WO2004069658A2

WO2004069658A2 - Apparatuses and methods for obtaining containers, and container for flowable products

Info

Publication number: WO2004069658A2
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000310
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Bartoli; Flavio Traldi
Original assignee: Sarong Societa' Per Azioni
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2004-02-06
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: ITMO20030030A1; ITMO20030030A0; WO2004069658A3

Abstract

An apparatus for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60), by starting from sheet material (5, 6), comprises first operational means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) arranged for processing first containers (14, 14') substantially lying in a first lying position, and second operational means (73, 75) arranged for processing second containers (14a, 60) substantially lying in a second lying position different from said first lying position. 10 An apparatus for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60), by starting from sheet material (5, 6), comprises forming means (56, 57) suitable for obtaining on said sheet material (5, 6), substantially lying in a first lying position, containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a), and lying position modifying means suitable for causing said sheet material (5, 6) to pass from said first lying position to a second lying position, so, that said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) are made accessible from said second lying position.

Description

Apparatuses and methods for obtaining containers, and container for flowable products

The invention relates to apparatuses and methods for obtaining containers, in particular by starting from sheet materials, as well as a container suitable for receiving a flowing product. The containers that can be obtained by means of the apparatuses and the methods according to the invention can be used in a plurality of sectors, such as the food sector, the pharmaceutical sector, the cosmetic sector or the sector of detergents .

The traditional technics for thermoforming sheet materials are subdivided into two categories, that are called vertical forming and horizontal forming. The vertical forming machines use two webs of sheet material, typically, of plastic material, arranged in a substantially vertical lying position and intended for constituting two facing walls of containers. Said webs, unwound from two different reels, are conveyed through one or more pre-heating stations that bring them to a temperature close to the softening, temperature of the plastic material of which the sheet materials consist. Subsequently, the two webs are welded inside a welding station along a pre-defined profile corresponding to the edge of the container to be formed. That profile is broken at an upper opening through which, inside ^• i one or more subsequent forming stations, there is injected pressurized air suitable for deforming the sheet material, so as to give said sheet material the form according to the geometry of a mould into which said material is introduced in the forming station. Eventually, the above mentioned opening is used for filling the obtained container with the desired material to be packed, and then closed by welding. By using this forming technology, thermo-blown containers can be obtained, such as bottles, phials, single-dose containers and the like. According to the technology of horizontal forming a web of sheet material, usually of plastic material, is laid on a horizontal plane and pre-heated so as to be brought to a temperature near to the softening temperature and, in a subsequent forming station, said web of sheet material is profiled by means of a punch engaging itself with a mould so as to constitute on the sheet material a containing cavity, opened at the top. The sheet material shaped by the punch is then conveyed towards a filling station, wherein a prefixed substance is introduced into the containing cavity, and then said sheet material is transferred into a closing station wherein the container, that is being formed, is closed by means of a closing web welded along the outline of the containing cavity. By means of the technology of horizontal forming, containers can be obtained such as tubs, jars, blisters and the like.

A drawback of the Prior Art disclosed above consists in the low flexibility of the traditional forming machines, that are capable of working only according to the vertical forming technology, or only according to the horizontal forming technology. In order that both blown containers, for example bottles, and mechanically formed containers, for example tubs, can be produced both at least a vertical forming machine and at least a horizontal forming machine, must be available, that results quite onerous, particularly for the small producers. These later must actually cope with high investment costs in order to obtain^' both the machines and have at their disposal wide areas for installing said machines, with the risk that, when only blown containers are produced, the horizontal forming machine lies unused, and vice versa during the times that only mechanically formed containers are produced. A further drawback of the known apparatuses, particularly of the apparatuses destined intended for operating according to the technology of vertical ^■ forming, consists in that, said apparatuses use two reels of sheet material in order to form facing walls of a same container. Consequently, two distinct unwinding devices have to be provided as well as a quite complicated system for controlling the position of the web, said system being suitable for verifying that the two webs of sheet material, mainly when moulded, remain in a proper mutual position. In addition, the supplying region of the sheet material is relatively cumbersome, having to house two distinct reels having a diameter of several hundreds of millimetres. - .

A still further known drawback of the known apparatuses consists^' in that the forming station, the welding station and the other operating stations, wherein the sheet material is processed in order to obtain the containers, are arranged in fixed positions at a prefixed distance. Consequently, the distance between two consecutive containers remains constant, regardless of the type of the produced containers and their own dimensions. That causes remarkable waste of web material, particularly when relatively small containers have to be produced, in which case quite extensive regions of unused material can be identified between a container and the adjacent one.

An object of the invention is to improve the apparatuses and the methods for obtaining containers, particularly by starting from sheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatuses and methods that enable to produce different typologies of containers, said apparatuses and methods resulting thus provided with high flexibility. A still further object is to reduce the number of machines that the producers of containers must currently use for being capable to produce a wide range of different containers. A further object of the invention is to increase the productivity of the apparatuses and methods for obtaining containers.

Another object is to simplify unwinding of the sheet material and controlling of the position of the webs intended for forming facing walls of containers on the forming machines. A further object of the invention is to optimize the consumption of sheet material needed for obtaining containers, so as to reduce the trimmings produced between two adjacent containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide new typologies of containers.

According to a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for forming containers by starting from sheet material, said apparatus comprising first operating means arranged for processing first containers substantially lying in a first lying position, characterized in that, said apparatus further comprises second operating means arranged for processing second containers substantially lying in a second lying position different from said first lying position.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, a producer of containers can use the first operating means or the second operating means according to the type of containers he desires to obtain, i.e. according to the technology the producer desires to adopt, without having to use different apparatuses. In particular, in the case that the first operating means is arranged for interacting with containers lying in a substantially vertical lying position and the second operating means is arranged for interacting with containers lying in a substantially horizontal lying position, the same apparatus can operate both according to the vertical forming technology, and according to the horizontal forming technology, so as to remove the need for using' two different machines and to achieve thus remarkable savings both in economical terms and in required space.

