Patent Publication Number: US-2005120680-A1

Title: Apparatus and method

Description:
The invention relates to an apparatus for forming sheet material in order to obtain containers.  
      The Prior Art comprises thermoforming machines for sheet material comprising a conveying device arranged for the stepwise advancing of the sheet material through a welding unit, wherein a pair of films, or facing strips of the same film, are mutually welded along peripheral edges defining pre-forms of containers to be obtained.  
      The peripheral welding achieved in the welding unit is interrupted in a portion of the peripheral edge, at which an opening is located and which is arranged for allowing the introduction of a product with which the containers have to be formed and/or filled.  
      The known apparatus further comprises, downstream of the welding unit, a thermoforming unit, wherein the films are heated.  
      Subsequently, a pressurised fluid is injected, through the said opening, into each of the pre-forms in order to bring the films into contact with moulds which are provided to mould the said films.  
      Upstream of the welding unit, the known machines may comprise heating units arranged for heating the films in order to prepare them for the subsequent steps of welding and forming.  
      Forming machines for using sheet material in order to obtain containers and containers for suppositories, made by forming films of aluminium, are also known which comprise a forming unit, wherein the films are plastically deformed by means of mechanical forming means, for example by deep-drawing, in order to obtain half-shells defining one half of a container.  
      Such machines further comprise, downstream to the forming unit, a welding unit wherein a first film, where a plurality of first half-shells has been produced, is welded with a second film, where a plurality of second half-shells has been produced.  
      The first film and the second film are welded together along a peripheral profile identifying the edge of the containers. The peripheral welding is interruped in the area of an opening which enables the introduction of a product, during a subsequent filling step, into the interior of the formed containers.  
      A disadvantage of the above described machines, is that, the welding unit, the forming unit and the heating unit, when present, are placed at pre-established positions on the frame of the machine, and are not adjustable relative to each other.  
      A mould suitable for welding or forming a pre-established number of containers is associated with each of said units, the mould having a certain length defined by the number and the size of the containers it is designed to produce at every advancing step of the sheet material.  
      In a situation where it is necessary to vary the size of the containers to be produced, it can arise that, with the same size mould, the number of containers that may be produced at each advancing step is such that it leaves unformed portions of the film which causes a decrease in efficiency of the machine due to a significant waste of material.  
      Furthermore, in the known machines, each of the moulds consists of a pair of half-moulds reciprocally moving towards and away from each other.  
      A first half-mould is mounted on a supporting elemen fixed firmly to the frame of the machine, while the second half-mould is connected to a mobile supporting element that brings the second half-mould to interact with the first half-mould in order to produce the welding, or forming, of the films and moves the second half-mould away from the first half-mould once the forming, or welding, has taken place.  
      The mobile supporting element is driven to slide on guiding bars by an actuating device, for example a pneumatic cylinder, fixed to the frame of the machine.  
      Therefore, another disadvantage of the known machines is that, the frame of the machine is subjected to significant stresses that may compromise its strength structurally.  
      A further defect is that, in the known machines each of the half-moulds is fixed to their respective supporting elements, so that the half-moulds may be removed from the supporting elements only after a long and complicated disassembly operation. In the case where the half-moulds have to be changed, for example where it is necessary to change from production of containers of a certain size to containers of a different size, the machine needs to be stopped for a long period of time which significantly penalises its productivity.  
      For the reasons mentioned above, it is very difficult to perform checks and controls of the half-moulds of the Prior Art machines.  
      The conveying devices that achieve the stepwise advancing of the sheet material in the machines of the Prior Art comprise grabbing elements arranged for grabbing end regions of the sheet material, in order to produce the transferring.  
      The grabbing elements are moving with reciprocating rectilinear motion in the direction along which the sheet material must be advanced.  
      Such grabbing elements may assume an opened resting configuration in which the jaws, with which they are provided, do not interfere with the sheet material and a closed operating configuration in which the jaws ared tightened onto the sheet material.  
      The number of grabbing elements provided is pre-determfined and cannot be modified. In addition, they may be located only in pre-established regions of the apparatus, for example, upstream of the welding unit and downstream of the forming unit, in thermoforming machines.  
      The known machines, therefore, have the further disadvantage of providing grabbing elements which are not suitable for modification in relation to their number and position with respect to the properties of the sheet material to be worked on.  
      In particular, the grabbing elements of the Prior Art machines are not be suitable for properly supporting a particularly flexible sheet material, nor are they provided with a very wide range of transverse extension.  
      The machines for producing suppositories, by forming films of aluminium, comprise, in the deep-drawing unit previously described, deforming means arranged for receiving the product constituting the suppository and producing a plurality of transversal folds in the films before the deep-drawing, by way of which the cavity is obtained. Such folds consist of excess material used for forming the cavities; in fact, without such excess material, the films of aluminium, which do not tolerate highly elastic deformations, could tear or be damaged during deep-drawing.  
      The material constituting the folds, however, is not withdrawn along the total transverse extent of the films, but only at its central portion, i.e. in that region where the cavities are formed.  
      As a consequence, end portions of the folds remain in the band formed by the welded films, after the containers have been formed, such end portions forming appendages.  
      These appendages, which would result in the containers being uncomfortable at the moment of the usage, are subsequently pressed, so that they are smoothed, and that their encumbrance is minimised.  
      The band of sheet material is then subjected to incision, performed by a cutting device by means of which weakening lines are produced, along which the containers may be separated from each other.  
      A still further disadvantage of the known machines is that, when the band is subjected to incision, the cutting device interacts with the appendages to produce a large amount of fragments of aluminium which are potentially dangerous, since they may injure a user.  
      The above-mentioned folds may have different depths, depending upon the amount of material needed for producing the cavity and, thus, upon the dimension of the cavity to be formed.  
      In order to vary the depth of the folds, it is necessary to adjust the stroke of the deforming means.  
      The deforming means is actuated by means of cam device to produce reciprocating rectilinear motion.  
      Another disadvantage of the known machines is that the stroke of the deforming means is remarkably difficult to adjust.  
      In fact, in order to vary the amount of the stroke of the deforming means inside their respective seats, it is necessary to substitute the cams of the cam devices with further cams having a different stroke profile.  
      The known machines may further comprise, downstream of the filling unit, a transferring unit for the filled containers. Such transferring unit, in the machines for producing containers for suppositories, advances the formed and filled containers through a cooling unit wherein the product constituting the suppository passes from a fluid state into a solid state.  
      The transferring unit may comprise a plurality of guiding walls which define tracks along which the sheet material, constituting a band in which the containers have been formed, is advanced by means of a chain upon which the band is supported.  
      The chain is positioned on the bottom of the tracks and moved by a suitable motor device.  
      Associated with a certain number of links of the chain are pegs which protrude from the links toward an internal region of the tracks containing the chain, such pegs interacting with the band, in particular with the appendages, when present.  
      Still a further disadvantage of the known machines is that dragging of the band owing to the interaction between pegs, arranged on the chain at pre-established distances, and to the appendages being partially pressed and therefore having a wide variety of dimensions results in poor control.  
      The coupling between a peg and a respective appendage takes place, therefore, in a substantially casual manner, such that in order to reasonably make sure that a certain number of pegs engage with a corresponding number of appendages cause transferring of the band, a large amount of pegs have to be provided.  
      This results in the risk that the band could slide on the chain, thus resulting in the risk of breakage.  
      The known machines are further provided with a cutting unit, wherein, once the containers have been formed, filled and sealed, the band formed by them is subdivided in a plurality of sections, each of them comprising a pre-established number of containers.  
      As described above, the known machines comprise, upstream to the cutting unit, an incision unit wherein the band is incised, in the regions interposed between one container and another, so as to obtain weakening lines, by tearing along which a container may be separated from the remaining containers constituting the section.  
