Patent ID: 6085495
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B29C,B29L,B65B

Abstract:
A packaging unit useful for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages, containing a pourable food product, from a tube made of heat-seal packaging material in sheet form, fed along a vertical supply path, and filled with said food product, said unit comprising:a first chain conveyor having a number of jaws and defining an endless first path along which said jaws are fed;a second chain conveyor having a number of counter-jaws and defining an endless second path along which said counter-jaws are fed;said first path and said second path comprising respective work portions adjacent to said supply path of the tube of packaging material, and extending substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of said supply path, so that said jaws cooperate with respective counter-jaws to grip said tube at respective equally spaced cross sections when said tube is advanced along said supply path;first cam guide means along at least said respective work portions for guiding said jaws;second cam guide means for guiding said counter-jaws;said jaws and said counter-jaws comprising cam-following means cooperating with said respective first and second cam guide means;said jaws and said counter-jaws comprising, respectively, heating means for heat-sealing said packaging material, and push means for exerting gripping pressure along a gripping pressure direction to grip said packaging material against said heating means;said counter-jaws each comprise a main body, each main body comprising said cam-following means, said push means comprising at least two pressure applying assemblies within said main body and defining a link of said second chain conveyor;said push means comprising a pressure element connecting and pressure applying assemblies and movable with respect to said main body in the gripping pressure direction, and elastic means interposed between said main body and said pressure element and defining said gripping pressure.