WO2006056840A2

WO2006056840A2 - Apparatuses and methods for packaging a product

Info

Publication number: WO2006056840A2
Application number: PCT/IB2005/003368
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Dall'argine
Original assignee: Cft S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-11-11
Filing date: 2005-11-10
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Also published as: WO2006056840A3; ITMO20040295A1

Abstract

An apparatus for packaging a product in a container (2) comprises filling means (32, 33) arranged for introducing said product into said container (2), said filling means comprising first filling means (32), arranged for introducing into said container (2) a first quantity of said product and second filling means (33) arranged for introducing into said container (2) a second quantity of said product; a method for packaging a product in a container (2) comprises introducing said product into said container (2), said introducing comprising pouring into said container (2) a first quantity of said product and further pouring into said container (2) a second quantity of said product.

Description

Apparatuses and methods for packaging a product

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for packaging a product, in particular for packaging in an aseptic manner a product that is pumpable inside a container shaped as a flexible bag.

In the field of product-packaging, machines are known that package in an aseptic manner a product inside containers, for example in the shape of a parallelepiped, made with cardboard-based sheets. These containers have a very high cost and a maximum capacity limited to two litres.

Machines are also known that package in an aseptic manner a product inside bags, or sachets, which are provided with a mouth with a cap. The need to provide a mouth with a cap gives the bags a high cost.

Furthermore, as the mouth with a cap does not constitute a barrier that is able to prevent oxygen from penetrating inside the bags, the product has to be consumed within a short time from packaging to avoid alterations of colour.

Machines are furthermore known that package in an aseptic manner or hot-package a product inside metal containers that are very costly, inconvenient to use during dispensing of the product and are difficult to dispose of. Machines are known that hot-package a product inside flexible sachets; such sachets, at the end of packaging operations, have to be subjected to a pasteurisation step and to a subsequent cooling step that requires very long time with consequent deterioration of the product and limited efficiency of the machines themselves.

It is furthermore pointed out that no machines are known that enable a pumpable product, in particular a food product, to be packaged in an aseptic manner in bags, or sachets that are flexible that have greater capacity than two litres and are devoid of a mouth with a cap. The machines for packaging pumpable products inside flexible bags are equipped with a dosing device that introduces a preset quantity of product inside the bags.

If the speed of insertion of the product inside the bags is very high, drops and squirts of product escape outside the bags with consequent wasting of product and soiling of the bags .

In particular, correct closing of the bags may be compromised if end zones of the bags are soiled with product, which end zones have to be subjected to welding.

Known machines are furthermore provided with supporting devices that support the bags during filling and welding of the edge.

The supporting devices are movable in such a way as to transfer the bags through a plurality of operating stations with which the machines are provided.

The supporting devices comprise clamping elements that are not able to ensure that the upper edge of the bags is arranged in the correct position required for welding. Consequently, the known machines produce a certain quantity of imperfectly sealed bags.

Furthermore, as the bags are hung on the clamping means during the working cycle steps - and therefore also during, and after, filling - it is found that due to the weight of the product contained in the bags, the bags are subjected to great tension and therefore have at least a certain tendency to become deformed.

A further drawback of known machines consists of the fact that, when the supporting devices, and the bags associated therewith, are moved from an operating station to a further operating station, the product contained inside the bags tends to form a wave.

In the case of a high transferring speed, the wave could have a size such as to cause the product to escape from the bags. The transferring speed of the supporting devices therefore has to be sufficiently low to prevent escapes of the product from the bags, which penalises the efficiency of the machine. Lastly, known machines are provided with very poor flexibility, thus being suitable only for filling bags having preset capacity.

An object of the invention is to improve the systems for packaging a product in flexible containers, in particular in an aseptic manner.

Another object is to obtain a system for packaging a product in flexible containers that enables rapid filling of the containers to be achieved without fractions of product escaping from the container during filling. A further object is to obtain a system for packaging a product in flexible containers that enables the tensions to be limited to which the containers are subjected during the processing steps and containers devoid of deformation to be obtained. A still further object of the invention is to obtain a system that enables escapes of product from the filled but not yet sealed containers to be limited.

A further object is to obtain an apparatus for packaging a product in flexible containers that is provided with great versatility, such an apparatus enabling the size of the containers obtained to be varied without substantial modifications and/or complicated adjustments to the apparatus being required. In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for packaging a product in a container, comprising filling means arranged for introducing said product into said container, characterised in that said filling means comprises first filling means, arranged for introducing into said container a first quantity of said product and second filling means arranged for introducing into said container a second quantity of said product. In a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for packaging a product in a container, comprising introducing said product into said container, characterised in that said introducing comprises pouring into said container a first quantity of said product and further pouring into said container a second quantity of said product.