      A further disadvantage of the known machines is that the separating means, with which the cutting unit is provided, interacts with the band in the area of one of the incision lines producing a “cut-on-cut” effect. Such operation produces a high amount of swarf consisting of small particles of the sheet material, such swarf being potentially dangerous when not properly removed.  
      The removal of the swarf requires dedicated apparatus, contributing to complexity of the production and use of the known machines.  
      The cutting unit further comprises a collecting device arranged for receiving the sections of containers, producing stacks consisting of a pre-established number of superimposed containers and delivering the said stacks to a packaging device arranged further downstream.  
      A still further disadvantage of the machines of the Prior Art is that, in the case of containers having a portion substantially shaped like a truncated cone, as in the case of containers for suppositories, the stacks are formed by sections whose containers are arranged in a “fanlike” manner, i.e. with the larger base portions of the truncated cones in mutual contact. Such a “fanlike” disposition is an awkward one in relation to the that stacks produced which are of poor stability and generate an undesired amount of encumbrance in the stacks.  
      The incision unit comprises incision means provided with a certain number of knives, the number of knives being equal to the number of containers that must be contained in any section, less one.  
      A still further disadvantage of the known machines is a low flexibility of the incision unit.  
      In fact, in the case where it is desired to change from the production of sections comprising a certain number of containers to the production of sections comprising a different number of containers, it is necessary to change the incision means with further incision means provided with a suitable number of knives.  
      A purpose of the present invention is to improve the forming apparatus for obtaining containers of sheet material.  
      According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged for forming containers, characterised in that at least one operating unit is so mounted on a guide arrangement that it is possible to adjust the longitudinal position of said at least one operating unit with respect to adjacent operating unit(s).  
      Preferably, adjusting means are provided and arranged for moving the at least one operating unit along the guiding means.  
      In an advantageous version, the adjusting means comprises a threaded rod which enables an accurate adjustment of the position of the at least one operating arrangement.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to use, in each unit, moulds having a longitudinal extension such as to contain an exact number of containers of a certain size; and thus minimise the amount of material used, in particular reduce the wastage of non-deformed material.  
      The possibility of moving the units closer or further away enables the correct positioning of the moulds so that there is no interference between moulds of adjacent units.  
      The use of guides along which the units may be translated enables, in addition, the achievement of changes of format without compromising the efficiency of the machine.  
      According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for operatively interacting with sheet material and for forming containers from said sheet material, characterised in that said operating unit is provided with mould portions driven translatingly by a mechanical actuator for moving the mould portions towards and away from each other in order to clamp and release, respectively, said sheet material.  
      In an advantageous version, the mechanical actuating arrangement comprises a motor, preferably a brushless motor, driving a screw engaging in a female screw that controls the translation of the mould portions.  
      The female screw is firmly connected to a plate, to which a first rod is fixed that controls a first supporting plate to which a first portion of the mould is fixed; and to which a second rod is fixed that controls a second plate to which a second portion of the mould is fixed.  
      The first and second portions of the mould are guided during the translation motion that brings them together and moves them apart by columns slidingly mounted on a frame of the same apparatus.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for forming material that is provided with a frame that is not subjected to substantial stresses transmitted by the moving device of the portions of the mould.  
      During the welding and forming steps of the material, the first portion of the mould moves toward the second portion of the mould and interacts with the second portion of the mould so that only portions of the mechanical actuating arrangement are subjected to stresses, not portions of the frame.  
      In addition, the mechanical actuating means may tighten the portions of the mould with high pressures since the risk of structural failures substantially eliminated, since the mechanical actuating means, and in particular the screw, the rods and bars, are not subjected to bending strengths, only to tensile and compressive strengths.  
      According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for operatively interacting with sheet material in order to obtain containers from said sheet material, characterised in that said operating unit is provided with a mould portion connected with a support s by means of a hinge.  
      Advantageously, the hinge comprises a spherical joint.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, said at least one portion of the mould may be rotated from an operating contact position with the sheet material, to a substantially horizontal rest position, wherein it is possible for an operator to intervene on the at least one portion of the mould in order to inspect it and/or to provide maintain it or in order to change it.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus comprising a conveying arrangement for advancing sheet material, and at least one operating unit arranged for forming containers from said sheet material, characterised in that said conveying arrangement comprises a movable supporting arrangement with which a grabbing arrangement for said sheet material is associated.  
      In an advantageous version, the supporting arrangement is driven with reciprocating rectilinear motion by slides on guides fixed to a frame of the apparatus.  
      In a further advantageous version, the supporting arrangement extends through the at least one operating unit.  
      Since the at least one operating unit may be provided with mould means fixed to mould-holding means arranged for the translation of the mould means by mutually moving the mould means together and apart, the supporting arrangement may be arranged between facing portions of the mould-holding means in the region of the mould-holding means that are not concerned with the mould means.  
      In a further advantageous version, the grabbing arrangement comprises a plurality of individual grabbing units, each individual unit advantageously comprising pneumatically driven jaw means.  
      Therefore, it is possible to place each individual grabbing unit in any suitable position along the supporting arrangement, in particular in the regions of the sheet material that remain undeformed during forming of the containers. Thus, when the apparatus is prepared, in order to change from forming a certain type of containers to forming containers of different shape and/or capacity, the grabbing arrangement may be located in the regions of the sheet material that will not have to be deformed by simply moving the grabbing arrangement along the supporting arrangement to the more suitable positions.  
      It is further possible to position the grabbing arrangement so as properly to support sheet material of different types and sizes.  
      Furthermore, it is possible to select the number of grabbing units to be associated with the supporting arrangement according to the properties of the sheet material used. This prevents the sheet material from arranging itself so as to define curved surfaces, the positive result of the operations of welding and/or forming.  
      According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a transporting chain arranged for transporting sheet material by acting on regions near its border by an intercepting arrangement, characterised in that said intercepting arrangement comprises a pinching arrangement.  
      In an advantageous version, the pinching arrangement is fixed to links of the chain.  
      In another advantageous version, the pinching arrangement comprises a pair of jaws mutually hinged for turning around an axis between a rest position wherein the pinching arrangement is open and not interacting with the sheet material and an operating position wherein the pinching arrangement is closed to grab the sheet material.  
      In another advantageous version, a first jaw of the pair of jaws may be provided with a hole therein arranged for receiving a pointed end of a threaded dowel screwed onto the second jaw of said pair of jaws.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce, or even eliminate, the risk of damage and breakage of the sheet material during its transport.  
      The pinching arrangement, in fact, grabs the sheet material for the entire duration of the transferring, thereby preventing the sheet material sliding with respect to the underlying chain means.  
      According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for forming containers from sheet material, said at least one operating unit comprising a deforming arrangement serving to produce in said sheet material transversally extending folds, characterised in that said apparatus further comprises a shearing unit arranged for removing from said sheet material appendages of said sheet material resulting from said folds after forming of said containers.  
      In a preferred version, said shearing unit comprises shearing mould means.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to have an apparatus wherein the appendages consisting of material forming the folds, which is not used for forming cavities, are removed before filling of the formed containers.  
      In the region where the appendages have been removed, promoting regions of preferred separation are obtained in the sheet material that facilitate the separation of a container from the remaining containers obtained in the same portion of sheet material.  
      With this apparatus it is further possible to obtain containers that do not produce sharp swarf at the moment when the containers are opened.  
      According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a receiving arrangement for receiving sheet material provided with containers obtained from deformed regions of said sheet material and mutually joined by undeformed regions of said sheet material, an inducing arrangement for inducing a separation indication serving to indicate in said undeformed regions lines of intended separation of said containers, characterised in that said inducing is conformed so as to act selectively on a few of said regions and not act on the remaining regions.  
      In a preferred version, the inducing arrangement comprises weakening means for the sheet material.  