In a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for forming containers by starting from sheet material, said apparatus comprising forming means suitable for obtaining, on said sheet material, substantially lying in a first lying position, containing cavity means, characterized in that, said apparatus further comprises lying position modifying means suitable for causing said sheet material to pass from said first lying position to a second lying position, so that said containing cavity means is made accessible from said second lying position.

In a third aspect of the invention, a method is provided for obtaining containers by starting from sheet material, comprising obtaining on said sheet material, substantially lying in a first lying position, containing cavity means,, characterized in that, after said obtaining there is provided rotating said sheet material from said first lying position to a second lying position, in order to make accessible said containing cavity means from said second lying position.

Owing to the second and the third aspect of the invention, containers can be formed in a prefixed lying position and, after having been arranged in a different lying position, said containers can undergo subsequent operations, for example filling operations. That enables to use in the same forming station different forming means, for example of pneumatic type, usually operating according to a vertical lying position, or of mechanical type, adapted so as to operate in a vertical lying position. The lying position modifying means actually enables to rotate the sheet material from the substantially vertical lying position, where forming took place, to a substantially horizontal lying position, where the

^• subsequent operations will take place. Thus, apparatuses and methods are obtained provided with high flexibility and easily adaptable on the basis of the productive requirements. In a fourth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for forming containers, said apparatus comprising supplying means for supplying sheet material along a prefixed advancing direction, characterized in that, said apparatus further comprises cutting means arranged for cutting said sheet material along a cutting direction substantially parallel to said advancing direction, so that first web means and second web means are obtained from said sheet material suitable for achieving different wall means of said containers. In a fifth, aspect of the invention, a method is provided for forming containers, comprising supplying sheet material along a prefixed advancing direction, characterized in that, said method further comprises cutting said sheet material along a cutting direction substantially parallel to said advancing direction, so that first web means and second web means are obtained from said sheet material suitable for achieving different wall means of said containers. Owing to this aspect of the invention, the methods and the apparatuses of the Prior Art can be improved, particularly with reference to the steps of unwinding and controlling the sheet material. Actually, as first web means and second web means, intended for constituting different wall means of containers, are obtained from the sheet material, the number of reels simultaneously present on the machine is reduced, so that the overall dimensions that are necessary in this region of the apparatus, can be reduced. Furthermore, a single unwinding device can be provided, together with the almost absolute assurance that the first web means and the second web means are in a proper mutual position, since, before cutting, no relative movements can occur.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for adjusting the position of a- plurality of operating stations, with respect to a reference station interposed between a first operating station and a second operating station of said plurality, said method comprising moving said first operating station with respect to said reference station along a first direction, and further moving said second operating station with respect to said reference station along a second direction different from said first direction.

Owing to the sixth aspect of the invention, the position of the first operating station, of the second operating station and of further operating station - if any - can be adjusted with respect to the reference station, according to the dimensions and the shape of the containers desired to be produced. That enables to form the containers on the sheet material at an optimal mutual distance, by minimizing the trimmings and optimizing the consumption of sheet material.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, a container is provided, comprising containing cavity means closed by means of sealing web means, and hole means provided with repositionable closing means . The repositionable closing means preferably comprises plugmeans .

Owing to the repositionable closing means, a product contained inside the container can be accessed with great facility through the hole means and then the hole means can be closed again. These operations can be repeated throughout an almost unlimited number of times, without that the whole product contained inside the container has to be used immediately after opening. The repositionable closing means assures the user that the product with which the container was filled remains isolated from the external environment, without risks of contamination or accidental leakages after the initial opening. The invention will be better understood and carried out with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some exemplifying and not limiting embodiments thereof, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of an apparatus for forming containers according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic and perspective view of an unwinding and cutting group of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged, partially sectioned, side view of cutting means provided in the cutting group of Figure 2; the Figures 4 and 6 to 8 show schematic sections of different types of containers that can be obtained with the apparatus of Figure 1, in an open configuration before filling; Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the container of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a schematic section of two containers that can be obtained with the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a view in schematic section of a further container that can be obtained with the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a view in schematic section of a mechanical forming station of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a section view of a container that can be obtained in the mechanical forming station of Figure 11, in an open configuration; Figure 13 is a schematic and enlarged front view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1, highlighting filling means.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus 1 for forming containers, in particular by starting from sheet material, said containers being usable for various usage, for example in the food domain, or in the pharmaceutical domain, or in the cosmetic domain, or still in the domain of detergents. The sheet materials that are used can be preferably _ heat-weldable and/or thermoformable, and can show a multi-layer or a single-layer structure. In particular, sheet materials can be used that are wholly made of plastic material, or sheet materials can be used wherein at least a layer of metallic material is present, for example aluminium, in the case coupled with one or more layers of plastic material capable of giving the sheet material the required properties of weldability and barrier. The apparatus 1 comprises an unwinding group 2, whereon a first reel 3 and a second reel 4 are mounted, from which a first sheet material 5 and a second sheet material 6 are respectively unwound, which are suitable for forming for example, containers 14 of the type shown in Figure 4, i.e. comprising a containing cavity 17 delimited by a first wall 15 and a second wall 16.

