WO2024213991A1

WO2024213991A1 - Method for making packages for liquid or pasty products and the relative apparatus.

Info

Publication number: WO2024213991A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/053428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide BARACCANI; Pierluigi Castellari; Mario PALPATI
Original assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Current assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date: 2023-04-12
Filing date: 2024-04-08
Publication date: 2024-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-12
Also published as: CN120916949A; IT202300006969A1

Abstract

Described is a method for making packages containing a food product in a liquid or pasty form, said method comprising the steps of preparing a rotating member (4) which rotates about an axis (4X) of rotation and is provided with a plurality of forming mandrels (5) comprising a first (5a) and a second (5b) forming element which are opposite each other and movable in such a way as to change their mutual distance (D); coupling the single sheet (3) to the forming mandrel (5); folding the single sheet (3) around the forming mandrel (5), in such a way as to form a first (3a) and a second (3d) opposite front wall, a first (3c) and second (3d) side wall and a bottom wall (3f), thereby obtaining a cup-shaped container (C) having an inner cavity; transferring, by means of a transporting device (7), the cup- shaped container (C) to a filling station (8); filling in the filling station (8) the cup-shaped container (C) dosing a predetermined volume of food product inside the cavity, closing the container (C) obtaining a package (C1); measuring the weight of the package (C1) and checking whether the measured weight of the package conforms to a desired weight, and when the measured weight of the package (C1) does not comply with the desired weight; carrying out an adjustment of the volume of food product to dispense so as to re-establish the desired weight; and carrying out an adjustment of the distance (D) between the first (5a) and the second (5b) forming element, in such a way as to modify the volume of the cup-shaped container C in accordance with the modified volume of food product to be dosed in the inner cavity of the container C.

Description

DESCRIPTION

METHOD FOR MAKING PACKAGES FOR LIQUID OR PASTY PRODUCTS AND THE RELATIVE APPARATUS

Technical field

This invention relates to a machine for making packages with a prismatic shape containing liquid or pasty products, in particular of the food type.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for making the above- mentioned packages with a prismatic shape for liquid or pasty products, in particular of the food type.

Background art

In this description, reference is made for liquid or pasty products to products which can be fed into the package by a nozzle, both when cold and when hot, such as, for example, consisting of processed cheese, butter, chocolate, marmalade, etc.

This type of package is currently obtained in various sizes, such as, for example, a parallelepiped shaped package or a triangular prismatic package.

This type of package may be made with a single sheet suitably shaped and provided with a series of creases in order to guarantee a correct folding of the sheet to achieve the required tubular shape and in such a way as to be able to perform its filling with the food product and the relative sealing.

The following steps are performed to obtain these packages (of any prismatic shape):

- feeding a continuous film;

- cutting the continuous film to form a plurality of single sheets on each of which creasing lines are made which are designed to form folding lines for forming a container; - coupling a single sheet to a forming mandrel forming part of a plurality of forming mandrels positioned on a rotating member;

- folding the single sheet about the forming mandrel using a series of folding devices configured to wrap the single sheet on the forming mandrel, folding it along the creasing lines, in such a way as to create at least a bottom wall and side walls;

- making a container from the single sheet folded on the forming mandrel, in such a way that the container has an access opening opposite the bottom wall.

At this point, the open container is extracted from the mandrel and positioned on a transport unit configured for carrying the container towards a station for filling the food product, where said product is dosed in the cavity of the open container.

After filling, the container is closed by final sealing of the access opening in a relative closing station.

The finished package is then subjected, for example in a random fashion, to a control weighing to check the correct dosing of the product.

Currently, if the weighing of the formed package does not satisfy the specifications, in addition to the possible rejection of the product, it is necessary to make adjustments to the dosing of the product in order to comply with the specifications.

The weight deviations in the single packages can be frequent especially in the case of a change of batch of product (or with different products), since each batch of products has or could have a different density, with a consequent different weight under equal conditions of volume of dosing of product.

This factor may therefore lead to the need to reduce the volume, if the density increases, or to increase the volume, if the density decreases, so as to keep constant the weight of the packages obtained.