      In another preferred version, the inducing arrangement comprises incision means.  
      In a further preferred version, the incision means comprises knife means, the positions of which may be adjusted so that the knife means results in a movement between a rest position wherein said knife means does not interfere with the sheet material and an operating position wherein said knife means interferes with the sheet material in order to incise or perforate said sheet material.  
      In a still further preferred version, the knife means comprises fixed knives associated with moving knives, each of the moving knives co-operating with a respective fixed knife in order to produce incision lines in the sheet material.  
      In a still further preferred version, the incision means further comprises, downstream of the knife means, separating means arranged for cutting the sheet material in a few regions in order to separate from said sheet material portions of the sheet material comprising a pre-established number of containers.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to have an apparatus wherein the sheet material constituting the containers is cut in regions of the sheet material where lines of incision were not previously present.  
      With this apparatus it is, therefore, possible to obtain portions of sheet material comprising a pre-established number of containers made by separating a portion of sheet material from the remaining portion of sheet material by means of a cut that does not overlap, not even partially, incisions, or perforations, indiscriminately made in all the regions of the sheet material interposed between two adjacent containers.  
      Therefore, the apparatus enables, the limitation, or even the prevention of the production of swarf, typical of the apparatus of the Prior Art.  
      It is further possible that the apparatus easily allows changing from the production of portions of sheet material comprising a certain number of containers to the production of portions of sheet material comprising a different number of containers. This is possible since the apparatus enables the selection of the number of moving knives functioning at any step of the working cycle.  
      According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising providing a sheet material provided with containers obtained from deformed regions of said sheet material and mutually joined by undeformed regions of said sheet material, and indicating in said undeformed regions lines of intended separation of said containers, characterised in that said indicating comprises selectively acting on a few of said regions and not acting on the remaining regions.  
      In a preferred version, the selectively acting comprises weakening said sheet material.  
      In another preferred version, the selectively acting comprises incising the sheet material in order to produce, in the few regions, incision lines.  
      In a further preferred version, the selectively acting comprises perforating the sheet material in order to produce, in the few regions, perforation lines.  
      In a further preferred version, the method comprises operating incision means arranged for interacting with the sheet material.  
      In a still further preferred version, simultaneously with the producing of incision or performation lines cutting is provided in the few regions in order to separate from the sheet material portions of sheet material comprising a pre-established number of containers.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to produce portions of sheet material comprising a pre-established number of containers, lines of incision being provided between the containers of each portion, the lines of incision being suitable for enabling the detachment of one of the containers from the remaining containers. Such a method allows the substantial prevention the production of swarf formed from particles of sheet material.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention it is further possible to allow easy changeover from the production of portions of sheet material comprising a certain number of containers to the production of portions of sheet material comprising a different number of containers.  
      According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tape comprising a sheet material formed so that a plurality of containers is present therein, and lines of intended separation in regions between adjacent containers of said tape to facilitate separation of said containers, characterised in that said lines of intended separation are present only in a few of said regions.  
      In a preferred version, the lines of intended separation comprise incision lines.  
      In another preferred version, the lines of intended separation comprise perforation lines.  
      In a further preferred version, groups of a pre-established number of regions provided with incision lines are regularly spaced along the tape, which groups are separated by a region lacking any incision lines.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention it is possible to obtain a tape provided with un-incised regions interposed between two adjacent containers, the same number of containers being interposed between two consecutive unincised regions.  
      This enables portions of sheet material containing a pre-established number on containers to be obtained from the tape by simply producing a cut in each of the un-incised regions.  
      Thus the “cut-on-cut” effect, typical of the known apparatus, is prevented and thereby significantly reducing, or even completely eliminating, the swarf formed by particles of sheet material.  
      According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for forming containers from sheet material, and a cutting arrangement serving to separate from said sheet material portions of said sheet material comprising a pre-established number of said containers, characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a collecting arrangement serving to collect said portions in order to constitute stacks comprising a pre-established number of said portions.  
      In an advantageous version, the collecting means comprises rotation means arranged for rotating the portions around a central longitudinal axis.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention,it is possible to enable the production of stacks of portions of sheet material wherein each portion comprises a pre-established number of containers. The orientation of the containers within each portion may be varied.  
      This enables, in the case of containers having a portion with the shape of a truncated cone, stacks provided with high stability and limited encumbrance, since a region of a container, belonging to a portion of sheet material and having a greater radial extension, is placed in contact with a region of another container, belonging to another portion of sheet material and having a smaller radial extension.  
      In particular, by interposing between two portions of sheet material, whose containers are orientated in the same direction, a portion of sheet material comprising containers which are orientated in the opposite direction, it is possible to eliminate the “fanlike” stacking effect that arises with the stacks of containers produced with apparatus according to the Prior Art.  
      According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for forming containers from sheet material, said at least one operating unit comprising deforming arrangement serving to produce, in said sheet material, transversely extending folds, characterised in that the apparatus further comprises an actuating arrangement for actuating said deforming arrangements independently one from the other.  
      In an advantageous version, the actuating arrangement comprises pneumatic actuator means.  
      In another advantageous version, the apparatus further comprises position-referencing means arranged for adjusting the operating stroke of such deforming arrangement.  
      Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus wherein the changeover from the production of folds having a certain depth to the production of folds having different depth is relatively easy.  
      For this purpose, it is sufficient to adjust the position-referencing means of the deforming arrangement.  
      This enables the apparatus to be suitable for working sheet materials having different properties, in particular a different deformability, without the need for the apparatus itself to be subjected to complex adjustments.  
      This further allows a variation in the size of the containers to be produced and consequently a modification of the depth of the folds made in the sheet material.  
      According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged for forming filled containers from sheet material advanced along a path, said operating units including a filling unit including a filler displaceable between an in-line position in which said filler serves to deliver fluid product to said containers and an off-line position in which said filler serves to deliver such fluid product to at least one check container.  
      According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising forming containers from sheet material, operating a filler in an in-line position to deliver flu8id product to said containers, displacing said filler to an off-line position, and operating said filler n said off-line position to deliver such fluid product to at least one check container.  
      Owing to these aspects of the present invention, it is possible in an accurate, clean and reliable way to check, say, the dosing volumes or weights of individual dosing nozzles of a row of such nozzles. The transverse movement of the whole of the filler is particularly advantageous when the filler is encased for aseptic or sterile filling.  