The first quantity of product, which is quantitatively greater than the second quantity, can be introduced into the container at a high dosing speed, whilst the second quantity is introduced inside the container at a lower dosing speed. The second quantity can be varied in such a way as to compensate for dosing errors that occurred during introducing of the first quantity. In other words, a significant quantity of product is introduced inside the container at high speed. As this quantity is received in a zone of the container that is further from an opening of the latter, squirts, or drops, of product that may have formed are not able to reach the opening and thus escape from the container.

Subsequently, a limited quantity of product is introduced inside the container at reduced speed. This enables the formation of drips or squirts of product in a zone near the opening to be limited or even prevented. Thus, complete filling of each container requires two subsequent filling steps that require a total filling time that enables high apparatus productivity to be obtained. Owing to these aspects of the invention it is thus possible to obtain a system for packaging a product in a container that enables rapid filling, whilst substantially preventing drops, or squirts, of product from escaping from the container.

In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for packaging a product in a container, said container comprising a tubular element having an edge at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, comprising filling means arranged for introducing said product into said container and welding means arranged for mutually welding opposite zones of said edge for closing said opening, characterised in that it furthermore comprises tensioning means arranged for tensioning said edge before said welding means interacts with said edge.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for packaging a product in a container, said container comprising a tubular element having an edge at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, comprising introducing said product into said container and mutually sealing opposite zones of said edge for closing said opening, characterised in that before said sealing there is provided tensioning said edge. After introducing the product inside the container, the edge at which the introduction opening is obtained is tensioned in such a way that the weld affects portions of the tubular element that are devoid of ruffles. Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain a system that enables filled containers to be obtained that are integral and devoid of microleaks, such leaks being generated by the presence of folds on the edge of the container during welding of opposite zones of the edge that face one another. In a fifth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for packaging a product in a container, said container comprising a tubular element having an edge at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, comprising transferring means arranged for moving said container between an operating station and a further operating station, characterised in that it further comprises controlling means arranged for controlling the speed with which said transferring means moves between said operating station and said further operating station. Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for packaging a product in a container in which escapes of product from the container are substantially avoided, such escapes being due to the generation of waves inside the container during the transferring of the latter between operating stations of the apparatus.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for packaging a product in a container, said container comprising a tubular element having an edge at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, a bottom wall opposite said edge and a pair of side walls, comprising transferring means arranged for moving said container between an operating station and a further operating station, characterised in that it further comprises movable supporting means arranged for supporting said container at said bottom wall and at said pair of side walls.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, a method is provided for packaging a product in a container, said container comprising a tubular element having an edge at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, a bottom wall opposite said edge and a pair of side walls, comprising moving said container between an operating station and a further operating station, characterised in that it further comprises supporting said container at said bottom wall and at said pair of side walls .

Owing to these aspects of the invention, a system is provided that enables the tensions to be limited to which the material that constitutes the container is subjected during filling of the container and during moving of the latter in the course of the subsequent operating steps, for example during a welding step of the edge and during a subsequent cooling step. The system according to the invention furthermore enables deformation of the container during a work cycle to be limited. In an eighth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising supplying means arranged for advancing a tubular element in an advancing direction, cutting means arranged for separating from said tubular element a portion intended to define a container, characterised in that it further comprises welding means arranged for mutually welding opposite zones of a further portion of said tubular element for defining a closed end of a further container. In a ninth aspect of the invention, a method is provided, comprising advancing a tubular element in an advancing direction, separating from said tubular element a portion intended to define a container, characterised in that it further comprises welding opposite zones of a further portion of said tubular element for defining a closed end of a further container.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain a system that enables containers of different dimensions to be obtained from a tubular semifinished product. It is furthermore possible to switch from producing containers having a given capacity to producing containers having a different capacity with simple adjusting operations to the apparatus and without the need to replace parts thereof. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the enclosed drawings that show some exemplifying and non-limitative embodiments thereof, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus for packaging a product in flexible containers;

Figure 2 is a frontal view of the apparatus in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of Figure 2 showing filling heads arranged for introducing the aforementioned product inside the containers; Figure 5 is a schematic side view that shows a plurality of containers during the advancing through the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a frontal view showing a device for moving containers through the apparatus in Figure 1 and a supporting device for supporting the containers during the aforementioned moving;

Figure 7 is a schematic frontal view showing welding means and tensioning means of the apparatus in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the welding means and of the tensioning means in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view like the one in Figure 6 that shows in greater detail the supporting device of the containers and the device for moving the containers;

Figure 10 is a schematic frontal view showing movable gripper means in a closed position and fixed gripper means in a rest position;

