are fixed, equally spaced angularly, to the relative hub 84, 85, and each comprises a slot 87 facing the relative hub 84, 85 and engaging a strip 53 of the relative portion 50b, 50a; and two vanes 88 cooperating respectively with the walls 49a of the package 3 corresponding to the walls 63, 64 of the package 2. Each device 86 in the station 80 receives a package 3 in a first angular position, in which the package 3 tilt slightly with respect to a horizontal plane; it is fed clockwise along an arc of approximately ninety degrees to a second angular position, in which assembly 90 folds a portion 50a to form portion 61; and then feeds pack 3, complete with portion 61, along an additional clockwise arc of about ninety degrees to a third angular position, wherein pack 3, complete with portion 61, is picked up by carriage 82 and transferred to station 81. Each pallet 88 comprises, at its outer end, an edge 89 bent towards the other pallet 88 of the same device 86 to prevent it from spinning while rotating cubes 84, 85. A along the arc between the first and the third angular position, the devices 86 are placed in a closed configuration in which the vanes 88 cooperate with the walls 49a of the package 3. In the first and third angular position, on the other side, the devices 86 are placed in an open configuration in which the vanes 88 depart to provide the station 80 with the package 3 with the relative portions 50a, 50b to be folded and, respectively, to supply the car. ro 82 with the complete package 3 with the portion 61. The assembly 90 advantageously interacts, on the opposite sides of the axis R of each package 3, with the portions 52a, 52b of the package 3, for folding each portion 52b on the relative surface 56 , and each portion 52a on the relative portion 52b to form a relative flap 70, 71 of the container 2. With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the assembly 90 comprises two tools 91, 92 for folding each portion 52b onto the relative surface 56. , and each portion 52a on the relative portion 52b respectively. More specifically, each portion 52b is folded over the relative surface 56 after it has been folded over the relative line 40, 41.

The tools 91, 92 are articulated with respective output members of respective motors 105 about respective axes T parallel to the axes of rotation of the hubs 84, 85 and are articulated to each other around a common axis S parallel to the axes T. More specifically, the tool 91 comprises a support surface 100 and two folding surfaces 101, which respectively cooperate with the wall 51b to control the volume of the portion 61 that is formed, and with the portions 52b to fold them on the surfaces 56. The surfaces 100 and 101 move integrally with each other in an approaching movement to contact the wall 51b and the portions 52b respectively move with respect to each other in a legacy movement in which the surfaces 101 the portions 52b are folded onto the relative surfaces 56. More specifically, the tool 91 comprises a frame 95 mounted, on one side, with the projecting surface ada 100, and operatively connected, on the opposite side, to the surfaces 101; two first levers 93 articulated with the frame 95 and with the relative output member of the motor 105; and a second lever 94 hinged to the tool 92 and to the frame 95. The frame 95 comprises a first member 96 mounted at one end, and on the side opposite the axis S, with the projected surface 100; and a second member 97 that slides with respect to the member 96 and is articulated to the levers 93 about an axis U parallel to the axis S. The levers 93 are articulated, at one end, to the output member of the motor 105 around of the T axis, and are articulated, at the opposite end, with the frame 95 around the axis U. The lever 94 is articulated, at one end, with the tool 92 about the axis S, and is articulated, at the end opposite, to the frame 95 about an axis V parallel to the axis S. The tool 91 also comprises two third levers 99, each of which is articulated, at one end, with the relative lever 93 about the axis U, and it is operatively and movably connected, at the opposite end, to the surface 100 and to a respective surface 101 by means of a respective connecting rod 102. More specifically, each connecting rod 102 is L-shaped, hinged at the ends opposite to surface 1 00 and a plate 107 integral with the relative surface 101, and comprising an intermediate portion, between the surface 100 and the relative plate 107, which is housed within a circular channel support formed at the end of the relative lever 99 opposite the axis U. The members 96 and 97 are elastically connected to each other by means of a spring 98, which is compressed during the folding movement of the surfaces 101, and expands when the surface 100 is removed from the wall 51b. Tool 92 is similar to tool 91, and is described only where it differs from tool 91, using the same reference numbers for identical or corresponding parts of tools 91, 92. Tool 92 differs from tool 91 by the relative surface 100 cooperating with the wall 51a at the end of the relative approach movement. The surfaces 101 are of the same triangular shape as the portions 52a, and the fold portions 52a on the portions 52b, once the surface 100 cooperates with the wall 51a. The tool 92 also comprises two levers 94 spaced apart and which are articulated with the lever 94 of the tool 91 about the axis S. The folder assembly 90 also comprises two pressure members 110 (figures 1 and 6), each of which pressurizes a relative surface 56 when the relative flap 79, 71 is formed, to facilitate folding of the portions 52a, 52b. More specifically, the pressure members 110 are mounted to a drive assembly 111 operatively connected to the motor 105 of the tool 91 in a known manner that is not shown. The assembly 111 (shown only the part in Figure 6) comprises two plates 112, which cooperate with the respective walls 49b of the package 3, and from which the respective pressure members 110 project.; and two lever mechanisms 115 connected to the motor 105 of the tool 91 by means of a cam mechanism not shown. The motor 105 and the lever mechanisms 115 are connected in such a way that, when the surface 100 of the tool 91 cooperates with the wall 51b, the members 110 cooperate with the relative surfaces 56, and, when the surface 100 of the tool 91 is detached from the wall 51b, the members 110 are detached from the relative surfaces 56. More specifically, the pressing members 110 are preferably made of deformable plastic material, and have a serrated shape. More specifically, each pressure member 110 comprises a flat surface 113 cooperating with the relative surface 56; and a surface 114, opposite the surface 113, tapering from the relative plate 112 and cooperating with the relative surfaces 57, 58 once the portions 52a, 52b are folded. The operation of the assembly 90 will now be described with reference to a package 3, and with respect to an initial instant in which the package 3 is delivered to the station 80 of the unit 1. More specifically, within the device 86 in the first position angular, the package 3, placed with the axis R inclined slightly with respect to a horizontal plane, is housed with the strip 53 inside the slot 87, and with the walls 49a held by the blades 88.