    
    
      In order that the invention may be clearly disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of part of an apparatus suitable for forming containers from sheet metal,  
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged and broken detail of  FIG. 1  highlighting an unwinding device for a film to be formed, a forming station for obtaining containers, and a filling station of the formed containers,  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a tape, formed by a pair of mutually welded films, wherein a plurality of containers has been formed,  
       FIG. 4  is a section along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 ,  
       FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are views taken along a horizontal plane of a first unit equipped with a deep-drawing mould for obtaining containers from a film of aluminium, that illustrate the first unit in four subsequent steps of the operation of plastic deformation of the film,  
       FIG. 8A  is a front view of a pressing-tape plate in the first unit,  
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged and broken detail of  FIG. 1  highlighting a cooling station for the contents of the formed and filled containers and a sealing station of the filling openings of the same containers,  
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , but highlighting the forming station in a different configuration wherein the station is particularly suitable for obtaining containers by forming films of aluminium,  
       FIG. 11  is a front view of a film of aluminium at the exit of the deep-drawing unit of the forming station of  FIG. 10 ,  
       FIG. 12  is a section taken along the line XII-XII of  FIG. 11 ,  
       FIG. 13  is a broken side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 , highlighting the unwinding device of the films, the forming station and the filling station,  
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a device for cutting, stacking and perforating the tape wherein the formed, filled and sealed containers are obtained,  
       FIG. 15  is an elevational side view from the right of  FIG. 1 , highlighting the unwinding device of the films,  
       FIG. 16  is a section taken along the line XVI-XVI of  FIG. 2  highlighting a first unit of the forming station,  
       FIG. 16A  is a vertical transversal section of a welding mould provided in the first unit,  
       FIG. 17  is a front view of the first unit of the forming station of  FIG. 16 ,  
       FIG. 18  is an enlarged and broken detail of a variant of the bottom portion of the first unit,  
       FIG. 19  is a side view of the forming station of a first configuration,  
       FIG. 20  is a view similar to  FIG. 19 , highlighting the forming station in a second configuration for producing containers of greater size,  
       FIG. 21  is an enlarged, broken and partially sectioned detail of a variant of the lower portion of a unit in the forming station,  
       FIG. 22  is a section taken along the line XXII-XXII of  FIG. 2  highlighting the filling station for the formed containers,  
       FIG. 23  is a section taken along the line XXIII-XXIII of  FIG. 9  highlighting the cooling station,  
       FIG. 24  is a section taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of  FIG. 3  highlighting the sealing station of the filling openings of the containers,  
       FIG. 25  is a section taken along the line XXV-XXV of  FIG. 13  highlighting a driving roller for the tape of formed, filled and sealed containers,  
       FIG. 26  is an enlarged and broken detail of the uppermost central part of  FIG. 23 ,  
       FIG. 27  is a side view of pincer means arranged for transferring the tape through the cooling station,  
       FIG. 28  is a plan view of the pincer means of  FIG. 27  shown in an opened position,  
       FIG. 29  is plan view of the pincer means of  FIG. 27  shown in a closed position,  
       FIG. 30  is an exploded plan view of the pincer means of  FIG. 27 ,  
       FIG. 31  is a view similar to  FIG. 28  showing the pincer means associated with pressing means arranged for bringing the pincer means from the opening position to the closing position,  
       FIG. 32  is a view similar to  FIG. 29  showing the pincer means associated with divaricating means arranged for bringing the pincer means from the closed position to the opened position,  
       FIG. 33  is a sketched section taken along a vertical plane of the cooling station showing an entry region of the tape into the cooling station,  
       FIG. 34  is sketched section taken along a vertical plane of the cooling station showing an exit region of the tape from the cooling station,  
       FIG. 35  is a section taken along a horizontal plane of a tape-moving device of the welding station,  
       FIG. 36  is a front view of a section of containers as it appears on exiting the cutting, stacking and perforating device of  FIG. 14 ,  
       FIG. 37  is a section taken along a vertical plane of a shearing device with which the cutting, stacking and perforating device of  FIG. 14  is provided,  
       FIG. 38  is a side view of driving means arranged for receiving a section of containers,  
       FIG. 39  is a plan view of the driving means of  FIG. 38 ,  
       FIG. 40  is a side view of three containers stacked according to a first manner,  
       FIG. 41  is a side view of three containers stacked according to a second manner,  
       FIG. 42  is a deviated and enlarged section taken along the line XLII-XLII of  FIG. 8A , relating to the pressing-tape plate mounted on the first unit,  
       FIG. 43  is a deviated and enlarged section taken along the plane XLIII-XLIII of  FIG. 8A , relating to the pressing-tape plate mounted on the first unit,  
       FIG. 44  is a section taken along the line XLIV-XLIV of  FIG. 16A ,  
       FIG. 45  is a front view of one of two welding half-moulds shown at  FIGS. 16A  or  44 ,  
       FIG. 46  is a vertical section of a heating mould for the sheet material provided in the second unit,  
       FIG. 47  is a vertical section of a forming mould for the sheet material provided in the third unit,  
       FIG. 48  is a vertical section of a shearing device provided in the fourth unit,  
       FIG. 49  is a front view of a tape of filled and sealed formed containers provided with transverse lines of separation, and  
       FIG. 50  is a diagrammatic plan view of a further variant of the apparatus. 
    
    
      With reference to the  FIG. 1 , an apparatus  1  is shown for forming containers  3  arranged for receiving a fluid product designed to form suppositories for medical usage. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the apparatus comprises an unwinding device  19  comprising a first coil  21  from which a first film  5  is unwound and a second coil  23  from which a second film  7  is unwound. The first coil  21  and the second coil  23  are associated, respectively, with a first guiding device  25  and a second guiding device  27 , each guiding device being provided with a plurality of idle rollers arranged for tensioning the first film  5  and the second film  7  in order to allow the films  5  and  7  to be properly unwound from their respective coils.  
      The first guiding device  25  and the second guiding device  27  further comprise, respectively a first diverting device  29  and a second diverting device  31 . The diverting devices  29  and  31  are arranged for rotating, by about 90°, the first film  5  and the second film  7 , respectively, in order to bring them from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position at the exit from the unwinding device  19 .  
      With reference to the  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , the apparatus  1  comprises a forming station  9 , arranged downstream with respect to the unwinding device  19 , wherein the containers  3  are obtained from the first film  5  and from the second film  7 , mutually facing each other in order to form a continuous tape  43 . Such containers  3  comprise a pair of shells  51   a,  and  51   b,  each of which is obtained, respectively, from one of the films  5  and  7 , welded along a peripheral edge  47 .  
      The apparatus  1  further comprises a transferring device  129  arranged for the stepwise advancing of the first film  5  and the second film  7  through the forming station  9 .  
      The transferring device  129 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , comprises a plurality of pincers  131  provided with jaws which are pneumatically actuated and arranged for grabbing the tape  43  in an upper region  43   a  and in a lower region  43   b.    
      The transferring device  129  comprises a supporting frame  133  to which the pincers  131  are fixed.  
      The supporting frame  133  comprises a pair of runners  133   a  interconnected at their ends by posts, not shown in their details, so as to form a frame, of substantially rectangular shape, lying in a vertical plane.  
      The frame  133  is firmly fixed to a trolley  135  that is driven to produce reciprocating rectilinear motion on a guide  137  by cam actuating means  139  which is provided with a motor  140 .  
      Therefore, the pincers  131  may be placed at consecutive longitudinal sections along the tape  43 , the number of the pincers  131  being dependent upon the properties of the material constituting the first film  5  and the second film  7  and upon the transverse dimensions of the films  5  and  7 .  
      In particular, the pincers  131  may be placed at intermediate positions in the forming station  9 , for example between the facing portions of all the units with which the forming station is provided. This arrangement is not allowed in known machines where the grabbing and driving means is only provided upstream and downstream with respect to the forming station.  
      The apparatus  1  comprises, downstream of the forming station  9 , a filling station  11 , wherein a product, in the fluid or semi-fluid state, is introduced into the containers  3  through an upper opening  49 , identified by a portion of film where the welding extending aroung the peripheral edge  47  is interruped.  
      Downstream of the filling station  11 , the apparatus  1  is further provided with a cooling station  13 , wherein the product introduced into the containers  3  is cooled. When the apparatus  1  is used for producing suppositories or the like, cooling enables the fluid product introduced to assume a solid consistency.  
      The apparatus  1  also comprises, downstream of the cooling station  13 , a welding station  15  wherein the openings  49 , through which the product is introduced, are sealed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 14 , downstream of the welding station  15 , the apparatus may provide a shearing station  17  at which strings of containers, comprising a pre-established number of containers  3 , are separated from the remaining part of the tape  43 . In the shearing station  17 , a perforation of the tape  43  between adjacent containers  3  can take place, in order to facilitate the separation of the containers  3  from each other at the appropriate time. In the shearing station  17  stacking of the sheared strings of containers can occur so that the strings are predisposed for subsequent packing, for example inside boxes. With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 10 , two configurations of the forming station  9  are shown, in each one of which the operating units, with which the forming station  9  is provided, are arranged for interacting with the first film  5  and the second film  7  in order to obtain containers from them.  