This variation in volume, required by the fact that the weight of the dosed product is kept constant, in turn has several drawbacks, if the same package is used:

- a reduction in the volume occupied by the product in the package, with relative formation of empty zones inside the package and consequent presence of air in the package which reduces the duration of the integrity of the product;

- an increase in the volume occupied by the product in the package, with relative escape of the product from the package and consequent presence of product in the sealing zones which therefore reduces the quality of the sealing with possible contact of the product with the outside of the package.

Aim of the invention

The aim of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for making packages for liquid or pasty products, in particular food products, which overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for making packages for liquid or pasty products which is able to maintain a high productivity in reduced operating times irrespective of the variation in the volume of product dosed.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for making packages for liquid or pasty products which are able to adapt the package in a precise fashion to the volume of dosed product without affecting the structure of the apparatus and maintaining a high final quality of the package.

Said aims are fully achieved by the method and by the apparatus for making packages package for liquid or pasty products according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The features of the solution according to the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of an apparatus for making packages filled with liquid or pasty products according to this invention;

- Figure 2 is a top view of a detail of two stations forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1 for forming creases and for separating single sheets from a continuous film;

- Figure 2a illustrates a single sheet modified in the creases with respect to that shown in Figure 2 according to the method and the apparatus according to this invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rotating member provided with forming mandrels forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of two different annular frames for supporting forming elements defining the forming mandrels of the rotating member of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the rotating member;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of an enlarged detail of a part of the forming mandrels;

- Figures 7 and 8 show two different perspective views of the final package obtained with the apparatus and method according to this invention;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a detail of a drawer for housing the packages forming part of a transporting element of the apparatus according to the invention;

- Figure 10 shows an exploded perspective view of a part of the components of the housing drawer of Figure 9;

- Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a perspective view, in a linear direction, of the sequence for forming the container about a mandrel forming part of a rotating member of the apparatus;

- Figure 13 shows the container at the outfeed from the mandrel.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figure 1 , the method and the apparatus according to the invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, are used for making packages with a food product in a liquid or pasty form (for example, but without limiting the scope of the invention, food products such as processed cheese, butter, chocolate, jams, etc.).

Figure 2 illustrates a continuous strip of film 1 on which are obtained creases and cuts to then obtain a single sheet 3 with which it is possible to obtain a package C1 with a parallelepiped shape provided with a first 3a and a second 3b front wall opposite and equal in size, a first 3c and second 3d side wall opposite and equal in size, a bottom wall 3f and a top wall 3e opposite and equal in size.

An alternative embodiment (not illustrated) to that described above comprises the possibility of using preformed sheets or blanks picked up from a storage unit in place of the single sheets cut from a continuous film, without thereby limiting the scope of protection of the invention. As illustrated, the method for making packages containing a food product in liquid or pasty form comprises the following steps (Figure 1 ).

Feeding a continuous film 1 .

Preparing a cutting station 2 in which to cut the continuous film 1 to form a plurality of single sheets 3.

Alternatively (not illustrated), there may be steps of:

- preparing a storage unit of preformed blanks;

- feeding a single blank.

Preparing a rotating member 4 which rotates about an axis 4X of rotation (preferably with alternating or step-like movement) provided with a plurality of forming mandrels 5 along its circumference.

According to an embodiment, each forming mandrel 5 comprises a first forming element 5a and a second forming element 5b facing each other.

Each forming element 5a and 5b has a prismatic shape and extends radially relative to the axis of rotation 4X.

Advantageously, at least one between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element is movable in such a way as to change the reciprocal distance D between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element of each forming mandrel 5 of the rotating member 4.

Coupling the single sheet 3 to a forming mandrel 5 of the plurality of forming mandrels in a first angular receiving position.

Folding and partially sealing the single sheet 3 around the forming mandrel 5 by wrapping the single sheet 3 in a tight manner on the forming mandrel 5, so as to form a first 3a and a second 3b front walls opposite to each other, a first 3c and second 3d side walls opposite to each other and a bottom wall 3f, thereby obtaining with the single sheet 3 a cup shaped container C having an open end opposite the bottom wall 3f and an internal cavity.

Advantageously, the folding is carried out using a plurality of folding devices 6a-6i positioned along a circular path passed by the forming mandrels 5, and interacting with each forming mandrel 5.

Obviously, during the folding on the forming mandrels 5 a sealing is also performed on the bottom wall and at least on one of the side walls.

Transferring, using a transporting device 7, the cup-shaped container C from the forming mandrel 5 from the rotating member 4 to a filling station 8. The transfer device receives the cup-shaped containers C, in a second angular releasing position, different from the first angular receiving position.