As shown in the Figures 1^' and 2, the first sheet material 5 and/or the second sheet material 6, after having interacted with a plurality of tensioning and return rolls 7, can pass through a cutting group 8, ^' provided with cutting means comprising a pair of pressing rollers 9 that enable to. superimpose the first sheet material 5 and the second sheet material 6, in order to cause them to advance along a single advancing direction F. As highlighted in Figure 3, one of the pressing rollers 9, for example the upper one, is provided with a circular knife 10, lying on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the roller and interacting with a circular groove 11 obtained on the lower pressing roller 9, this circular groove 11 also lying on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the roller. The circular knife 10 enables the first sheet material 5 and the second sheet material 6 to be each longitudinally subdivided in a pair of webs, so that four end webs 18, 19, 20, 21 are obtained from the starting two sheet material 5, 6. Thus, two facing row of containers 14 and further containers 14' can be formed, as shown in Figure 7, in which the first wall 15 and the second wall 16, delimiting the container 14, as well as the further first wall 15' and the further second wall 16', delimiting the further containers 14', are obtained from the -four webs 18, 19, 20, 21. In the Figure 7 the second wall 16 and the further second wall 16' were shown in a plane configuration, but a constructive embodiment can be supposed in which also such walls are subjected to forming. Forming two adjacent rows of containers enables the productivity of the apparatus 1 to be doubled; furthermore, by longitudinally cutting the first sheet material 5 and the second sheet material 6 in order to obtain the four webs 18, 19, 20, 21, the number of reel used can be reduced, so that- the overall dimensions of the apparatus 1 are also reduced. Furthermore, the controlling devices, with which the apparatus 1 is provided, result, simplified, as the two webs obtained from a single sheet material arrive in the cutting group 8 perfectly in phase each other. In an alternative version not shown, a single reel can be used, from which a single sheet material is unwound, intended,, for example, for being folded or cut along a direction parallel to the advancing direction F in order to constitute the first wall 15 and the second wall 16 of the desired container to be formed. In the case that the only sheet material is cut longitudinally, a container 14 is obtained like that of Figure 4, almost indistinguishable from the container obtained by making the first wall 15 and the second wall 16 out respectively of a first sheet material 5 and a second sheet material 6 unwound from a first reel 3 and a second reel 4. In the case, instead, the only sheet material is folded longitudinally, a container 14 is obtained like that of Figure 6, in which the first wall 15 and the second wall 16 are intrinsically combined at their lower portion, so as to define, for example a resting plane 12.

In a further alternative version, containers 14 can be formed of the type shown in Figure 8, in which an intermediate sheet material 13, interposed between the first wall 15 and the second wall 16, defines two <■ cavities 17, 17'. The first wall 15 and the second wall 16 may be connected along a lower folding line 22, in the case that they were obtained from a single sheet material, or said first wall 15 and said second wall 16 may be disjoined, in the case that they were obtained by starting from two distinct sheet materials.

Obviously, in the case that the sheet material is folded longitudinally, the cutting group 8 is substituted by a folding group, not shown, suitable for operating on a single sheet material in order to obtain a single row of containers, or suitable for folding two or more sheet materials in order to obtain two or more rows of containers .

Naturally, neither the cutting group 8 nor the folding group can also be provided, in the case that the required number of webs is unwound directly from a corresponding number of reels, for example by using two or four reels in order to obtain respectively two or four webs to be formed.

Downstream to the optional cutting group 8, there is provided a redirecting device 23, suitable for rotating by 90° the webs of material, in order to bring said webs of material in a substantially vertical lying position, by starting from the substantially horizontal lying position whereon said webs lie when are unwound from their respective reels. The redirecting device 23 is of known type and may comprise for example a plurality of rollers. In this region of the apparatus 1, the webs of sheet material are handled by advancing means comprising a moving pliers 25, suitable for clamping said webs and for indexing them along the advancing direction F, and a stationary pliers 24, suitable for holding blocked the webs of sheet material when the moving pliers 25 stops in order to enable pre-determined subsequent operations to be carried out on such webs. The webs of sheet material then pass through a pre-heating station 26, in which said webs of sheet material are brought to a temperature such to facilitate the subsequent forming, 12

and then through a first operating station 27, a forming station 28 and a second operating station 29. The first operating station 27 may comprise a further pre-heating station, particularly useful in the case that relatively thick webs have to be formed, for which a single pre-heating station can be unsatisfactory for making the material easy to be deformed, or a welding station. The welding station is for example operational in the case that the containers 14 are obtained by means of a pneumatic forming technology by blowing, and is arranged for welding the webs, intended for constituting facing walls of' the containers 14, along a connecting region.30 peripherally delimiting the cavity 17, as shown in Figure 5. The connecting region 30, produced in the welding station, is interrupted at an opening 31, suitable for enabling filling of the containers 14 in a subsequent step.

The forming station 28 may be of pneumatic or mechanical type; in particular, in the case of pneumatic forming, an operational fluid, for example compressed air, is injected through the opening 31 between the webs intended for forming opposing walls of the containers 14, so as to deform said webs according to the geometry of mould means into which said webs are introduced.

Figure 11 shows a forming station 28 of mechanical type, provided with mechanical forming means comprising a punch 56 and a mould 57, mutually translationally moving according to the direction of the arrow FI, transversal with respect to the advancing direction F, in order to interact with a web 5a of sheet material so as to shape said sheet material 5a according to the desired shape. Punch 56 and mould 57 may be assisted by auxiliary forming means, for example air suction means acting through suction ducts 58 obtained in the mould 57, or air blowing means acting through blowing ducts 59 obtained in the punch 56, with the purpose of facilitating web 5a to be deformed. Thus, containers can be obtained having a shape like tubs 60, of the type highlighted in Figure 12, comprising a containing cavity 17a preferably free from undercuts, intended for being subsequently filled with contents and then sealed with a closing web. A more complete disclosure of the mechanical forming means can be obtained from the International Patent Application PCT/IB02/02243, under the name of Green Pack S.R.L., whose contents is herein referred as a whole. Preferably, in the apparatus 1 according to the invention the mechanical forming technology is applied to sheet materials arranged on a substantially vertical lying position, as shown in Figure 11, contrary to that occurs in the traditional machines, where the punch operates on a web lying on a horizontal plane. In an alternative version of the apparatus 1, however it is also possible to operate with mechanical forming means on sheet material lying on a substantially horizontal plane. Above the preheating station 26, the first operating station 27 and the forming station 28 there is arranged a fluid manifold 45, by means of which not only the forming fluid - if any - can be sent into the forming station 28, but also a detaching fluid can be sent into the preheating station 26 and the first operating station 27, said detaching fluid preferably corresponding with the forming fluid and comprising compressed air, and being suitable for preventing the webs to be formed from mutually attaching each other in undesired regions as an effect of the heat.