Figure 11 is a view like the one in Figure 10 showing the movable gripper means in an open position and the fixed gripper means in a work configuration; Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of a container filled with a product;

Figure 13 is a view like the one in Figure 12 showing an empty container, in a configuration in which it is ready to be filled; Figure 14 is a side view of cutting means arranged for separating a container from a reel on which a tubular element is wound that constitutes a semifinished product from which a plurality of containers can be separated;

Figure 15 is a frontal view of the cutting means in Figure 14 and of further welding means, arranged for welding opposite zones of the aforementioned tubular element for obtaining a container;

Figure 16 is a plan view of a portion of the tubular semifinished product; Figure 17 is a view like the one in Figure 16 showing a version of the tubular element. With reference to Figures 1 to 3, an apparatus 1 for packaging a pumpable product, for example a food product in containers 2 (Figure 4) of the flexible bag type, is shown. The containers 2 are obtained from a tubular element 3 that is initially wound around a reel 4.

The tubular element 3 is progressively unwound from the reel 4 and is advanced in an advancing direction F. As shown in Figure 16, the tubular element 3 may consist of a pair of films 5 in plastics that has welds 6 at opposite longitudinal edges and further welds 7 extending transversely with respect to the tubular element 3, which define a longitudinal dimension of the containers 2 to be obtained. The containers 2 are separated from the tubular element 3 by cutting means 8, which will be disclosed in greater detail below, which make cuts along separation lines 9 that are substantially parallel to the further welds 7, each cut being made upstream of the corresponding further weld 7 with respect to the advancing direction F of the tubular element 3.

The cutting means 8 therefore separates from the tubular element 3 containers 2 that have a non-welded edge, at which a filling opening of the containers 2 is obtained. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 17, the tubular element 3 may consist of a pair of films 5 in plastics that have only the welds 6 but not the further welds 7.

In this case, the apparatus 1 has to be provided with a welding device 78 (Figure 15) that makes transverse welds 83 in the tubular element 3. The transverse welds 83 can be made in a preset position, that can be varied in such a way as to vary the longitudinal dimension of the containers 2, which are separated from the tubular element 3, and therefore the capacity of the containers. With reference to Figure 1, the tubular element 3, already- supplied pre-sterilised, is unwound from the reel 4 by means of a motor 10 that rotates continuously.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a pair of idle rollers 11 and with a further idle roller 12 that is vertically movable that compensates for the arrests of the subsequent indexed advance of the tubular element 3.

The apparatus furthermore comprises a tank 13 containing a sterilising solution. A still further roller 14, arranged inside the tank 13, induces the tubular element 3 to pass through the sterilising solution in such a way that the external surface of the tubular element 3 is sterilised. Downstream of the tank 13 a group of flexible scrapers 15 is provided, made, for example, of plastics, that remove residues of sterilising solution from the external surface of the tubular element 3.

The apparatus is furthermore provided with a pair of rollers 16, driven by a stepping motor 17, that advance the tubular element 3 in an indexed manner. The pair of rollers 16, as shown in greater detail in Figure 14, furthermore positions the tubular element 3 according to a substantially vertical plane and arrests the advancing of the tubular element 3, at a cutting station 20, in such a way that the cutting means 8 can make a cut in a preset position so as to separate a container 2 from the tubular element 3.

The cutting means 8 comprises a non-rotating circular blade 18 fixed to the rod of a pneumatic cylinder 19 that makes the cutting means 8 interact with the tubular element 3. As shown schematically in Figure 5, the apparatus comprises, in addition to the cutting station 20, an opening and partial filling station 21, in which the films 5 are partially moved away from one another and a first portion of product is poured inside the containers 2, a complete filling and welding station 22, in which a further portion of product is poured into the containers 2 and in which the containers 2 are sealed, a cooling station 23, in which the containers 2 are cooled after welding, and an unloading station 24, in which the filled and sealed containers are evacuated from the apparatus 1. The apparatus comprises carriages 25, on which grippers 26 are mounted that grasp the containers 2, arranged for conveying the containers 2 through the aforementioned operating stations. The carriages 25 are movable with a reciprocal movement and perform an forward stroke, shown in Figure 10, during which the grippers 26 are in a closed position A in which they retain the containers 2, and a backward stroke, shown in Figure 11, during which the grippers 26 are in an open position B in which they do not interfere with the containers 2 received in the aforementioned stations.

In the aforementioned operating stations further fixed grippers 27 are furthermore provided that support the containers 2 during the backward stroke of the carriages 25. The further grippers 27 can adopt a rest position X, shown in Figure 10, in which they do not interfere with the containers 2 during the forward stroke of the carriages 25, and an operating position Y, shown in Figure 11, in which they clamp the containers 2. As shown in Figure 6, the grippers 26 are driven between the closed position A and the open position B by pneumatic cylinders 28.