      In the first configuration, shown in the  FIG. 2 , the forming station  9  is arranged for forming a first film  5  and a second film  7  both made of plastics material.  
      Upstream of the forming station  9 , there is arranged a deflecting device  33  that brings the first film  5  into contact with the second film  7  in order to form the tape  43 .  
      The forming station  9  comprises a first unit  35  provided with moulds suitable for welding the first film  5  and the second film  7  together along the peripheral edge  43  of the containers  3  to be made, the moulds being conformed so as to leave an unwelded portion at a specific region of the peripheral edge so as to define the opening  49  into which air is to be injected.  
      The forming station  9  comprises, downstream of the first unit  35 , a second unit  37  at which pre-heating of the first film  5  and the second film  7  occurs, in order to prepare the films  5  and  7  to form, by injection of air. Such injection takes place in a third unit  39 , provided downstream of the second unit  37 .  
      The forming station  9  further comprises, downstream of the third unit  39 , a fourth unit  41  at which portions  45  are removed from the tape  43  so as to form weakened regions which enable, in use, an easy detachment of a container  3  from the string comprising the remaining containers  3 .  
      With reference to the  FIGS. 16A, 44  and  45 , a welding mould  333  suitable for being associated with the first station  35  of the apparatus  1  is shown.  
      The welding mould  333  comprises a pair of half-moulds  333   a  and  333   b  moving towards and away from each other, as shown by the arrows F 2 .  
      Each of the half-moulds  333   a,    333   b  comprises a plate  334  from which a plurality of ridges  335  protrude. The ridges  335  have the same shape as the peripheral edge of the containers  3  to be formed.  
      When the first half-mould  333   a  and the second half-mould  333   b  are moved towards each other, their respective other ridges  335  contact the first film  5  and the second film  7  to produce a welding  336  of the two films  5  and  7  defining the edge of the containers  3  to be formed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 45 , the ridges  335  are open in a region  337 , at which an opening is obtained through which, in the second unit  37 , a jet of pressurised fluid is introduced between the first film  5  and the second film  7 .  
      With reference to the  FIG. 46 , a heating mould  337  is shown with which the second station  37  is equipped.  
      The heating mould  337  comprises a first half-mould  337   a  and a second half-mould  337   b  moving mutually towards and away from each other, as indicated by the arrows F 13 .  
      The first half-mould  337   a  and the second half-mould  337   b  each comprise an active surface  338  which is substantially smooth and arranged to heat the first film  5  and the second film  7 , connected at portions by means of the welding  336 . The heating stage prepares the films for subsequent forming.  
      With reference to  FIG. 47 , a forming mould  339  is shown which is suitable for being associated with the third station  39  of the apparatus  1 .  
      The forming mould  339  comprises a first half-mould  339   a  and a second half-mould  339   b  mutually moving towards and away from each other, as indicated by the arrows F 14 .  
      The first half-mould  339   a  and the second half-mould  339   b  each comprise a body  340  provided with a cavity  341  on the inner surface thereof shaped so as to define one half of the containers  3  to be formed.  
      Seats are provided in each of the bodies  340  for receiving heating elements for heating the first film  5  and the second film  7 .  
      The forming mould  339  further comprises an injecting device  342  arranged for injecting a substance between the first film  5  and the second film  7  in order to form a shape corresponding to the shazpe formed by the cavities  341  when the first and second half moulds  339   a  and  339   b  are moved together.  
      The injecting device comprises a body  343  comprising a pair of surfaces  344  defining a wedge, such wedge being suitable for being inserted between the first and the second film.  
      The body  343  comprises a duct  345 , arranged for supplying a pressurised fluid to nozzles  346 , each nozzle  346  being suitable for being associated with a respective opening of the containers to be formed.  
      In the second configuration, shown in the  FIG. 10 , the forming station  9  is arranged for forming a first film  5  and a second film  7  consisting of a sheet of aluminium associated with at least one sheet of plastics material, for example ethylene.  
      The forming station  9  comprises a first unit  35   a  provided with moulds  301  ( FIG. 42 ) suitable for deforming the first film  5  and the second film  7  by deep-drawing so as to obtain in each of them a shell  51   a,    51   b,  each defining a half of container  3 .  
      In this configuration, the first unit  35   a  is set apart from the second unit  37   a,  provided downstream, in order to enable groups of a pair of deep-drawing punches to be inserted between the first film  5  and the second film  7 , each of the said punches co-operates with a respective matrix in order to deform the first film  5  and the second film  7  and to obtain the shells  51   a,    51   b  therefrom (FIGS.  5  to  8 ).  
      As shown in the FIGS.  5  to  8 , each matrix  55  comprises a plurality of adjacent main cavities  57 , arranged for deforming one of the films, in the case shown the first film  5 , in order to obtain the shells  51   a  and  51   b,  and a plurality of secondary cavities  59  arranged so that each secondary cavity  59  is interposed between a pair of adjacent main cavities  57 .  
      A punch  53  is associated with each main cavity  57 .  
      A tape-pressing device  61  is further associated with the matrix, connected to a body of the mould  301  by means of springs  63 . As it will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the tape-pressing device  61  is arranged to hold the first film  5  in position during the deep-drawing operations.  
      A plurality of deforming means  65  are further associated with the matrix  55 , each of the deforming means  65  co-operating with a respective secondary cavity  59 ; the deforming means  65  being arranged to obtain, in the first film  5 , a plurality of folds  67 , such folds  67  enabling the shells  51   a,    51   b  to properly form, as will be described below.  
      The deforming means  65  interacts with the first film  5  not at the same time, but according to a pre-established order. In particular, in the case the first film  5  advances in the direction shown by the arrow F, the first of the deforming means  65  to interact with the film  5  is that placed more downstream inside the first unit  35   a,  then, in sequence, the deforming means  65  located upstream, with respect to the advancing direction F.  
      Thus, when the deforming means  65  is inside its respective secondary cavities  59 , pre-established extensions of the film  5  can be obtained without damaging the material of which the film  5  is made. Otherwise, forming the shells  51   a  and  51   b  made by the punches  53  might cause rips or weakening of the first film  5  since the film  5  would be subjected to deformations greater than those allowed by the elastic limit of the aluminium.  
      In order to remove this disadvantage, folds  67  are made on the first film  5 , in the manner described before, so that the material forming the folds  67 , when the punches  53  are introduced into the main cavities  57 , is drawn back toward the previous cavities and co-operates to form the shells  51   a  and  51   b.    
      As shown in  FIG. 11 , at the end of the forming step by deep-drawing the tape  43  is obtained wherein a plurality of shells  51   a  and  51   b  are produced. In the portions of the tape  43  interposed between two adjacent shells a first central region  69  can be identified, being substantially flat since the material forming the fold  67  during formation was used for forming the shells. Second and third end regions  71   a  and  71   b,  constituted by remaining portions  67   a,    67   b  of the fold  67  can also be identified. The second and third end regions  71   a  and  71   b  are located in a peripheral area of the tape  43 , and are not drawn back during the deep-drawing step.  
      The deforming means  65  are driven by actuating means to translate between a raised rest position, in which the deforming means  65  does not interact with the first film  5 , and a lowered operating position in which the deforming means  65  penetrates inside the secondary cavities  59 .  
      With reference to the  FIGS. 8A, 42  and  43  a mould  301  and the tape-pressing device  61  associated thereto is shown in greater detail.  
      The mould  301  comprises a matrix  55  consisting of a first plate  302  slidably mounted on guiding bars  303  connected to a body  304  of the mould  301 .  
      A plurality of main cavities  57  is obtained in the matrix  55 .  
      The mould  301  further comprises a plurality of punches  53  firmly connected to the body  304 .  