The second operating station 29, arranged downstream to the forming station 28, may comprise a further welding station or an optional station according to the typology of containers. The further welding station is provided in the case that additional welding operations have to be carried out, or in the case that welding is carried out after forming, or still in the case that the forming station 28 is of mechanical type. In this last case, it is actually preferred that, the first web 18 and/or the second web 20, and possibly the further first web 19 and/or the further second web 21, are initially shaped by the respective punch and only subsequently welded each other, so that the chance is given to the punch of exiting the cavity 17 and the further cavity 17' - if any - without interfering with portions of the container 14 and/or the further container 14', as that could occur if the webs were already welded at the moment of forming. The optional station instead enables additional different operations to be carried out, according to the type of containers desired to be achieved, such as shearing operations. Containers 14a of the type shown in Figure 9 can be so formed, for example, in which, after the web of sheet material 5a has been shaped inside the forming station 28, a cutting device present in the optional station produces on a bottom wall 46 a hole 47, designed for being then closed by. means of a peelable label 48. The container 14a is later filled with a product 49 and sealed by means of a sealing web 50. This type of containers is particularly appreciated in the case that the product 49 is a liquid that is poured or drunk directly from the hole 47. In that case it is actually preferred that the liquid is taken from a hole 47 obtained on a bottom wall 46 having relatively small dimensions and delimited by side walls 51 converging toward said bottom wall, rather than acting on the opening 31 used for the filling operations, through which opening 31 the liquid could be accidentally poured. The peelable label 48 may be advantageously substituted by a different closing device, suitable for being preferably opened and closed again a high number of times without undergoing substantial damages, for example a screw plug 111 as shown in Figure 10. In this Figure the container 14a is shown in a configuration ready for use, in which said container 14a was already separated from the adjacent containers and laid on the wall identified by the sealing web 50. The wall 46, representing during the forming operations the bottom wall of the container 14a, has so become the upper wall to which the plug 111 is applied, by means of which pluglll the user can have access to the product 49. The pluglll preferably comprises a supporting body 112, that is made firmly connected for example by forcing with the container 14a, and a removable body 113, connected in removable manner with the supporting body 112 so that said removable body 113 can be removed for giving access to the product 49. In the case shown in Figure 50, the removable body 113 is fixed to the supporting body 112 by means of threaded connecting means, but also other known types of connection can be used, for example connection by interference. The containers 14a of the Figures 9 and 10 are obtained by shaping the web 5a in the forming station 28, by shearing the bottom wall 46 in order to achieve the hole 47 in the second operating station 29, and by closing the hole 47 in a station, not shown, for applying the closing device. Subsequently, the container 14a is filled with the product 49, sealed with the sealing web 50 and separated from the adjacent containers, as that will be disclosed in the following with reference to the usual containers.

The forming station 28 is preferably placed in a fixed position inside the apparatus 1; the position of the preheating station 26, of the first operating station 27 and the second operating station 29 can be instead adjusted on the base of the dimensions of the containers desired to be formed, so as to reduce the distance between two adjacent containers and therefore minimize the consumption of sheet material. In order to adjust the position of the above-mentioned stations, that are arranged on two opposing sides of the forming station 28, the preheating station 26 and the first operating station 27 are moved in a first adjusting direction, as shown by the arrow F4 , whereas the second operating station 2.9 is moved in a second adjusting direction, opposed to said first direction, as indicated by arrow F5. For example, in the case that the distance between two adjacent containers is desired to be reduced, the preheating station 26 and the first operating station 27 will be moved close to the forming station 28, being moved leftwards in Figure 1, whereas the second operating . station 29 will be moved close to the forming station 28, being moved rightwards in Figure 1. A cooling pliers 52 provides for clamping the webs at the exit from the second operating station 29 and for indexing them toward an end of the apparatus 1, simultaneously causing the temperature of the webs selves to reduce so as to stabilize the just given shape thereof. The cooling pliers 52 is movable between a first position A, indicated with a continuous line in Figure 1, and a second position B, indicated with a dashed line in the same Figure.

The parts of the apparatus 1 disclosed so far, i.e. the unwinding group 2, the cutting or folding group 8 - if any, the redirecting device 23, the preheating station 26, the first operating station 27, the forming station 28, the second operating station 29 and the cooling pliers 52, are arranged in horizontal succession in a lower region 54 of the apparatus 1. The stations that will be disclosed in the following are instead arranged in an upper region 55 of the apparatus 1, above said lower region 54, so as to minimize the overall dimensions of the apparatus 1. The webs 18, 20 and the further webs 19, 21 - if any -, whereon the containers 14 and the possible further containers 14' were obtained, after having been released from the cooling pliers 52, are then moved so as ^■ to describe a bend 53, having a ϋ-like shape, so as to enter the upper region 55 with the openings 31 and the openings 31''- if any - oriented upwards. In this region of the apparatus modifying means of the lying position, not shown, may also be present, suitable for rotating the already formed containers, but not yet filled, from a substantially vertical lying position to a substantially horizontal lying position. This option is particularly useful in the case that in the forming station 28 mechanical forming means is present suitable for producing tubs 60 of the type shown in Figure 12, since the modifying means of the lying position enables to rotate by 90° the tubs 60 obtained on the web 5a, causing said tubs 60 to pass from the vertical position shown in Figure 13 to the horizontal position shown in Figure 12, in which the tubs 60 are ready for being filled.

