Patent ID: 8905090
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for feeding a product to be packaged to a packaging machine provided with a dosing unit, the apparatus comprising: a lifting arrangement suitable for lifting and moving at least a container of said product from a picking position to a feeding position in such a way as to connect said container to said dosing unit to transfer thereto the product contained in said container; and a containing element enclosing said lifting arrangement and defining an operating space that is substantially insulated and airtight, wherein in the feeding position, an opening of said container is connected to the dosing unit by means of a conveying arrangement comprising a feeding pipe connected to the dosing unit, a storing pipe connected to the container and an adjusting device for hermetically sealing an internal passage between the storing pipe and the feeding pipe, the adjusting device being configured to allow in the feeding position adjusting the product sliding from the storing pipe, and wherein the operating space is practically isolated and separated from an environment in which the packaging machine is positioned, wherein said lifting arrangement comprises an elongated arm that is rotatably connected to a supporting frame and rotatably supports a connecting member, said elongated arm and said connecting member being rotatable respectively around a first rotation axis and around a second rotation axis that are substantially parallel, the apparatus further comprising a supporting arrangement removably coupleable with said connecting member and suitable for receiving and supporting said container, said supporting arrangement comprising a first supporting arrangement configured for receiving and supporting a first container having the shape of a drum or a barrel and a second supporting arrangement configured for receiving and supporting a second container having the shape of a bag, wherein said second supporting arrangement comprises a supporting element that is removably coupleable with said connecting member and slidably supports an enclosure arrangement, arranged for receiving and containing said second container.