Similarly, the further grippers 27 are driven between the rest position X and the operating position Y by further pneumatic cylinders, which are not shown. The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a three-belt conveyor 29 that supports the containers 2 during advancing through the operating stations.

The three-belt conveyor 29, which will be disclosed in greater detail below, is driven in a synchronous manner with respect to the carriages 25. In the opening and partial filling station 21 first suckers 30 and second suckers 31 connected to a sucking device are provided that interact with the films 5 to remove them from one another. The first suckers 30 and the second suckers 31 are moved towards and away from one another by means of linear motors in the shafts of which conduits are obtained for connecting the first suckers 30 and the second suckers 31 with the sucking device. A schematic cross section of a container 2 ready to be filled is shown in Figure 12, whilst a full but not yet sealed container 2 is shown in Figure 13.

The apparatus 1 is furthermore provided with a first filling head 32, arranged in the opening and partial filling station 21, and with a second filling head 33, arranged in the complete filling and welding station 22, which are supplied by an aseptic tank 34 inside which overpressure of sterile gas is achieved, so as to obtain considerable filling efficiency. The apparatus is furthermore provided with a sterile air dispensing device 19 that dispenses sterile air at a high flow rate and low head to generate a dynamic flow at slight overpressure that traverses the operating stations, in particular the opening and partial filling station 21 and the complete filling and welding station 22.

A microfiltered steam supply unit 36 is furthermore provided that supplies microfiltered steam at a high temperature, for example 132 ⁰C, for sterilising all the surfaces of the apparatus 1 that come into contact with the product. The external surfaces of the operating stations, in particular of the cutting station 20, of the opening and partial filling station 21 and of the complete filling and welding station 22 are sterilised through nebulization of sterilising solution and steam. With reference to Figure 4 the first filling head 32 arranged in the opening and partial filling station 21 and the second filling head arranged in the complete filling and welding station 22 are shown.

The first filling head 32 pours inside each container 2 a greater part of the quantity of product intended to be received in said container. In a preferred version, the first filling head 32 pours a percentage inside the container 2 that is equal to 80% of the entire contents. The first filling head 32 is provided with a magnetic flow¬ meter and with a dispensing nozzle 37 that can be introduced inside the container 2, and removed therefrom by means of an actuating device 38. Figure 4 shows two different configurations that can be adopted by the dispensing nozzle 37 during operation of the apparatus 1. A first configuration, indicated by H, in which the dispensing nozzle 37 is arranged outside the container 2, and a second configuration, indicated by K, in which the dispensing nozzle 37 is arranged inside the container 2 to pour the product inside it. As the dispensing nozzle can be introduced inside the container 2, the risks of product escaping during dosing are very limited.

Consequently, the first filling head 32 can pour the product inside the container 2 at a high dispensing speed. The second filling head 33, arranged downstream of the first filling head 32, pours inside each container 2 a remaining part of the quantity of product intended to be received by the container. In a preferred version, the second filling head 33 pours a percentage inside the container 2 that is equal to 20% of the entire contents.

The second filling head 33 is provided with a volumetric batcher driven by a linear motor 40, this volumetric batcher comprising a chamber inside which piston means is movable which is controlled by the linear motor 40. The second filling head 33 pours the product inside the container 2 at reduced dispensing speed to prevent product escaping.

The second filling head 33 is provided with a conduit 75 for injecting steam, or nitrogen, for cleaning the dispensing nozzle 37 and for eliminating the air in the head space of the containers 2 before sealing the latter.

A drive and control logic unit is also provided which by acting on the linear motor 40 controls the stroke performed by the piston so as to compensate for possible dosing errors made by the first filling head 32.

The magnetic flow-meter in fact reports to the drive and control unit whether the quantity of product dosed by it differs from a required nominal amount, the value of which is set beforehand.

Furthermore, the drive and control unit can control the linear motor in such a way as to vary the advancing speed of the piston in relation to the properties of the product to be dosed. For very fluid products, and which are therefore provided with a great tendency to produce spurts or drops, it is advisable to select rather a moderate piston advancing speed. By contrast, rather a high piston advancing speed can be used for dense products.

The apparatus 1 is thus provided with significant dosing precision.

The apparatus 1 is furthermore provided with great efficiency as the first filling head carries out dosing of a significant quantity of product at high speed, whilst the second filling head pours only a limited quantity of product inside the container at reduced dispensing speed. Furthermore, the risks of spurts, or drops, of product escaping from the container are limited or even eliminated. With reference to Figures 6 and 9, the carriages 25 and the driving means 41 of the latter are shown in greater detail. The driving means 41 comprises a motor 42 provided with a shaft 43 on which gear wheels 44 are splined that engage rack 45 portions which are fixed to the carriages 25.