The applying station for applying the closing device can be present in the region of the apparatus 1 interested by the bend 53, or immediately before the bend 53 self, said applying station being suitable for applying, for example, a peelable label or a plugto the containers of the type shown in the Figures 9 and 10.

•Downstream to the bend 53, two distinct paths can be identified, according to the typology of containers desired to be obtained. The containers pertaining to a first typology shown in the Figures 4 to 8, suitable for being filled when arranged in a substantially vertical lying position, particularly intended for constituting bottles, phials, or single-dose packages, are directed along a lower path 61. The containers pertaining to a second typology shown in the Figures 9, 10 and 12, suitable for being filled when the sheet material of which said containers are made lies in a substantially horizontal lying position and having preferably a shape like tubs or blisters, are instead conveyed along an upper path 62. Both the lower path 61 and the upper path 62 extend along a further advancing direction F' , oriented in the opposed direction with respect to the advancing direction F followed by the sheet material in the lower region 54 of the apparatus 1. O 2004/069

18

In the lower path 61 first advancing means is provided, provided with a pair of plierss 118 that advance the containers 14 and the further containers 14' - if any - through a filling station 63, comprising filling means provided with a tank 64 provided at the bottom with a plurality of cannulae 65. These last cannulae 65, in the case assisted by a pump not shown, withdraw the flowing product from the tank 64 and use said flowing product for filling the containers 14, and the further containers 14' - if any - transiting below the filling means and properly positioned by guides 66. The flowing product introduced into the containers 14 may be a liquid substance, in the case capable of solidifying after cooling, or a pasty or gelatinous substance, or still a granular substance or any other substance capable of flowing out from the tank 64.

The filled containers pass then through a preheating unit 67 in which, by means of heat supply, the sheet material of which said containers consist is made easy to be deformed, and continue to advance toward a pre-welding unit 68 and a welding unit 69, in which an upper welding 70 is carried out, enabling to close the openings 31 and the further openings 31'_. - if any - of the containers 14 and the further containers 14' - if any -. A cooling unit 71, arranged downstream with respect to the welding unit 69, provides for reducing the temperature of the upper welding 70, just formed.

The filled and sealed containers, still mutually connected to form a web, are then conveyed through a lying position varying region 72, in which said containers pass from a substantially vertical lying position, in which filling was carried out, to a substantially horizontal lying position, in which the subsequent required operations will be carried out. In a version not shown, the containers 14, and the further containers 14' - if any - exiting the filling station 63 may be conveyed toward a plug applying group, not shown, in which the openings 31 and the further openings 31 - if any -are closed by means of a plug device, rather than by welding. The so obtained containers may then be subjected to further operations, such as separating of the single containers from the sheet material.

The upper path 62, along which there are conveyed the containers intended for being filled while the sheet material, of which said containers consist, is arranged in a substantially horizontal lying position, instead comprises second, not shown, advancing means, of known type, suitable for advancing the sheet material whereon the tubs 60 have been obtained through a dosing station 73. This later is provided with dosing means provided with a hopper 74 from which further flowing products can flow down. Preferably, the dosing means is of vibrating type and is used for introducing into the containers solid products, such as capsules or tablets to be introduced singularly into the sockets of a blister, or powders, or still substances in granular form. Downstream with respect to the dosing station 73, a further filling station 75 is present, comprising distributing means provided with nozzles 76. The further filling station 75 can be completed by connecting the nozzles 76 with the filling means initially arranged in the filling station 63 and movable, for example, by means of a carriage, up to reach the position shown in Figure 13. In that position, the cannulae 65, drawing from the tank 64, can be connected with the nozzles 76 by means of flexible hoses 77. The filling means movable as above disclosed, can therefore be used in combination both with bottle-like containers intended for being filled when arranged in a substantially vertical lying position, and with tub-like containers intended for being filled when arranged in a substantially horizontal lying position; in effect, according to the typology of containers required to be produced by the apparatus 1, the filling means can be moved from the upper path 62 to the lower path 61 or vice versa, so as to prevent cannulae, tanks, pumps and other devices from being duplicated in a complicate and expensive manner . It is noticed that, during operation of the apparatus 1, only the filling station 63 can be made active, or only the dosing station 73, or only the further filling station 75, but the dosing station 73 can also be coupled with the filling station 63 or with the further filling station 75, in the case that containers are desired to be obtained filled with at least two distinct different substances, for example a liquid substance and a solid or granular substance.

After having been filled in the further filling station 75, the tub-like or blister containers pass through a closing group 79, of known type, arranged for applying on said containers a closing web 80 unwound from a further reel 81. The closing web 80 is welded on a border region of the containers, by means of a lower welding half-mould 100 and an upper welding half-mould 101 that are translationally between a. moving away configuration, in which said half-moulds do not interfere with the containers being formed, and an interference configuration, in which the border region of the containers and the closing web 80 are clamped between the lower half-mould 100 and the upper half-mould 101. The lower path 61 of the bottle-type containers, intended for being filled when arranged in a substantially vertical lying position, joins the upper path 62 of the tub-type or blister containers, intended for being filled when the web, from which said containers have been formed, is arranged in a substantially horizontal lying position, upstream with respect to the closing group 79. In the case that the apparatus 1 is used for producing bottle-type or single-dose containers, that do not require a closing web 80 and already sealed when arrive to the closing group 79, this later can be substituted by a perforating group provided with a shearing device, preferably of rod type, suitable for obtaining, in the space identified between a container and the next one, weakening lines that easily enable to separate the single containers. This option is particularly appreciated in the case of products that are sold in groups of single-dose packages, that are separated each from the other by the end user.