Filling, in the filling station 8, the cup-shaped container C dosing a predetermined volume of food product into the inner cavity, whilst keeping the open end arranged upwards.

After filling, the cup-shaped container C filled with the predetermined volume of food product is closed by closing the top wall 3e to obtain the package C1 (see Figures 7 and 8).

Preferably, said package C1 is hermetically sealed.

Lastly, a measurement of the weight of the package C1 is performed and it is checked whether the measured weight matches a desired weight.

If the measured weight of the package C1 does not conform with the desired weight, an adjustment is carried out:

- of the volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container C at the filling station, so as to re-establish the desired weight, and

- of the distance D between the first forming element 5a and its opposite second forming element 5b of each forming mandrel 5 of the rotating member 4, in such a way as to modify the volume of the cup-shaped container C to be formed on each forming mandrel 5, in accordance with the modified volume of food product to be dosed in the inner cavity of the container C.

Preferably, the size (in the direction of surface circumscribed by a fixed perimeter) of the single sheets 3 cut in the cutting station 2 remains unchanged even when the volume of the cup-shaped container C to be formed on each forming mandrel 5 is modified.

In other words, with this method it is possible to obtain a modification of the internal volume of the containers C to be formed without affecting the size of the sheet.

Checking the weight of the filled package C1 allows correction, if necessary, of the dosed volume and consequently of the formation of the container C, that is to say, modification of the useful volume inside the package, but without having to modify the size of the sheet used.

It should be noted that the step of adjusting the distance D between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element of each forming mandrel 5 varies the size of the first 3c and second 3d opposite side walls and of the bottom wall 3f, whilst leaving unchanged the dimensions and the shape of the first 3a and second 3b front walls, so as to modify only the width of the container C to be formed (see also Figure 2a).

The method also comprises the steps of preparing a creasing station 9 to form creasing lines on each single sheet 1 using creasing members 10, in such a way that the folding of the single sheet 1 about the forming mandrel 5 occurs along the creasing lines. The creasing station 9 is shown schematically in Figure 2, however this creasing station 9 may comprise several creasing units, each for a group of creases to be carried out on the sheet 1 .

If the dosed volume is modified to restore the desired weight, the creasing members 10 of the creasing station 9 are adjusted, in such a way as to adjust the distance between the creasing lines as a function of the modified volume.

In light of this, the step of adjusting the creasing members 10 is performed in such a way as to modify the position of the creasing lines which define the size of the first 3c and second 3d opposite side walls and of the bottom wall 3f, in such a way as to leave unchanged the size and shape of the first 3a and second 3b front walls.

In other words, in addition to modifying the distance between the forming elements of the rotating member, a modification is made of the position of a part of the creasing lines of the sheet (without modifying the perimeter of the sheet) so as to be able to adapt the side, bottom and top walls of the sheet to the variation of the distance between the two forming elements.

As illustrated, the step of adjusting the distance between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element of each forming mandrel 5 is performed automatically by means of a central control unit 11 which acquires the measurement of the weight of the package C1 .

In light of this, the step of adjusting the creasing units 10 is performed automatically using the central control unit 11 .

This invention provides an apparatus 100 for making packages containing a food product in liquid or pasty form.

The apparatus 100 comprises a feed station 12 configured for feeding a continuous film 1 (illustrated as a block in Figure 1).

The apparatus 100 also comprises a cutting station 2 configured for obtaining single sheets 3 from the continuous film 1 fed by the feed station 12. Preferably, the single sheets are of the same size.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a rotating member 4 configured to rotate about an axis 4X of rotation and provided with a plurality of forming mandrels 5 positioned circumferentially and protruding radially.

Each forming mandrel 5 is configured to receive, from the cutting station, a single sheet 3 in the flat configuration, in a first angular receiving position (in this case the first position is at 8 o'clock relative to the circular path of the rotating member 4).

Each forming mandrel 5 comprises at least a first forming element 5a and a second forming element 5b facing each other.

As illustrated, there are adjusting means 20, described in more detail below, configured for moving at least one between the first 5a and second 5b forming element, in such a way as to change the mutual distance D between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element of each forming mandrel 5 of the rotating member 4.