The motor 42 can be a direct-current synchronous motor arranged for controlling the transferring speed of the carriages 25.

The direct-current synchronous motor can be controlled in such a way that the carriages 25 perform a first part of the forward stroke with a uniformly accelerated motion, a second part of the forward stroke at a substantially constant speed, and a third, and last, part of the forward stroke with uniformly decelerated motion.

It has been observed that in such a way during moving of the carriages 25 the product contained inside the containers 2 generates a wave of limited size, and does not escape from the containers 2.

Still with reference to Figures 6 and 9, the conveyor 29 is shown in greater detail, which comprises a first belt 46 arranged for interacting with a bottom zone 91 of the containers 2, a second belt 47 and a third belt 48 each arranged for interacting with a side wall 92, 93 of the container 2.

The first belt 46 is supported and driven by first roller means 49, whilst the second belt 47 and the third belt 48 are supported and driven, respectively, by second roller means 50 and by third roller means 51.

Guiding means 52 is furthermore provided that is arranged for driving the conveyor 29.

The guiding means 52 comprises a further motor 53 provided with a further shaft 54 that drives, through transmission members that are not shown, the first roller means 49.

On the further shaft 54 a first bevel gear 55 is splined that engages a further bevel gear 56 that rotates a gear wheel 57. The gear wheel 57, then, drives a further gear wheel 58, that rotates the second roller means 50, and a still further gear wheel 59, that rotates the third roller means 51. The guiding means 52 synchronously rotates the first belt 46, the second belt 47 and the third belt 48.

The further motor 53 can be a direct-current synchronous motor similar to the one used to move the carriages 25. the first roller means 49, the second roller means 50 and the third roller means 51 are thus rotated in a synchronised manner with the advancing of the carriages 25.

In this way, the containers 2, as they move through the operating stations, are hung on the carriages 25, supported below by the first belt 46 and supported laterally by the second belt 47 and by the third belt 48, the first belt 46, the second belt 47 and the third belt 48 advancing at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the carriages 25. Consequently, the containers 2, as they move through the operating stations, are not subjected to tensions that could jeopardise the wholeness thereof. With reference to Figures 7 and 8 tensioning means 60 is shown that is arranged in the complete filling and welding station 22 and is suitable for tensioning an upper edge 61, shown in Figure 5, of the containers 2, at which opposite zones of the films 5 have to be welded together to seal the containers 2.

The tensioning means 60 comprises a first tensioning roller 62, rotatable by first motor means 64, and a second tensioning roller 63, rotatable by second motor means 65. The tensioning means 60 furthermore comprises pneumatic cylinder means 66 arranged for moving the first tensioning roller 62 and the second tensioning roller 63 towards and away from one another.

The tensioning means 60 furthermore comprises a first locking element 67 and a second locking element 68 and further pneumatic cylinder means 69 arranged for moving the first locking element 67 and the second locking element 68 towards and away from one another.

In the complete filling and welding station 22 welding means

70 is furthermore provided which is arranged for welding opposite zones of the film 5 for sealing the containers 2.

The welding means 70 comprises a first welding bar 71 and a second welding bar 72 driven to move towards and away from one another by still further pneumatic cylinder means 73.

The first welding bar 71 and the second welding bar 72 comprise two heat-sealing units provided with electric resistances, temperature controlling means and polytetrafluorethylene tapes 74 for protecting the welding surface.

During operation, the further pneumatic cylinder means 73 makes the first locking element 67 abut on the second locking element 68, in such a way that an end 76 (shown in

Figure 5) of the upper edge 61 is clamped between the first locking element 67 and the second locking element 68.

The pneumatic cylinder means 66 makes the first tensioning roller 62 and the second tensioning roller 63 interact with a further end 77 (shown in Figure 5) of the upper edge 61, opposite the end 76.

Subsequently, the first motor means 64 and the second motor means 65 rotate the first tensioning roller 62 and the second tensioning roller 63, respectively, which move the further end 77 away from the end 76, tensioning the upper edge 61.

Still subsequently the still further pneumatic cylinder means 73 makes the first welding bar 71 abut on the second welding bar 72, in such a way as to make sealing welds 90

(Figures 16 and 17) in the tubular element 3 for sealing the containers 2.

The tensioning means 60 enables the formation of wrinkles, or folds, at the upper edge 61 to be avoided, such wrinkles, or folds, can cause imperfect welding of the films 5 and consequently, undesired escapes of product from the containers 2.