The now closed containers eventually pass preferably through a shearing group 88 in which groups of containers or single containers, in the case suitable for being manually separated by means of preferred broken lines, can be separated from -the sheet material.

It is noticed that inside the apparatus 1, or particular parts thereof, a pressure may be held greater than the atmospheric pressure, so that the entry of powders or other contaminating agents, that could contaminate the products to be packaged, is prevented. This expedient is particularly important when pharmaceutical or food products have to be packaged, for which particular attention is basically to be paid to the hygiene. Within the present disclosure, the apparatuses, the means and the steps of method indicated can be considered, besides taken singularly, or in the indicated combinations, also as making part of any other possible combination.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60), by starting from a sheet material (5, 6), comprising first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) arranged for processing first containers (14, 14') substantially lying in a first lying position, characterized in that, said apparatus further comprises second operating means (73, 75) arranged for processing second containers (14a, 60) substantially lying in a second lying position different from said first lying position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) is configured so as to process web means (18, 19, 20, 21) arranged on a substantially vertical lying position in order to constitute said first containers (14, 14').

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second operating means (73, 75) is configured so as to process further web means (5a) arranged on a substantially horizontal lying position in order to constitute said second containers (14a, 60) .

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) and said second operating means (73, 75) are simultaneously present on said apparatus (1) . 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) comprises a filling station (63) provided with filling means (64, 65) suitable for introducing a flowing product into said first containers (14, 14' ) . 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said filling means (64, 65) comprises tank means (64) feeding cannula means (65), suitable, for being introduced into opening means (31, 31') of said first containers (14, 14').

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second operating means (73, 75) comprises a further filling station (75) provided with distributing means (76) suitable for distributing a flowing substance (49; 86) into said second containers (14a, 60) .

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said distributing means comprises a plurality of nozzles (76) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, or 8, as claim 7 is appended to claim 5, or 6, wherein said filling means (64, 65) is configured so as to result operatively moving between said filling station (63) and said further filling station (75) .

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said filling means (64, 65) is mounted on carriage means. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9, or 10, and further comprising connecting means (77), suitable for connecting, said filling means (64, 65) with said distributing means (76) , in said further filling station (75) .

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprises flexible hose means (77).

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second operating means (73, 75) comprises dosing means (73) suitable for introducing a further flowing product into said second containers (14a, 60) . 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said dosing means (73) is of vibrating type.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, or 14, wherein said dosing means (73) is configured so as to introduce a single flowing product into all the containing cavities of said second containers (14a, 60) .

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67^', 68, 69, 71) comprises a preheating unit (67), suitable for preheating said sheet material (5, -6) .

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) comprises a welding unit (69) suitable for sealing said first containers (14, 14' ) , after said first containers (14, 14') have been filled.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) comprises a pre- welding unit (68) arranged for carrying out on said first containers (14, 14') a pre-welding operation before closing thereof.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding -claims, .wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71). comprises a cooling 'unit (71), suitable for cooling said first containers (14, 14' ) after said first containers (14, 14') have been sealed.

20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,., and further comprising a lying position varying region (72), wherein said first containers (14, 14') are brought from said first lying position to said second lying position, after said first containers (14, 14' ) have been closed.

21. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) and said second operating means (73, 75) are arranged respectively along a first operating path (61) and along a second operating path (62).

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first operating path (61) is arranged at least partially in a lower position with respect to said second operating path (62).

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, or 22, and further comprising a joining region between said first operating path (61) and said second operating path (62) .

24. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) further comprises a plug applying group, suitable for applying a plug on said first containers (14, 14'), after these later have been at least partially filled.

25. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising forming means (32, 33, 34, 34'; 56, 57) suitable for obtaining on sheet material (5, 6), substantially lying in said first lying position, containing cavity means (17, 17' , 17a) .

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, and further comprising lying position modifying means suitable for causing said sheet material (5, 6) to pass from said first lying position to said second lying position, so that said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) is made accessible from said second lying position.

27. Apparatus for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60) by starting from sheet material (5, 6) , comprising forming means (56, 57) suitable for obtaining on said sheet material (5, 6) , substantially lying in a first lying position, containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a), characterized in that, it further comprises lying position modifying means suitable for causing said sheet material (5, 6) to pass from said first lying position to a second lying position, so that said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) is made accessible from said .second lying position.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said forming means (56, 57) is configured so as to interact with said sheet material (5, 6) arranged in a substantially vertical lying position.

29. Apparatus according to claim 27, or 28, wherein said lying position modifying means is configured so as to bring said sheet material (5, 6) in a substantially horizontal lying position.

30. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 29, and further comprising distributing means (76) suitable for distributing a flowing substance (49; 86) into said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a).

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said distributing means (76) is configured so as to^' interact with said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) when said sheet material (5, 6) lies in said second lying -position.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30, or 31 wherein said distributing means comprises a plurality of nozzles (76) .

33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 32, and further comprising dosing means (73) suitable for introducing into said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) a further flowing product.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said dosing means (73) is of vibrating type. 35. Apparatus according to claim 33, or 34, wherein said dosing means (73) is configured so as to introduce a single flowing product into each cavity of said containing cavity means (17, 17' , 17a) .

36. Apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein said dosing means (73) is configured so as to interact with said containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) when said sheet material (5, 6) lies in said second lying position.

37. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 36, wherein said forming means (56, 57) is chosen from a group comprising: mechanical forming means (56, 57) and pneumatic forming means.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, and further comprising a supporting device of said forming means (56, 57), said supporting device being configured so as to be able to receive in interchangeable manner said mechanical forming means (56, 57) or said pneumatic forming means.

39. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 38, wherein said forming means (56, 57) is arranged in a forming station (28), through which said sheet material (5, 6) is advanced along a prefixed advancing direction (F) .

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said forming station (28) is supported by said apparatus (1) by means of supporting elements, said supporting elements being arranged in a fixed position in said apparatus (1).

41. Apparatus according to claim 39, or 40, and further comprising a preheating station (26) suitable for preheating said sheet material (5, 6) in order to increase the deformability of said sheet material (5, 6) and arranged upstream with respect to said forming station (28) with reference to said prefixed advancing direction (F) . 42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said preheating station (26) is mounted on said apparatus (1) by means of adjustable supporting elements, suitable for enabling the position of said preheating station (26) to be modified with respect to said forming station (28). 43. Apparatus according to any one of claims 39 to 42, and further comprising a first operating station (27), suitable for processing said sheet material (5, 6) and arranged upstream with respect to said forming station (28) with reference to said prefixed advancing direction (F) .

44. Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said first operating station (27) is chosen from a group comprising: a further preheating station, a welding station.

45. Apparatus according to claim 42, or 43, wherein said first operating station (27) is mounted on said apparatus (1) by means of further adjustable supporting elements, suitable for enabling the position of said first operating station (27) to be modified with respect to said forming station (28).

46. Apparatus according to any one of claims 39 to 45, and further comprising a second operating station (29), suitable for processing said sheet material (5, 6) and arranged downstream with respect to said forming station (27) with reference to said prefixed advancing direction (F) .

47. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said second operating station (29) is mounted on said apparatus (1) by means of still further adjustable supporting means, suitable for enabling the position of said second operating station (29) to be modified with respect to said forming station (28) .

48. Apparatus according to claim 46, or 47, wherein said second operating station (29) is chosen from a group comprising: a further welding station, an optional station.

49. Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said optional station comprises a shearing station, suitable for achieving, by shearing, hole means (47) on said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60).

50. Apparatus according to claim 49, and further comprising a station for applying the closing device, suitable for applying a closing device on said hole means (47). 51. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said station for applying the closing device comprises a labelling device, suitable for applying peelable label means (48) on said hole means (47) .

52. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said station for applying the closing device comprises a plugging station, suitable for applying plug means (111) into said hole means (47) . 53. Apparatus according to any one of claims 46 to 52, wherein said preheating station (26) , and/or said first operating station (27) , and/or said forming station (28) , and/or said second operating station (29) are arranged sequentially in a lower region (54) of said apparatus (1).

54. Apparatus according to claim 53, as claim 39 is appended to claim 25, or 26, wherein .said lower region (54) is arranged below an upper region (55) of said apparatus (1), said first operating means (63, 67, 68, 69, 71) and said second operating means (73, 75) being arranged in said upper region (55) .

55. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein between said lower region (54) and said upper region (55) direction reversing means is provided, suitable for substantially reversing the advancing direction of said sheet material (5, 6).

56. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising supplying means (2, 8), suitable for supplying said sheet material (5, 6) along a supplying direction (F) toward the interior of said apparatus (1) .

57. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said supplying means (2, 8) comprises an unwinding group (2), suitable for unwinding said sheet material (5, 6) from reel means (3, 4) whereon said sheet material (5, 6) is initially wound.

58. Apparatus according to claim 56, or 57, and further comprising cutting means (8, 9) suitable for cutting said sheet material (5, 6)' along a cutting direction (F) substantially parallel to said supplying direction (F) , so as to obtain from said sheet material (5, 6) first strip means (18, 20) and second strip means (19, 21) suitable for achieving different wall means of said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60).

59. Apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said cutting means (8, 9) comprises circular knife means (10).

60. Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said circular knife means (10) engages with opposing groove means (11) . _.61. Apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said circular knife means and said opposing groove means (11) are associated with said pressing roller means (9).

62. Apparatus according to any one of claims 59 to ^'61, wherein said circular knife means (10) is arranged on a substantially middle plane of said pressing roller means (9) , orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of said pressing- roller means (9) .

63. Apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 62, and further comprising superimposing means suitable for superimposing a first sheet material (5) and a second sheet material (6) of said sheet material (5, 6), said superimposing means being arranged upstream with respect to said cutting means (8, 9) , with reference to said supplying direction (F) . 64. Apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 63, and further comprising a redirecting device (23) , suitable for redirecting said first strip means (18, 20) and said second strip means (19, 21) in order to arrange said first strip means (18, 20) and said second strip means (19, 21) in a facing configuration.

65. Apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 64, and further comprising inserting means suitable for inserting, between said first strip means (18, 20) and said second strip means (19, 21), third strip means suitable for constituting intermediate wall means (13) of said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60).

66. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a closing group (79) , arranged for closing said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60) substantially lying in said second lying position.

67. Apparatus according to claim 66, and further comprising applying means suitable for applying closing web means (50, 80) on containing cavity means (17, 17', 17a) of said containers (14, 14', 14a), filled with . a flowing product (86) .

68. Apparatus according to claim 66, or 67,. wherein said closing group (79) is mounted on frame means suitable for receiving in interchangeable manner said closing group (79) or a perforating group suitable for obtaining weakening lines on said sheet material (5, 6) .

69. Method for obtaining containers (14a, 60) by starting from sheet material (5, 6), comprising obtaining on said sheet material (5, 6) , substantially lying in a first lying position, containing cavity means (17a), characterized in 'that, after said obtaining there is provided rotating said sheet material (5, 6) from said first lying position to a second lying position, so that said containing cavity means (17a) is made accessible from said second lying position.