The first forming element 5a and the second forming element 5b can be moved simultaneously or individually.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a plurality of folding devices 6a-6i positioned along a circular path passed along by the forming mandrels 5, and interacting with each forming mandrel 5, in such a way as to wrap in a tight manner the single sheet 3 on the respective forming mandrel 5, forming respective pairs of side walls 3c, 3d and front walls 3a, 3b opposite each other and a bottom wall 3f, so as to obtain with the single sheet 3 a cup-shaped container C having an open end opposite the bottom wall 3f and an inner cavity (in Figure 1 the folding devices are illustrated schematically with respective blocks, whilst the steps of folding the sheet are illustrated in Figures 11 and 13).

The folding devices may in turn also integrate a sealing function for sealing the bottom wall and at least one side wall. Alternatively, there may be autonomous sealing devices.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a transporting device 7.

The transporting device 7 is configured to receive the cup-shaped containers C formed on the forming mandrels 5. The passage of the cup-shaped container C from the rotating member 4 to the transporting device 7 occurs in a second angular releasing position, different from the first angular receiving position (in this case the second position is that at 6 o’clock relative to the circular path of the rotating member 4).

The device 7 moves the containers towards, in succession:

- a filling station 8 configured to dispense a predefined volume of food product into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container C; and to

- a sealing station 13 configured to seal the cup shaped container C filled with the predefined volume of food by closing a top wall 3e, opposite the bottom wall 3f, obtaining a package C1 (see Figures 7 and 8).

The sealing station 13 is shown schematically in Figure 1 , however this sealing station 13 may comprise several folding and sealing units for closing the top wall 3e.

The apparatus 100 also comprises a weighing station 14 configured for weighing the package C1 .

Moreover, the apparatus 100 comprises a command and control unit 11 configured for checking whether the weight of the package C measured in the weighing station 14 conforms to a desired weight.

The control and command unit 11 is connected at least to the filling station 8 and to the adjustment unit 20 and is configured to command an adjustment of the predefined volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container C when the measured weight of the package C1 does not comply with the desired weight, so as to reestablish the desired weight for the subsequent packages C1 .

The command and control unit 11 is configured to control the adjustment unit 20 for adjusting the distance D between the first 5a and the second 5b forming elements of each forming mandrel 5 of the rotating member 4, in such a way as to modify the volume of the cup-shaped container C to be formed on each forming mandrel 5, in accordance with the volume of food product to be dosed in the inner cavity of the container C. Preferably, the size of the pair of front walls 3a, 3b remains unchanged.

It should be noted that the apparatus 100 also comprises a creasing station 9 configured to form creasing lines on each single sheet 3 using creasing members 10 (illustrated schematically), in such a way that the folding of the single sheet 3 about the forming mandrel 5 occurs along these creasing lines.

In light of this, the command and control unit 11 is also connected to the creasing station 9.

It should be noted that the command and control unit 11 is configured to send a command to the creasing station 9, if the volume of dosed food product is adjusted to re-establish the desired weight, in such a way as to modify the position of the creasing lines which define the size and shape of the opposite first and second side walls 3c, and 3d and of the bottom wall 3f, in such a way as to leave unchanged the size and shape of the pair of front walls 3a, 3b.

In this way, the creased sheet 3, maintaining the same size and shape, has creases positioned so as to be able to adapt correctly to the new distance D of the two forming elements 5a and 5b.

The station 12 for feeding continuous film, the creasing station 9 (and related creasing members 10) and the cutting station 2 of the single sheets 3 are located one after the other upstream of the rotating member 4 and are illustrated schematically in Figures 1 and 2.

As illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, the rotating member 4 comprises a first annular frame 15 having a plurality of first forming elements 5a (parallelepiped in shape) protruding radially from the first annular frame 15.

The rotating member 4 comprises a second annular frame 16 having a plurality of second forming elements 5b (parallelepiped in shape) protruding radially from the second annular frame 16.

The first 15 and the second 16 annular frames face each other (in such a way that pairs of first and second forming elements 5a and 5b forming a mandrel 5 coincide) and are rotated about the axis 4x of rotation by a motor (not shown) by means of a cylinder 29.

As illustrated, there are means 20 for axial adjustment of the first 15 and second 16 annular frame.

