Patent ID: 6397557
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B29C,B65B

Abstract:
A packaging machine for producing sealed packages, containing a pourable food product, from a strip of packaging material fed along a path; said machine comprising:a fixed structure; a number of forming assemblies arranged successively along a vertical portion of said path and interacting with said strip of packaging material to fold the strip gradually into a cylinder and superimpose opposite lateral portions of the strip to form a tube of packaging material having a longitudinal first axis; sealing means for sealing said lateral portions to each other to form a longitudinal seam of said tube of packaging material; filling means for continuously filling said tube of packaging material with said pourable food product; at least one of said forming assemblies comprising a folding member defining a passage for said strip of packaging material being folded, and connected to said fixed structure in angularly adjustable manner about said first axis to adjust the angular position of said tube with respect to the first axis; actuating means connected operatively to said folding member and activated selectively to rotate the folding member about said first axis; sensor means located along said vertical portion of said path, downstream from said sealing means, and generating a position signal correlated to the angular position of said seam with respect to said first axis; and control means receiving said position signal, and generating a first control signal, which is supplied to said actuating means to restore said seam to a desired angular position with respect to said first axis, in the event said position signal differs from a reference value indicating said desired angular position of said seam.