With reference to Figure 15, the welding device 78 is shown, which is arranged for making the transverse welds 83 in a tubular element 3 of the type disclosed with reference to Figure 17.

The welding device 78 comprises further welding means 79 that is structurally similar to the welding means 70, comprising a further first welding bar 80 and a further second welding bar 81 that are drivable towards and away from one another by means of pneumatic cylinder actuators 82.

The welding device 78 furthermore comprises a movable pressing element 84 cooperating with an abutting element 85 fixed to a frame of the apparatus 1 for locking the tubular element 3 during welding and cutting operations. Pneumatic driving means 86 is arranged for moving the movable pressing element towards and away from the pressing element 85. During operation, the tubular element 3 is advanced in the advancing direction F by the rollers 16 and a portion 94 thereof, intended to form a container 2, is positioned on a substantially vertical plane in the cutting station 20. Subsequently, the welding means makes in the tubular element 3 a transverse weld 83 intended to define a lower edge of a further container 2 obtained in a further portion 95 of the tubular element 3 arranged further upstream of the portion 94 with respect to the advancing direction F. Still subsequently, the cutting means 8 separates the container 2 from a remaining part of the tubular element 3, in the manner disclosed above.

As shown in Figure 17, the tubular element 3 is provided with reference means 87, 88, for example chromatic references, that are detected by suitable detecting means that are not shown with which the apparatus 1 is provided. The reference means 87, 88 comprises a plurality of reference elements, 87a, 87b, 87c and, respectively, 88a, 88b, 88c, spaced apart from one another.

The reference elements, 87a, 87b, 87c and 88a, 88b, 88c correspond to different longitudinal dimensions of the containers 2 which can be obtained from the tubular element 3.

During operation, when the detecting means has detected one of the reference elements 87a, 87b, 87c, or 88a, 88b, 88c, corresponding to a desired longitudinal dimension of the containers 2, the detecting means arrests the advancing of the tubular element 3 and controls the driving of the further welding means 79 and of the cutting means 8. The distance between the reference elements 87a, 87b 87c and, respectively 88a, 88b, 88c, can be selected on the basis of the range of longitudinal dimensions of the containers 2 that it is desired to obtain.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to obtain an extremely flexible apparatus that enables containers 2 of different dimensions to be obtained from the same tubular element 3.

The apparatus can switch from producing containers 2 having a given longitudinal dimension to containers 2 having a different longitudinal dimension with extreme simplicity, inasmuch as it is not necessary to reposition the further welding means 79, the cutting means 8 and the devices in the operating stations arranged downstream of the cutting station 20, in particular the first filling head 32 and the second filling head 33, but is sufficient to move downwards by a certain amount the moving devices of the containers (in particular, the carriages 25 and the conveyor 29) . As shown in Figure 16, the tubular element 3 can be provided with further reference means 89 which, once detected by the detecting means, enables the tubular element 3 to be positioned correctly with respect to the cutting means 8. It should be noted that Figure 16 shows schematically, in order to facilitate comprehension, both the welds 6 and the further welds 7, already present in the tubular element 3, and the sealing welds 90, which will be subsequently made in the tubular element 3 by the welding means 70 in the complete filling and welding station 22.

Similarly, Figure 17 shows schematically, in the same drawing, not only the welds 6, but also the transverse welds 83, which will be made in the tubular element 3 in the cutting station 20, and the sealing welds 90.

Claims

1. Apparatus for packaging a product in a container

(2) , comprising filling means (32, 33) arranged for introducing said product into said container (2) , characterised in that said filling means comprises first filling means (32) , arranged for introducing into said container (2) a first quantity of said product and second filling means (33) arranged for introducing into said container (2) a second quantity of said product.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and furthermore comprising indicating means arranged for comparing said first quantity with a nominal reference quantity and communicating to said second filling means (33) a difference between said first quantity and said nominal reference quantity.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and furthermore comprising adjusting means (40) arranged for varying said second quantity on the basis of the value of said difference.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said adjusting means comprises a volumetric batcher (39) drivable through a linear motor (40) .

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, and furthermore comprising controlling means arranged for controlling said linear motor (40) for controlling the dispensing rate of said product from said second filling means (33) .

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second filling means (33) dispenses said first quantity at a dispensing rate that is greater than a further dispensing rate at which said first filling means (32) dispenses said first quantity.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first quantity is greater than said second quantity.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second filling means (33) comprises a volumetric batcher (39) .

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first filling means (32) comprises dispensing nozzle means (37) movable between a rest configuration, wherein said dispensing nozzle means (37) is positioned outside said container (2) , and an operating configuration, wherein said dispensing nozzle means (37) is positioned inside said container (2) to pour said first quantity into said container (2) .