The adjustment unit 20 comprises cam means acting on respective flanges 17, 18 of the first and second annular frames 15 and 16 and configured for moving the first and second annular frames 15, and 16 towards or away from each other in such a way as to adjust the distance D between the first 5a and second 5b forming elements defining the plurality of forming mandrels 5.

In light of this, the cam means comprise a first rod 21 associated, at one end of it, with the flange 17 of the first annular frame 15.

The cam means comprise a second rod 22 associated, at one end, with the flange 18 of the second annular frame 16.

The first 21 and second 22 rods are provided, at their free ends, with a respective first 23 and second 24 cam follower slide engaged on a respective helical cam profile 25 extending around a cylindrical body 26.

The first slide 23 of the first rod 21 and the second slide 24 of the second rod 22 are configured to move the respective first rod 21 and second rod 22 along opposite directions, when the cam profiles 25 rotate, in such a way as to allow the first annular frame 15 and the second annular frame 16 to move towards or away from each other.

In other words, the control unit 11 , if the predetermined volume of food product to be dosed is modified, activates the rotation (clockwise or anticlockwise) of the cylindrical body 26 to obtain a relative translation of the first slide 23 and the second slide 24 in such a way as to allow a moving away or towards of the first and second annular frames 15 and 16. The control unit 11 also activates the movement of the creasing members 10 in the creasing station 9, in such a way as to adapt a series of creasing members 10 parallel to reference axes X2 and Y (relative to the extension of the single sheet 3 - see Figures 2 and 2a) for modifying the dimensions of the surfaces which will then form the side walls 3c, 3d, the bottom wall 3f and the head 3e of the package C1 . This will allow a wrapping with correct adherence of the sheet 3 on the forming elements 5a and 5b.

As illustrated in Figure 3, there is a plurality of valve means 27 uniformly arranged, fixed to an arcuate support 30, along the circular path passed along by the forming mandrels 5 and close to the folding/sealing stations 6a-6i.

Each valve unit 27 is configured to activate, when required, a generation of a negative fluid pressure at the first 5a and second 5b forming element in such a way as to obtain an adhesion at least of the portions of sheet defining the pair of front walls 3a, 3b of the container C to corresponding outer surfaces of the first 5a and second 5b forming elements.

Each forming element 5a, 5b is provided with labyrinth-like grooves 31 on the respective outer surfaces to allow the passage of the suction flow for a correct adherence of the front walls 3a, 3b of the sheet 3 in such a way as to allow a precise and correct folding of the remaining walls of the sheet 3. In light of this, at least one of the plurality of valve units 27 is positioned close to the second angular position for releasing the container C from the forming mandrels 5 and is configured for reversing the direction of flow from suction of fluid to emission of fluid or to interrupt the suction of fluid, to allow an expulsion of the container C from the forming mandrels 5 towards the transporting device 7.

It should be noted that at least one between the first 5a and the second 5b forming element is provided with a holding gripper member 28 configured at least to retain, on the forming mandrel 5, a portion of the single sheet 3. The holding gripper member 28 is movable between a position close to the first 5a and/or to the second 5b forming element for retaining the portion of single sheet 3 in contact with the forming mandrel 5, and a position away from the first 5a and/or the second 5b forming element, respectively at the first angular receiving position to allow the entrance of the single sheet 3 in the flat configuration, and at the second angular position to allow the release of the container C.

The holding gripper member 28 is actuated by a shaft 19 rotated in such a way as to move each holding gripper member 28 from the near position to the far position and vice versa as a function of the angular position reached by the mandrel 5.

As illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the transporting device 7 (for example, a belt closed in a loop around a pair of pulleys or a series of independent carriages moved on a closed-loop guide system) comprises a plurality of drawers 40, each for receiving a container C formed by the forming mandrels 5 of the rotating member 4.

Each drawer 40 is formed by a first half part 41 and a second half part 42 which are independent of each other and together form the seat 43 for receiving the container C.

The shape of the two half-parts 41 and 42 forms, as a whole, an open-top parallelepiped lining.

Each first 41 and second 42 half-part is associated with a respective rod 44 and 45 connected to adjustment means 46 configured for changing the distance D40 between the first 41 and second 42 half-parts.

In turn, the adjustment means 46 are connected to the control unit 11 in such a way as to allow a modification of a volume inside the receiving seat 43 in accordance with the modified volume of food product to be dosed in the inner cavity of the container C.