The rotation of the hub 84 moves the device 86 to the second angular position, in which the package 3 is adjacent to the assembly 90. By rotating the hub 84, the edges 89 prevent the package 3 from turning. In the second angular position of the device 86, the motor 105 of the tool 91, by means of the cam mechanism and the lever mechanisms 115, moves each plate 112 on the relative wall 49b of the package 3, and the surface 113 of each member pressure 110 on the relative surface 56. Next, the motors 105 operate the tools 91, 92 so that they perform the respective approach movements of the respective surfaces 100. More specifically, the surface 100 of the tool 91 is brought into contact with the wall 51b of the package 3 before the surface 100 of the tool 92 comes into contact with the wall 51a of the package 3. Next, the motor 105 of the tool 91 additionally operates to perform the respective folding movements of the surfaces 101 of the tool 91, and thus folds the portions 52b on the surfaces 56. More specifically, the portions 52b are folded with respect to the wall 51b in the respective lines 22, 23, and are folded along the respective lines 40, 41 to superimpose the respective panels N, Q on the respective portions of the respective panels E, H. At this point, the motor 105 of the tool 92 operates to perform the respective folding movements of the surfaces 101 of the tool 92, and thus folds the portions 52a on the respective portions 52b. More specifically, the portions 52a are folded with respect to the wall 51a in the respective lines 24, 25. At the end of the folding movements, the panels D, C are overlapped respectively on the panels P, O, which in turn they are superimposed respectively on the panels Q, N, which are respectively overlapped on the panels H, E. Once folded, the panels D, C define respective flaps 70, 71, and have the respective lines 32, 31 superimposed on the respective ones lines 23, 22. More specifically, the approach movements start from an initial position in which each member 97 leans against the relative member 96 (figures 2 and 3). During the approach movement, the motors 105, by means of the levers 93, rotate the surfaces 100, 101 of the tools 91, 92, integrally with each other, about the axis U until the surfaces 100 rest against the walls 51a, 51b of the package 3. During the approach movements, the members 96, 97 of the frames 95 also move integrally with each other. Once the approach movements are finished, the motors 105, by means of the levers 93, rotate the levers 99 and the members 97 of the tools 91, 92 additionally with respect to the relative axes U, T, thus compressing the springs 98 of the tools 91, 92.