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first filling means (32) comprises a magnetic flow-meter.

11. Method for packaging a product in a container (2), comprising introducing said product into said container (2) , characterised in that said introducing comprises pouring into said container (2) a first quantity of said product and further pouring into said container (2) a second quantity of said product.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein after said pouring comparing said first quantity with a nominal reference quantity is provided for.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said further pouring comprises varying said second quantity on the basis of the value of a difference between said first quantity and said nominal reference quantity.

14. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said pouring comprises dispensing said first quantity at a dispensing rate and said further pouring comprises dispensing said second quantity at a further dispensing rate, said dispensing rate being greater than said further dispensing rate.

15. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein said first quantity is greater than said second quantity.

16. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein said further pouring comprises varying the rate at which said second quantity is introduced into said container (2) .

17. Apparatus for packaging a product in a container

(2) , said container comprising a tubular element (3) having an edge (61) at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container (2) , comprising filling means (32, 33) arranged for introducing said product into said container (2) and welding means (70) arranged for mutually welding opposite zones of said edge (61) for closing said opening, characterised in that it furthermore comprises tensioning means (60) arranged for tensioning said edge (61) before said welding means (70) interacts with said edge (61) .

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said tensioning means comprises roller means (60) arranged for interacting with an end (77) of said edge (61) .

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said roller means (60) comprises a first tensioning roller (62) , rotatable by first motor means (64), and a second tensioning roller (63), rotatable by second motor means (65) .

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tensioning means (60) furthermore comprises actuating means (66) arranged for moving said first tensioning roller (62) and said second tensioning roller (63) towards and away from one another.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein said tensioning means (60) furthermore comprises locking means (67, 68) arranged for locking a further end (76) of said edge (61) opposite said end (77) .

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said locking means comprises a first locking element (67) and a second locking element (68) .

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said tensioning means (60) comprises further actuating means (69) arranged for moving said first locking element (67) and said second locking element (68) between a locking position, wherein said first locking element (67) and said second locking element (68) interact to clamp said further end (76) , and a release position wherein said first locking element (67) is spaced away from said second locking element (68) .

24. Method for packaging a product in a container (2) , said container comprising a tubular element (3) having an edge (61) at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container (2), comprising introducing said product into said container (2) and mutually sealing opposite zones of said edge (61) for closing said opening, characterised in that before said sealing there is provided tensioning said edge (61) .

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein said tensioning comprises spacing from one another an end (77) of said edge (61) and a further end (76) of said edge (77) opposite said end (76) .

26. Method according to claim 25, wherein said spacing from one another comprises locking said further end

(76) and moving away said end (77) from said further end (76) .

27. Apparatus for packaging a product in a container

(2), said container comprising a tubular element (3) having an edge (61) at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container (2) , comprising transferring means (25) arranged for moving said container (2) between an operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) and a further operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) , characterised in that it further comprises controlling means (42) arranged for controlling the speed with which said transferring means (25) moves between said operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) and said further operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) .

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said controlling means (42) is shaped in such a way that said transferring means (25) travels a first part of a distance that separates said operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) from said further operating station with a uniformly accelerated motion, a second part of said distance at a substantially constant speed and a third part of said distance with a uniformly decelerated motion.

29. Apparatus according to claim 27, or 28, wherein said controlling means comprises electric motor means

(42) .

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said electric motor means comprises a direct-current synchronous motor (42) .

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, or 30, wherein said electric motor means (42) drives gear wheel means

(44) engaging rack means (45) fixed to said transferring means (25) .

32. Apparatus for packaging a product in a container (2), said container (2) comprising a tubular element

(3) having an edge (61) at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container, a bottom wall (91) opposite said edge (61) and a pair of side walls (92, 93) , comprising transferring means (25) arranged for moving said container (2) between an operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) and a further operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) , characterised in that it further comprises movable supporting means (39) arranged for supporting said container (2) at said bottom wall (91) and at said pair of side walls (92; 93) .

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said supporting means (39) comprises flexible supporting means (46, 47, 48) .

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said flexible supporting means comprises a first flexible supporting element (46) arranged for interacting with said bottom wall (91) , a second flexible supporting element (47) arranged for interacting with a side wall (92) of said pair of side walls and a third flexible supporting element (48) arranged for interacting with a further side wall (93) of said pair of side walls.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said first flexible supporting element, said second flexible supporting element and said third flexible supporting element comprise, respectively, a first belt (46) , a second belt (47) and a third belt (48) .

36. Apparatus according to any one of claims 32 to 35, and furthermore comprising guiding means (53) arranged for driving said supporting means (39) substantially at the same speed at which said transferring means moves said container (2) between said operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) and said further operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) .