By way of a non-limiting example, the adjustment means 46 comprise, for each rod 44 and 45, a thrust spring 47-48 compressed along the respective rod 44 and 45 by contact surfaces 49 and 50 and a respective toothed sector 51 , 52 associated directly in the vicinity of the free end of the respective rod 44, 45 and mobile with the respective rod 44-45.

For example, the spring 47 is compressed by two contact surfaces 49 and 50 fitted along the rod 44, whilst the spring 48 is compressed by a contact surface 49 fitted on the rod 48 and by a contact surface 50 formed by a plate housed in the supporting body (visible in Figure 9, but not indicated) of the container supporting unit 40.

Between the two rods 44 and 45 there is interposed a rotary shaft 53 positioned perpendicular to the rods 44 and 45 and provided with a ring having complementary toothed sectors 54 and 55 opposite each other and designed to mesh in the respective toothed sectors 51 and 52 of the rods 44 and 45.

The rotary shaft 53 in turn has a lever 56, keyed at the end furthest from the ring with toothed sectors 54 and 55.

The lever 56 is provided with a contact roller 57, for example, on a contact guide (not illustrated).

The position of the drawer 40 is therefore given by the contact of the roller 57 on the guide which, by meshing the pairs of toothed sectors 51 , 52 with 54 and 55 counterbalances the thrust of the springs 47 and 48 on the rods

44 and 45.

The variation in the volume of the seat 43 may only occur in a stretch of the path of the transporting device 7, for example in a specific position such as the zone for transferring the package C between the forming head 4 and the transporting device 7.

This adjustment of the volume of the seat 43 is activated by the control unit 11.

The control unit 11 activates a drive unit 59 connected to a translation device 58 (both illustrated as a block in Figure 10) of the contact guide with the roller 57.

The translation of the device 58 moves the guide of the roller 57 and, therefore, also the lever 56, until reaching the desired height D40.

After reaching this new size of the seat 43 the device 58 stops and returns to keeping constant this new position of the guide where the roller 57 slides.

This adjustment movement causes an axial translation of the rods 44 and

45 (in opposite directions from each other) thanks to the meshing between the toothed sectors in such a way as to modify the distance D40 between the two half-parts 41 and 42.

Figure 9 also shows, with a dashed line, an actuator 60 which, after filling the container C with the dose of product, is positioned along the feed line of the drawer 40 and acts on at least one of the front walls of the container C (thanks to a special structure of at least one of the half-parts 41 and 42 of the drawer 40).

The actuator 60 generates a temporary thrust on the filled container C in order to obtain an optimum distribution of the product inside the container C before the final sealing such as to allow a regular profile of the upper surface of the product inside the container so as to prevent any empty spaces with the presence of air, once the top wall 3e of the container C is sealed.

The method and the apparatus described therefore achieve the preset aims thanks to a structure which is simple but able to modify/adapt the volume of the package as a function of the density of the product to be packaged.

Thanks to the possibility of adapting the distances of the forming elements it is possible to obtain, in a precise fashion, a modification of the volume of the package.

Moreover, it is possible to modify, automatically and without substituting devices, the creases of the sheet upstream of the rotating member without modifying the perimeter and, therefore, the overall surface of the sheet. This makes it possible to obtain packages having different widths, but larger side walls with equal areas.

Claims

1. Method for making packages containing a liquid or pasty food product, said method comprising the following steps:

- providing a rotating member (4) which rotates around a rotation axis (4X) and which is provided with a plurality of forming mandrels (5) arranged circumferentially and protruding radially;

- coupling a single sheet (3) to a forming mandrel (5) of the plurality of forming mandrels;

- folding and partially sealing the single sheet (3) around the forming mandrel (5) by wrapping the single sheet (3) in a tight manner on the forming mandrel (5), so as to form a first (3a) and a second (3b) front wall opposite to each other, a first (3c) and second (3d) side wall opposite to each other and a bottom wall (3f), thereby obtaining with the single sheet (3) a cup shaped container (C) having an open end opposite the bottom wall (3f) and an internal cavity;

- transferring, by means of a transporting device (7), the cup shaped container (C) from the forming mandrel (5) to a filling station (8);

- filling at the filling station (8) the cup shaped container (C) by dispensing a predefined volume of food product into the internal cavity, while keeping said open end arranged upwards; and subsequently,

- sealing said cup shaped container (C) filled with the predefined volume of food product by closing a top wall (3e), opposite the bottom wall (3f), obtaining a closed package (C1 );

- measuring the weight of the package (C1 ) and checking whether the measured weight complies with a desired weight, and when the measured weight of the package (C1 ) does not comply with the desired weight:

- adjusting the predefined volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container (C) at the filling station (8), so as to re-establish the desired weight, and

- adjusting the distance (D) between a first (5a) forming element and an opposite second (5b) forming element of each forming mandrel (5) of the rotating member (4), so as to modify the volume of the cup shaped container (C) to be formed on each forming mandrel (5) according to the modified volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the container (C).