The rotation of the levers 99 rotates the connecting rods 102 of the tools 91, 92 with respect to the relative surfaces 100, and thus, by means of the plates 107 they rotate the pairs of surfaces 101 with respect to the surfaces 100. At the end of the folding movements, the ends 53a, 53b lightly detach from the oblique ends of the wall 69, and the faces 55 lightly detach from the surfaces 56 to allow heating and sealing in station 81. A once the folding movements are completed, the motors 105 operate in reverse to remove the members 110 from the surfaces 56, then the surfaces 101 of the flaps 70, 71, and finally the surface 100 of the walls 67, 69. In the course of the withdrawal movements, the previously compressed springs 98 expand to restore the relative members 97 to the rest position against the relative members 96. At this point, the package 3, comp With the portion 61, the container 84 is moved by means of the hub 84, by means of the device 86, by an additional ninety degrees in a clockwise direction to the third angular position, where it is picked up by the carriage 82 and transferred to the third position. the station 81. In the station 81, in a known manner that is not described, because it is not essential for the clear understanding of the present invention, the wall 62 is formed; the ends 53a, 53b are first heated and then sealed to the oblique sides of the wall 69; and the faces 55 are heated first and then sealed to the wall 69. The advantages of the assembly 90 and the method according to the present invention will be clear from the above description. In particular, the assembly 90 provides rapid formation of the portion 61, by simultaneous operation on opposite sides of the package 3. Furthermore, the formation of the portion 61 by the assembly 90 is quite repeatable, counted on the members 110 which are controlled by the motor 105 of the tool 91 by means of the cam mechanism. Finally, the assembly 90 provides a high quality surface finish of the portion 61 by forming the portion 61 by the successive folding of the weft panels of the packaging material along the relative fold lines. Contrary to being deformed, the panels are therefore simply folded along the fold lines, thus avoiding any damage to the finish of the walls 67, 69 and the flaps 70, 71. Obviously, changes can be made to the assembly 90 and method described herein, however, without departing from the protective scope defined in the following appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A folding assembly to produce an inverted "V" portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product; the inverted V portion comprises a first and a second wall inclined one with respect to the other and joined in a seal, and at least one flap connecting both corresponding side edges of the first and second walls; the folder assembly is supplied with packages that have an axis; and that at one end and opposite sides of the shaft, they comprise two end portions which are folded to form the inverted V portion of the container; the end portions have, respectively, at least one first and second portion to be folded, which are joined by means of a side face of the container interposed between the end portions; characterized in that it comprises folding means which interact, on opposite sides of the axis, with the first and second portion of the package for folding the second portion on the side face, and the first portion on the second portion for forming the flap. A folder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second folding surface cooperating respectively with the first portion to fold it over the second portion, and with the second portion to fold it over the lateral face; and a first and second support surface which, during folding of the first and second portions, cooperates respectively with the terminal portion having the first portion, and with the terminal portion having the second portion; the first folding surface and the first supporting surface move integrally with each other in a first relative movement towards the package and in which the first supporting surface comes into contact with the terminal portion having the first portion, and moving relative to one another in a second relative folding movement in which the first folding surface folds the first portion over the second portion; and the second folding surface and the second supporting surface move integrally with each other in a first relative approach movement towards the package and in which the second supporting surface comes into contact with the terminal portion having the second portion, and it moves with respect to the other in a second folding movement in which the second folding surface folds the second portion on the side face. A folder assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and the second support surface are operatively connected, by means of respective first members, respective drive members by means of which they are driven during the relative approach movements; and in that the first and second folding surfaces are operatively connected, by means of second respective movable members with respect to the first members, to the respective driving members by means of which they are driven, integrally with the respective first and second supporting surfaces. , during the relative approach movements; and in that the first and second folding surface are respectively hinged to the first and second supporting surface in order to move, under control of the respective driving members, with respect to the first and second supporting surface, when the respective first and second support surfaces are contacted respectively with the terminal portion having the first portion, and the terminal portion having the second portion. A folder assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the first folding surface is articulated with the first supporting surface by means of a connecting rod operated by means of the driving means.; and in that the second folding surface is articulated with the second supporting surface by means of a second connecting rod operated by the driving means. A folder assembly according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each first member is connected to the second relative member by an elastic means for moving the second member with respect to the first relative member during a relative return movement, after the movement. of relative folding of the relative folding surface and the relative supporting surface. 6. A folder assembly according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the second folding surface for folding the second portion is triangular. A folder assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one pressing member cooperating with a relative side face of the package during the folding of the first and second portion. A folder assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressure member is operated to cooperate with the relative side face when at least one of the first and second support faces cooperates with the relative terminal portion, and that it will detach from the side face when the first and second support surfaces detach from the relative end portions. A folder assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the pressure member and the drive member are functionally connected to associate the movement of the pressure member with the movement of at least one of the first and second surfaces of the pressure member. support. 10. A folder assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the pressing member is made of plastic material. 11. A folding method for producing an inverted V-portion of a sealed package of a pourable food product; the inverted V portion comprises a first and a second wall that are inclined with respect to each other and joined in a seal, and at least one flap connecting corresponding side edges of the first and second walls; the method comprises the steps of: - providing a folder assembly with at least one sealed package having an axis, and having, on one end and on opposite sides of the axis, two terminal portions having, respectively, at least one first and a second portion that will be folded; the first and second portions are joined by a side face of the package interposed between the end portions; characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - folding the second portion onto the side face; and - folding the first portion over the second portion to form the flap. 12. A method according to claim 11 characterized in that, in the step of folding the second portion, the second portion is folded along a respective fold line in order to cooperate, on opposite sides, with the side face and the first portion. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the steps of folding the second portion and folding the first portion, a pressing member cooperates with the side face to facilitate folding of the second portion on the side face .