      Between the matrix  55  and the punches  53 , there is provided the tape-pressing device  61 , which comprises a second plate  306  slidingly coupled with the guiding bars  303  and held at a certain distance from the body  304  by springs  63 .  
      The second plate  306  is provided with first slots  307  arranged for allowing the passage through them of the punches  53 , in order to enable the plastic deformation of the first film  5 . The second plate  306  is further provided with second slots  308 , each of the said second slots  308  being interposed between two adjacent first slots  307 . The second slots  308  are configured so that the deforming means  65  can pass through them, during the movement of bringing the deforming means  65  to engage into respective secondary cavities  59 , to give rise to the folds  67 .  
      In use, the first plate  302  is translated by an amount X 1  toward the body  304  so that the first film  5 , sustained by suitable supporting elements  309  firmly fixed to the tape-pressing device  61 , is pressed between the first plate  302  and the second plate  306 .  
      The first plate  302  is provided with seats  310  arranged for receiving the supporting elements  309  when the first plate  302  is brought into contact with the second plate  306 .  
      Then, the set consisting of the first plate  302 , the tape-pressing device  61  and the first film  5  interposed there between is moved by a further amount X 2  so that each of the punches  53  penetrates into the respective main cavities  57  in order to perform the deep-drawing of the sheet material.  
      The second plate  306  is provided with hollows  311  with which the deforming means  65  is slidingly coupled, by means of rollers  312 .  
      The pressing means is operated, by actuating means  300  comprising pneumatic cylinder means  313  supplied by pressurised air by means of a duct  314 , to slide inside the hollow means, so as to partially protrude from them.  
      In this manner, each of the deforming means  65  can be actuated independently from the others, which allows operation of the deforming means  65  according to a pre-established sequence, as above described, at each desired moment.  
      Each of the supporting elements  309  is provided with a shank  315  occupying a portion of a respective hollow  311  in order to form a stop for the pistons  316  of the pneumatic cylinder means  313 .  
      Owing to the presence of the shank  315 , it is possible to vary easily and precisely the stroke of the deforming means  65  inside the secondary cavities  59  in order to obtain folds  67  having a pre-established depth and thus produce folds with a pre-established amount of material.  
      This enables the ideal formation of shells  51   a  and  51   b  starting from films consisting of sheets of aluminium having different elastic deformability properties: in particular, in the case of sheets of aluminium with greater deformability it is possible to produce folds  67  of limited depth, whereas in the case of sheets of aluminium with less deformability it is necessary to produce folds  67  of greater depth.  
      Such regulation was not easily achievable with the previously known apparatus since, in such apparatus, the deforming means was actuated mechanically by means of cam devices. Thus, in order to vary the amount of the stroke of the deforming means inside their respective seats it was necessary to substitute the cams with other cams having a different profile.  
      The usage of pneumatically controlled deforming means  65  further enables, in the case here it is necessary to change from the production of containers  3  of pre-established size to the production of containers  3  of different size, easy and rapid variation of the depth of the folds  67  with respect to the size of the containers to be produced.  
      The forming station  9  further comprises a second unit  37   a  that, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 10 , is inactive, and downstream of this second unit  37   a  there is a third unit  39   a  at which the first film  5  is welded to the second film  7  along a peripheral edge  47 , to keep unwelded a section of the edge  47  to define a filling opening  49  in each of the containers  3 .  
      Between the first unit  35   a  and the second unit  37   a  there is positioned a deflecting device  33  which brings the first film  5 , in which the shells  51   a  have been obtained, in contact with the second film  7 , wherein the shells  51   b  have been formed, in order to form the tape  43 .  
      The forming station  9  comprises, downstream to the third unit  39   a,  a fourth unit  41   a  at which portions  45  are removed from the tape  43 , which portions  45  comprise the remaining parts  67   a  and  67   b  (see  FIG. 11 ) of the folds  67 . As already described in the case of forming films made of plastics material, removing the portions  45  allows the creation of weakening, enabling easy detachment of the containers  3 .  
      With reference to the  FIG. 48 , a shearing mould  347  is shown with which the fourth unit  41   a  is equipped.  
      The shearing mould  347  comprises a first half-mould  347   a  and a second half-mould  347   b  moving mutually towards and away from each other, as shown by the arrows F 15 .  
      The first half-mould  347   a  comprises a body  348  to which a pair of shearing elements  349  are firmly attached, each of said shearing elements  349  being suitable for being received into a respective seat  350  formed in the second half-mould  347   b.    
      The second half-mould  347   b  comprises a matrix  351  inside which a cleaning duct  372  is provided, arranged for collecting from the seats  350  the removed portions  45  of the sheet material.  
      The second half-mould  347   b  is further provided with a plurality of cavities  352  arranged for receiving the containers  3  during the shearing operations.  
      As shown in the FIGS.  16  to  21 , each unit  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  comprises a motor  73 , advantageously a brushless motor, that operates a screw  75  with which a female screw  77  is associated, which is connected to a plate  79 .  
      A first end  81   a  of a first rod  81  and a first end  83   a  of a second rod  83  are respectively hinged at opposing ends  79   a,    79   b  of the plate  79 .  
      A second end  81   b  of the first rod  81  is connected to a moving plate  85  connected, by means of columns  87 , to a first mould-holding plate  91  to which a first half-mould  93  is fixed.  
      The columns  87  are slidingly coupled with supporting elements  93  and  95  connected to the frame of the apparatus  1 .  
      A second end  83   b  of the second rod  83  is connected to a second mould-holding plate  93  to which a second half-mould  99  is fixed.  
      The second mould-holding plate is slidingly coupled with the columns  87  which guide its mutual movement, towards or away from the first mould-holding plate  91 .  
      When the motor  73  rotatably drives the screw  75 , the plate  79  moves in the direction shown by the arrow F 1 , from its top-dead centre position, shown in the  FIGS. 16, 19 ,  20  and  21 ; such position corresponding to the maximum mutual separation of the first half-mould  93  from the second half-mould  99 .  
      In this case, the second rod  83  pushes the second mould-holding plate  97  by translating it in the direction of the arrow F 4 .  
      Simultaneously, the first rod  81  pushes the moving plate  85  in the direction of the arrow F 3 . The moving plate  85 , in turn, pulls the first mould-holding plate  91  by causing its movement in the direction of the arrow F 5 .  
      Thus, the first mould-holding plate  91  and the second mould-holding plate  97  move toward each other in order to bring the first half-mould means  93  to interact with the second half-mould means  99 .  
      Each unit  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  is further provided, in a lower region  101  thereof, with an appendage  103  in which a hole  105  is formed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 17 , a threaded rod  107 , firmly connected with the frame of the apparatus  1 , results passing through the hole  105 .  
      The above-mentioned units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  are moving in the direction indicated by the arrows F 7  as shown in the  FIGS. 2 and 10 , by sliding on a pair of guides  109  and  111  firmly connected to the frame of the apparatus  1 .  
      Thus, the units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  may be mutually moved closer together or away from each other in accordance with the longitudinal size of the first half-moulds  93  and the second half-moulds  99 .  
      With the appendage  103 , there is associated a first nut  115 , arranged for interacting with a first face  113  of the appendage  103 , and a second nut  115 , arranged for interacting with a second face of the appendage  103 .  
      Each unit  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  may be very easily longitudinally positioned along the guides  109 ,  111  by simply unscrewing the first nut  113  and the second nut  115 , and by moving the unit  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  in the desired position and then by tightening again the first nut  113  and the second nut  115  respectively again the faces of the appendage  103 .  
      In a version of the apparatus  1  shown in the  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the threaded rod  107  may include four sections  317 ,  318 ,  319  and  320  having different threading pitches.  
      Moreover, the second section  318 , the third section  319  and the fourth section  320  may have, respectively, a pitch two, three and four times as large as the first section  317 . Thus, by rotatably driving the threaded rod  107  by means of a wheel  325  it is possible to simultaneously translate the units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  by holding them substantially equidistant.  