2. Method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of:

- feeding a continuous film (1 );

- at a cutting station (2), obtaining from the continuous film (1 ) a plurality of the single sheets (3) to be coupled to the forming mandrels (5) of the rotating member (4).

3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of:

- leaving unchanged the size of said single sheets (3) obtained at the cutting station (2), even when the distance (D) between the first (5a) forming element and the opposite second (5b) forming element has been adjusted.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package (C1 ) has a parallelepiped shape with the first (3a) and second (3b) front wall of equal size, and the first (3c) and second (3d) side wall and the bottom wall (3f) and top wall (3e) of equal size, wherein the first (3a) and second (3b) front wall do not change the size even when the predefined volume of food product dispensed into the internal cavity of the container (C) and the distance (D) between the first (5a) and second (5b) forming elements are adjusted.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of adjusting the distance (D) between the first (5a) and the second (5b) forming element of each forming mandrel (5) varies the size of the first (3c) and second (3d) opposite side walls and of the bottom wall (3f), while leaving the size and shape of the first (3a) and second (3b) front walls unchanged, so as to change only the width of the container (C) to be formed.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of: - providing, upstream the rotating member (4), a creasing station (9) to form creasing lines on each single sheet (3) by means of creasing members (10), so that folding the single sheet (3) all around the forming mandrel (5) takes place along said creasing lines; and when the dispensed volume is adjusted to re-establish the desired weight:

- adjusting the creasing members (10) of the creasing station (9), so as to adjust the distance between the creasing lines according to the adjusted volume.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment step of the creasing members (10) is carried out by modifying the position of the creasing lines which define the size of the first (3c) and second (3d) opposite side walls and of the bottom (3f) wall, while keeping the size and shape of the first (3a) and second (3b) front walls unchanged.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of adjusting the distance between the first (5a) and the second (5b) forming element of each forming mandrel (5) is carried out automatically by means of a central control unit (11 ) which acquires measures of the weight of the packages (C1 ).

9. Apparatus for making packages containing a liquid or pasty food product, said apparatus comprising:

- a rotating member (4) configured to rotate around a rotation axis (4X) and provided with a plurality of forming mandrels (5) arranged circumferentially and protruding radially, each forming mandrel (5) being configured to receive a single sheet (3) in a flat configuration at a first angular receiving position;

- a plurality of folding devices (6a-6i) arranged along a circular path which is travelled by the forming mandrels (5), and interacting with each forming mandrel (5), so as to wrap the single sheet (3) in a tight manner on the respective forming mandrel (5), forming respective pairs of side walls (3c, 3d) and front walls (3a, 3b) opposite to each other, and a bottom wall (3f), obtaining with the single sheet (3) a cup shaped container (C) having an open end opposite the bottom wall (3f) and an internal cavity;

- a transporting device (7) configured to receive, in a second angular releasing position, different from the first angular receiving position, the cup shaped containers (C) formed on the forming mandrels (5) and to move them to:

- a filling station (8) configured to dispense a predefined volume of food product into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container (C); and to

- a sealing station (13) configured to seal the cup shaped container (C) filled with the predefined volume of food by closing a top wall (3e), opposite the bottom wall (3f), obtaining a closed package (C1 ); characterised in that each forming mandrel (5) comprises a first (5a) forming element and a second (5b) forming element facing each other; and in that said apparatus further comprising:

- an adjustment unit (20) configured to move at least one of said first (5a) and second (5b) forming elements so as to change the distance (D) between the first (5a) and the second (5b) forming elements of each forming mandrel (5) of the rotating member (4);

- a weighing station (14) configured to weigh the package (C1 );