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said guiding means comprises electric motor means (53) .

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said electric motor means comprises a direct-current synchronous motor (42) .

39. Apparatus according to claim 37, or 38, as claim 36 is appended to claim 35, wherein said electric motor means (53) controls roller means (49) arranged for driving said first belt (49) .

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said electric motor means controls, through transmitting means (55, 56, 57, 58, 59), further roller means (50) arranged for driving said second belt (47) and still further roller means (51) arranged for driving said third belt (48) .

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said transmitting means comprises a bevel wheel (55) fixed to a shaft (54) of said electric motor means (53) and engaging a further bevel wheel (56) .

42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said transmitting means furthermore comprises a gear wheel (58) driving said further roller means (50) that engages a further gear wheel (59) driving said still further roller means (51) , said gear wheel furthermore engaging a still further gear wheel (57) driven by said further bevel wheel (56) .

43. Method for packaging a product in a container (2), said container (2) comprising a tubular element (3) having an edge (61) at which an opening is defined for introducing said product into said container

(2) , a bottom wall (91) opposite said edge (61) and a pair of side walls (92, 93) , comprising moving said container (2) between an operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24) and a further operating station (20; 21; 22; 23; 24), characterised in that it further comprises supporting said container (2) at said bottom wall (91) and at said pair of side walls (92, 93) .

44. Method according to claim 43, wherein said supporting occurs during said moving.

45. Apparatus, comprising supplying means (16) arranged for advancing a tubular element (3) in an advancing direction (F) , cutting means (8) arranged for separating from said tubular element (3) a portion (94) intended to define a container (2) , characterised in that it further comprises welding means (79) arranged for mutually welding opposite zones of a further portion (95) of said tubular element (3) for defining a closed end of a further container (2) .

46. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said further portion (95) is arranged upstream of said portion (94) with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

47. Apparatus according to claim 45, or 46, and furthermore comprising detecting means arranged for detecting reference means (87; 88) associated with said tubular element (3) .

48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said detecting means is operationally connected to said supplying means (16) , for positioning said tubular element (3) with respect to said cutting means (8) , in such a way that said cutting means (8) separates from said tubular element (3) a container (2) having a preset longitudinal extent.

49. Apparatus according to any one of claims 45 to 48, wherein said welding means (79) is shaped in such a way as to make in said further portion (95) a weld (83) extending transversely with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

50. Apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said cutting means (8) is shaped in such a way as to make in said tubular element (3) a cut that separates said portion (94) from said further portion (95) , said cut being arranged downstream of said weld (83) with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

51. Apparatus according to any one of claims 45 to 50, wherein said welding means (79) comprises welding bar means (80) and further welding bar means (81) that are drivable towards and away from one another.

52. Apparatus according to any one of claims 45 to 51, and furthermore comprising positioning means (84, 85) , arranged for positioning said tubular element (3) with respect to said welding means (78) and to said cutting means (8) .

53. Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said positioning means comprises a movable pressing element (84) cooperating with an abutting element (85) fixed to a frame of said apparatus (1) .

54. Apparatus according to any one of claims 45 to 53, wherein said cutting means (8) comprises a non- rotating circular blade (18) .

55. Apparatus according to claim 54, and furthermore comprising an actuating element (19) shaped in such a way as to make said circular blade (18) interact with said tubular element (3) .

56. Method, comprising advancing a tubular element (3) in an advancing direction (F) , separating from said tubular element (3) a portion (94) intended to define a container (2) , characterised in that it further comprises welding opposite zones of a further portion (95) of said tubular element (3) for defining a closed end of a further container.

57. Method according to claim 56, wherein said further portion (95) is arranged upstream of said portion

(95) with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

58. Method according to claim 56, or 57, and furthermore comprising detecting reference means (87; 88) associated with said tubular element (3) .

59. Method according to claim 58, wherein after said detecting cutting said tubular element (3) to obtain a container (2) having a preset longitudinal extent is provided for.

60. Method according to any one of claims 56 to 59, wherein said welding comprises making in said further portion (95) a weld (83) extending transversely with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

61. Method according to claim 60, wherein said separating comprises making in said tubular element (3) a cut arranged downstream of said weld (83) with respect to said advancing direction (F) .

62. Method according to any one of claims 56 to 61, wherein said separating occurs after said welding.

63. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and/or according to any one of claims 17 to 23 and/or according to any one of claims 27 to 31 and/or according to any one of claims 32 to 42 and/or according to any one of claims 45 to 55.

64. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 and/or according to any one of claims 24 to 26 and/or according to claim 43, or 44, and/or according to any one of claims 56 to 62.