      Furthermore, it is possible to pass from a configuration B 1 , shown in  FIG. 19 , wherein the units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  are separated by a distance H 1  and are equipped with moulds  321 ,  322 ,  323  and  324  having a longitudinal encumbrance Z 1 , to a configuration B 2 , shown in  FIG. 20 , wherein the units  35 , 37 , 39 ,  41  are moved away, resulting in a separation of a distance H 2 , so that further moulds  321   a,    322   a,    323   a  and  324   a,  may be associated with them, having a longitudinal encumbrance Z 2 , greater than the longitudinal encumbrance Z 1  of the moulds  321 ,  322 ,  323 ,  324 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 21 , each appendage  103  may be associated with a bush  117  coupled with a section of the threaded rod  107 .  
      The bush  117  comprises a body  326  provided with a shoulder  327 , acting as a reference for the appendage  103 .  
      The body  326  comprises a first end  328  having a hexagonal section  378  that makes the first end suitable for coupling with a spanner arranged for controlling the bush  117  in order to translate it along the threaded rod  107 .  
      The body  326  comprises a second end provided with an external surface on which a thread  329  is made whereupon a nut  330  may be screwed for holding the appendage  103  against the shoulder  327 .  
      Between the nut  330  and the appendage  103  there is provided a washer  333  that allows a certain clearance enabling the rotation of the bush  117  with respect to the appendage  103  during the adjustment of the position of the units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  along the threaded rod  107 .  
      The appendage  103  comprises, at its lower portion, a threaded hole  331  with which a pressing screw  332  may be associated and used to fix the appendage  103  to the bush  117 , once the said adjustment has been completed.  
      By slightly unscrewing the bush  117  it is possible, therefore, to achieve an accurate positioning of the units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41 , in order to correct errors caused by possible gaps of different pitch between the sections  317 ,  318 ,  319 ,  320 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 16 , the rods  87  comprise a pair of lower rods  87   b  having an end  119  with which a first portion  119   a  of a joint  119  is associated, and a second portion  119   b  is fixed to the first mould-holding plate  91 .  
      The rods  87  further comprise a pair of upper rods  87   a  provided with a threaded end  123  which passes though a hole  125  in the first mould-holding plate  91  and which is suitable for coupling with a fixing nut  127 .  
      After the nut  127  has been removed from the threaded end  125 , it is possible to rotate the first mould-holding plate  91  around an X axis, in the direction indicated by the arrow R, so that the first half-mould  93  and the second half-mould  99  are made easily accessible.  
      Downstream of the forming station  9  there is provided a filling station  141  for the formed containers  3 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 22 , the filling station comprises a tank  143  arranged for containing a fluid product to be introduced into the containers  3  through the openings  49  by means of dosing nozzles  145 . It will be understood from  FIG. 22  that the tank  143  contains a stirrer  143   a  rotated about a vertical axis by a motor  143   b  through a transmission  143   c,  that the fluid product is delivered from the tank  143  to a filler  144  whereof a frame  144   a  has mounted thereon a pump  144   b  connected to the dosing nozzles  145 , a piston-and-cylinder drive motor  144   c  for the pump  144   b,  a rocker  144   d  for lifting and lowering the group of nozzles  145  out of and back into the horizontal path of the tape  43 , and a piston-and-cylinder drive motor  144   e  for oscillating the rocker  144   d  about a horizontal axis, and that the filler  144  comprised of the items  144   a  to  144   e  is displaceable transversely of that path by a piston-and-cylinder device motor  146  which slides the frame  144   a  along fixed horizontal guides  146   a.  The filler  144  can thus be brought from the in-line position shown in  FIG. 22  into an off-line position with the nozzles  145  directly above a fixed bracket  146   b  in which can be mounted a tape section into the containers of which the nozzles  145  dose the liquid product. The filled tape section is then removed from the bracket  146   b  and taken away for a dosing check.  
      Transferring of the containers  3  through the filling station  141  is carried out by means of a roller  147 , shown in  FIG. 13 , provided, as shown in  FIG. 25 , with grooves  148  conformed so as to receive one of the shells  51   a,    51   b  constituting the containers  3  and with lands  151  whereon the undeformed regions of the tape  43  rest.  
      The roller  147  is firmly connected with a pulley  149  (see  FIG. 13 ) with which a toothed belt  151  is coupled, tensioned between the pulley  149  and a further pulley  153 .  
      With the belt  151  there is associated a pincer  155 , firmly connected with a slide  157  moving along guides  159 .  
      During a forward stroke of the slide  157 , the pincer  155  is placed in a closed configuration, wherein it grabs and drags the belt  151 . Then, during the backward stroke of the slide  157 , the pincer  155  is held in an open configuration, wherein it does not interfere with the belt  151 .  
      The slide  157  is driven with reciprocating rectilinear motion, by means of a lever not shown, by the same motor  140  that controls the actuating cam means  139 .  
      Thus, the rotation of the roller  147  is perfectly in phase with advancing of the tape  43  through the forming stations  9  and the filling station  141 .  
      A cooling station  161  is provided downstream to the filling station  141 , wherein the fluid material with which the containers  3  have been filled assumes a substantially solid consistency.  
      As shown in the  FIGS. 9, 23  and  26 , the cooling station  161  comprises three cooling devices: a first cooling device  161   a,  a second cooling device  161   b  and a third cooling device  161   c,  each of which comprises a housing  163  wherein dividing walls  165  are provided, delimiting guiding grooves  167  arranged for receiving the tape  43 . The grooves  167  define a double spiral path for the tape  43  so that adjacent grooves  167  are travelled in by the containers proceeding in opposing directions.  
      The tape  43  spends a long time in travelling the tortuous path defined by the walls  165  inside the cooling station  161 : that allows the product with which the containers  3  are filled to complete the transition from the liquid state to the solid state, before the containers  3  exit from the filling station  161 .  
      a chain  169  is arranged on the bottom of the grooves  16 , driven by a rotatable driving gear  171  and redirected by a driven gear  173 .  
      Above the housing  163  there is arranged a cover  175 , suitable for delimiting a cooled room  177  insulated from the external environment.  
      Each cooling device  161   a,    161   b,    161   c  comprises a fan  179  arranged for exhausting air from the enclosure  177  and direct it towards a heat exchanging group  181 , after the air has passed through a purifying filter  183 .  
      As shown in the FIGS.  27  to  34 , pincer means  185  is associated with links  187  of the chain  169 , the pincer means  185  being arranged for grabbing the tape  43  during its advance, the pincer means  185  being spaced apart from each other by a pre-established number of links.  
      Each pincer means  185  comprises a pair of jaws  185   a,    185   b  mutually hinged and oscillating around an axis Y between a rest position, shown in  FIG. 28 , wherein the pincer means  185  is open and not interacting with the tape  43  and an operating position, shown in  FIG. 29 , wherein the pincer means  185  is closed for grabbing the tape  43 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 30 , a first jaw  185   a  of the pair of jaws may be provided with a hole  189  arranged for receiving a sharp end  193  of a threaded dowel  191  screwed in the second jaw  185   b  of the pair of jaws.  
      In the operating position, when the pincer means  185  closes up, the end  193  penetrates into the hole  189  after having perforated a lower border of the tape  43 .  
      As shown schematically in  FIG. 33 , in the entry region  195  of each of the cooling devices  161   a,    161   b,    161   c  the chain  169  slides on an ascending inclined plane  197  and lies therefore at a level lower than the containers  3 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 32 , at the end of the ascending inclined plane  197 , the pincer means  185  is received in a groove  167  delimited by walls  165  divided by a distance d 1 , so that the pincer means may occupy an open configuration.  