- a control and command unit (11 ) configured to check whether the weight of the package (C1 ) measured by the weighing station (14) complies with a desired weight, and connected to at least the filling station (8) and to the adjustment unit (20), and further configured to command an adjustment of the predefined volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the cup shaped container (C), when the measured weight of the package (C1 ) does not comply with the desired weight, so as to reestablish the desired weight for the subsequent filled packages, and further configured to command the adjustment unit (20) to adjust the distance (D) between the first (5a) and second (5b) forming elements of each forming mandrel (5) of the rotating member (4), in order to modify the volume of the cup shaped container (C) to be formed on each forming mandrel (5) according to the modified volume of food product to dispense into the internal cavity of the container (C).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a feeding station (12) configured to feed a continuous film (1 ), and a cutting station (2) configured to cut the continuous film (1 ) obtaining the single sheets (3) to be received by the forming mandrels (5) of the rotating member (4).

11 . Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the adjustment of the distance (D) between the first (5a) and the second (5b) forming elements of each forming mandrel (5) defines a change in size of the pairs of the opposite side walls (3c, 3d) and of the bottom wall (3f) while keeping the pairs of the opposite front walls (3a, 3b) unchanged in size and shape.

12. Apparatus according to any of the claims 9 to 11 , further comprising a creasing station (9) configured to form creasing lines on each single sheet (3) by means of creasing members (10), wherein the control and command unit (11 ) is further connected with said creasing station (9), the control and command unit (11 ) being configured to send a command to the creasing station (9), when the volume of the dispensed food product is adjusted to re-establish the desired weight, so as to modify the position of the creasing lines that define the size of the pairs of the opposite side walls (3c, 3d) and of the bottom wall (3f), so as to keep the size and shape of the pairs of the opposite front walls (3a, 3b) unchanged.

13. Apparatus according to any of the claims 9 to 12, wherein the rotating member (4) comprises a first annular frame (15) having a plurality of said first forming elements (5a) radially protruding from the first annular frame (15), and a second annular frame (16) having a plurality of said second forming elements (5b) radially protruding fromo the second annular frame (16), said first (15) and second (16) annular frames facing each other and being configured to be rotated around the rotation axis (4X).

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein said adjustment unit (20) comprises cam means acting on respective flanges (17, 18) of the first (15) and second (16) annular frames, and configured to bring the first (15) and second (16) annular frames closer or further away from each other, in order to adjust the distance (D) between the first (5a) and second (5b) forming elements.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein each forming element (5a, 5b) is provided with grooves (31 ) on respective surfaces to allow passage of a suction flow to suck the pairs of front walls (3a, 3b) of the sheet (3), in order to allow a precise and correct bending of the remaining walls of the sheet (3).

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 15, further comprising a plurality of valve members (27) uniformly arranged, fixed, along a circular path travelled by the forming mandrels (5) and in the vicinity of the folding devices (6a-6i); each valve member (27) being configured to activate, when required, a fluid vacuum source in correspondence with the first (5a) and second (5b) forming element, so as to obtain an adhesion of at least portions of the sheet defining the pairs of front walls (3a, 3b) of the container (C) against corresponding outer surfaces of the first (5a) and second (5b) forming elements.

17. Apparatus according to any of the claims 9 to 16, wherein at least one between the first (5a) forming element and the second (5b) forming element is provided with a holding gripper member (28) configured to keep at least a portion of the single sheet (3) in contact with the forming mandrel (5); said gripper member (28) being mobile between a position closer to the first (5a) and/or the second (5b) forming mandrel for keeping the portion of single sheet (3) in contact with the forming mandrel (5), and a position removed from the first (5a) and/or second (5b) forming element, respectively at the first angular receiving position to allow the entrance of the single sheet (3) in plain configuration, and at the second releasing angular position to allow the release of the container (C).

18. Apparatus according to any of the claims 9 to 17, wherein the transporting device (7) comprises a plurality of drawers (40), each drawer (40) being formed by a first (41 ) and a second (42) half-part independent from each other and forming together a receiving seat (43) for accommodating the container (C); at least one of between said first (41 ) and second (42) half-part being associated to adjustment means (46) configured to change the distance (D40) between said first (41 ) and second (42) half-part; said adjustment means (46) being commanded by the control and command unit (11 ) so as to allow adjustment of an internal volume of the receiving seat (43) according to the modified volume of food product dispensed into the internal cavity of the container (C).