70. Method according to claim 69, wherein said obtaining occurs while said sheet material (5, 6) lies in a substantially vertical lying position.

71. Method according to claim 69, or 70, wherein said rotating comprises bringing said sheet material (5, 6) on a substantially horizontal lying position.

72. Method according to any one of claims 69 to 71, wherein said obtaining comprises mechanically deforming said sheet material (5, 6) .

73. Method according to any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein said obtaining comprises pneumatically deforming said sheet material (5, 6) .

74. Method according to any one of claims 69 to 73, and further comprising, after said obtaining, achieving hole means (47) on a prefixed wall (46) of said containing cavity means (17a) .

75. Method according to claim 74, wherein said achieving comprises shearing said prefixed wall (46) . 76. Method according to claim 74, or 75, and further comprising inserting removable closing means (111) into said hole means (47) . ^•77. Method according to claim 76, wherein said inserting occurs before said rotating. 78. Method according to claim 76, or 77, wherein said inserting comprises applying peelable label means (48) on said hole means (47) .

79. Method according to claim 76, or 77, wherein said inserting comprises applying plug means (111) to said hole means (47).

80. Method according to any one of claims 69 to 79, and further comprising, after said rotating, filling said containing cavity means (17a) with a prefixed product (46, 89). 81. Apparatus for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60), comprising means for supplying sheet material (5, 6) along a prefixed advancing direction (F) , characterized in that, the apparatus further comprises cutting means (8, 9) arranged for cutting said sheet material (5, 6) along a cutting direction substantially parallel to said advancing direction (F) , so as to obtain from said sheet material (5, 6) first web means (18, 20) and second web means (19, 21) suitable for achieving different wall means (15, 15', 16, 16', 46, 51) of _.said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60). 82. Apparatus according to claim 81, wherein said cutting means (8, 9) comprises circular knife means (10). 83. Apparatus according to claim 82, wherein said circular knife means (10) engages with opposing groove means (11) . 84. Apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said circular knife means and said opposing groove means (11) are associated with said pressing roller means (9) . 85. Apparatus according to any one of claims 82 to 84, wherein said circular knife means (10) is arranged on a substantially middle plane of said pressing roller means (9) , orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of said pressing roller means (9) . 86. Apparatus according to any one of claims 81 to 85, and further comprising superimposing means suitable for superimposing a first sheet material (5) and a second sheet material (6) of said sheet material (5, 6), said superimposing means being arranged upstream with respect to said cutting means (8, 9), with reference to said supplying direction (F) .

87. Method for forming containers (14, 14', 14a, 60), comprising supplying sheet material (5, 6) along a prefixed advancing direction (F) , characterized in that, it further comprises cutting said sheet material (5, 6) along a cutting direction substantially parallel to said advancing direction (F) , so as to obtain from said sheet material (5^', 6) first web means (18, 20) and second web means (19, 21) suitable for achieving different wall means (15, 15', 16, 16', 46, 51) of said containers (14, 14', 14a, 60) .

88. Method according to claim 87, wherein said cutting comprises separating said sheet material (5, 6) along a longitudinal centre-line.

89. Method according to claim 87, or 88, and further comprising deriving from said first web means (18, 20) and from said second web means (19, 21) respectively first wall means (15) and second wall means (16) of a same container (14).

90. Method according to claim 87, or 88, and further comprising deriving from said first web means (18, 20) and from said second web means (19, 21) homologous wall means (15, 15', 16, 16') of facing rows of containers (14, 14').

91. Method according to any one of claims 87 to 90, wherein before said cutting there is provided superimposing a first sheet material (5) and a second sheet material (6).

92. Method according to any one of claims 87 to 91, wherein said cutting comprises obtaining four webs (18, 19, 20,

21) from a single sheet material (5; 6) .

93. Method according to any one of claims 87 to 92, wherein after said cutting there is provided arranging said first web means (18, 20) and said second web means (19, 21) in a facing configuration.

94. Method according to claim 93, wherein said arranging comprises rotating said first web means (18, 20) and said second web means (19, 21) by an angle equal to about 90° according to opposing rotating orientations. 95. Method according to any one of claims 87 to 94, and further comprising inserting between said first web means

(18, 20) and said second web means (19, 21) intermediate web means (13) arranged for forming intermediate wall means of said containers (14). 96. Method for adjusting the position of a plurality of operating stations (26, 27, 29) with respect to a reference station (28) interposed between a first operating station (27) and a second operating station (29) of said plurality (26, 27, 29), said method comprising moving said first operating station (27) with respect to said reference station (28) according to a first direction, and further moving said second operating station (29) with respect to said reference station (28) along a second direction different from said first direction.

97. Method according to claim 96, wherein said reference station comprises a forming station (28).

98. Method according to claim 96, or 97, wherein said moving comprises moving a station selected in a group comprising a preheating station and a welding station.

99. Method according to any one of claims 96 to 98, wherein said further moving comprises further moving a station selected in a group comprising a welding station and a shearing station.

100. Method according to any one of claims 96 to 99, and further comprising moving a third operating station (26) along said first direction with respect to said reference station (28) . 101. Method according to claim 100, wherein said moving a third operating station comprises moving a further preheating station (26) .

102. Container comprising containing cavity means (17a) closed by means of sealing web means (50), and hole means (47) provided with repositionable closing means (111).

103. Container according to claim 102, wherein said repositionable closing means comprises plug means (111).

104. Container according to claim 103, wherein said plug means

(111) comprises a supporting body (112) firmly connected with said hole means (47).

105. Container according to claim 104, wherein said plug means

(111) comprises a removable body (113) suitable for engaging, by form coupling, with said supporting body

(112) . Container according to claim 105, wherein said removable body (113) engages with said supporting body (112) by means of threaded connecting means.