      In order to ensure that the first jaw  185   a  and the second jaw  185   b  are properly spaced one from the other, in order to enable the tape  43  to be received between them, there is provided deviating means  207  arranged for interacting with end portions  208  of the first jaw  185   a  and the second jaw  185   b.    
      Downstream of the deviating means  207 , the tape  43  is deposited on the chain  169  so as to proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow F 6  in  FIG. 32 .  
      Near the region where the sheet material is placed upright on the chain  169 , a pair of rollers  199  is provided, shown in  FIG. 31 , arranged for pressing the first jaw  185   a  toward the second jaw  185   b  in order to bring them to interact with the tape  43 .  
      In the area corresponding to the rollers  199 , and downstream of them, the walls  165  defining the groove  167  are spaced apart by a distance d 2 , less than the distance d 1 , in order to receive and hold the pincer means  185  in a closed configuration.  
      Once the end  193  has penetrated into the hole  189 , the pincer means  185  remains in its operating position, with the end  193  lodged in the tape  43 .  
      Between the pincer means  185  and the walls  165  there is provided a certain clearance  201 , that discourages undesired sliding of the jaws  185   a  and  185   b  on the walls  165 .  
      As schematically shown in  FIG. 34 , in the exit region of each cooling devices  161   a,    161   b,    161   c  the chain  169  slides on a descending inclined plane  205  so as to enable the tape  43  to disengage from the pincer means  185 .  
      In order to enable such disengagement, in the region preceding the descending inclined plane  205 , the groove  167  is sufficiently wide width to enable the first jaw  185   a  and the second jaw  185   b  to move away from each other.  
      Downstream of the cooling station  161  there is provided a sealing station  209  wherein the openings  49  are closed and there are further performed knurling operations of the tape  43  and then punching operations on the tape in order to imprint thereon a code comprising information relating to the packaged product, such as the use-by date.  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , the sealing station  209  comprises a pre-heating station  211 , arranged for heating the material constituting the first film  5  and the second film  7  in order to prepare them for welding. The pre-heating unit  211  is provided with a first mould  213 , a second mould  215  and a third mould  217  through which the containers  3 , already formed and filled, are indexed, the first mould  213 , the second mould  215  and the third mould  217  providing, in this manner, progressive heating of the first film  5  and the second film  7 .  
      Downstream to the pre-heating unit  211  there is provided a welding unit  219  providing to weld the first film  5  with the second film  7 , in the area of the opening  49 , to close the container.  
      Downstream of the welding unit  219 , there is provided a knurling and punching unit  221 , wherein the tape  43  is plastically deformed so as to obtain on its external surface a knurling and a code carrying information about the packaged product.  
      As shown in  FIG. 24 , the pre-heating unit  211  has a structure similar to the above-described units  35 ,  37 ,  39 ,  41  of the forming station  9 .  
      The pre-heating station  211  comprises, as indicated in  FIG. 24 , first mould-holding plate means  223  with which first half-mould means  215   a,    217   a,    219   a  are firmly connected, and second mould-holding plate means  225  with which second half-mould means  215   a,    217   a,    219   a  are firmly connected.  
      The first mould-holding plate means  223  is connected with moving plate means  227  by means of guiding rod means  229  slidingly coupled with a frame  228  of the pre-heating unit  211 . First block reference means  233  is connected, by means of first pneumatic cylinder means  231 , with the moving plate means  227 , with which block reference means  233  there is rotatably supported first small roller follower means  235  arranged for interacting with first cam means  237 , as it will be described more in detail later.  
      Similarly, second block reference means  241  is connected, by means of second pneumatic cylinder means  239 , with the second mould-holding plate means  225 , with which second block reference means  241  there is rotatably supported second small roller follower means  243  arranged for interacting with second cam means  245 .  
      The first cam means  237  and the second cam means  245  are rotated by a common motor, not shown, and have symmetrical and opposed profiles. During operation of the motor, therefore, the first cam means  237  and second cam means  245  cause the mutual moving closer and away of the first mould-holding plate means  223  and the second mould-holding plate means  225 .  
      The use of first pneumatic cylinder means  231  and second pneumatic cylinder means  239  permit, when necessary, a damping of the clamping force and so prevents excessive loads on the first half-mould means  215   a,    217   a,    219   a,  and the second half-mould means  215   a,    217   a,    219   a.    
      The welding unit  219  and the knurling and punching unit  221  are constructed and operate similarly to the pre-heating unit  211  above described.  
      As shown schematically in  FIG. 35 , the tape  43  is advanced through the heating station  209  by means of a dragging device  247  comprising first roller means  249 , arranged upstream of the pre-heating unit  211  and second roller means  251  arranged downstream of the knurling and coding unit  221 . The first roller means  249  and the second roller means  251  are provided with hollows  253  arranged for coupling with the shells  51   a,    51   b  constituting the containers  3 .  
      The first roller means  249  and the second roller means  251  are driven, respectively, by means of first belt means  255  and second belt means  257 , both driven by motorised pulley means  259 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 14, 36  and  37 , the apparatus  1  comprises, downstream of the welding station  209 , a shearing station  261 , wherein the tape  43  is cut in order to obtain from it sections  263  each including a pre-established number of containers  3 .  
      In the shearing station  261 , furthermore, the sections  263  are cut so as to obtain, in each of the regions  265  between two adjacent containers  3 , perforations  267  facilitating detachment of a container  3  from the section  263  at the time of use.  
      Upstream of the shearing station  261  there is arranged a turning device, not shown, that receives the tape  43  in a substantially vertical condition at the exit from the welding station  209  and turns the tape  43  through an angle of about 90° in order to bring it to a substantially horizontal condition.  
      The shearing station  261  comprises a shearing device  269  provided with lower knives  271   a,    271   b,    271   c,    271   d,    271   e,  fixed to a fixed support base  273  of the shearing device  269 .  
      The shearing device  269  further comprises upper knives  275   a,    275   b,    275   c,    275   d,  each of which fixed to a supporting element  277  inserted into a respective seat  279 , the seats  279  being provided in a moving cross-beam  281  of the shearing device  269 .  
      The shearing device  269  further comprises a further upper knife  275   e  arranged downstream of the upper knives  275   a,    275   b,    275   c,    275   d.    
      The further upper knife  275   e  is firmly fixed to the moving cross-beam  281 . The position of the further upper knife  275   e  with respect to the moving cross-beam  281  is, therefore, fixed and not adjustable, unlike the positions of the upper knives  275   a,    275   b,    275   c,    275   d.    
      An adjusting screw  281  is associated with each supporting element  277 , and is rotatable to cause the associated supporting element  277  to translate inside the associated seat  279  in the direction indicated by the arrow F 9 : that enables adjustment of the position of each supporting element  277  regardless of the position of the other supporting elements  277 .  
      The shearing device  269  further comprises actuating means  283 , comprising an eccentric  285  driven by a motor, for driving with reciprocating rectilinear motion the moving cross-beam  281  in order to move the upper knives  275   a,    275   b,    275   c,    275   d,    275   e  in the direction of the arrow F 10 .  
      The shearing device  269  performs the incision of the tape  43  to obtain the perforation lines  267  and, at the same time, the cutting of the tape  43  to obtain the sections  263 .  
      In the shearing device of  FIG. 37  the first lower knife  271   a,  the second lower knife  271   b,  the third lower knife  271   c  and the fourth lower knife  271   d  and the respective first upper knife  275   a,  second upper knife  275   b,  third upper knife  275   c  and fourth upper knife  275   d  perform the incision of the tape, whereas the fifth lower knife  271   e  and the fifth upper knife  275   e  produce the separating cut.  
      If is desired to produce sections  263  comprising, for example, four containers, the first upper knife  275   a  is moved, by rotating the adjusting screw  281 , away from the first lower knife  271   a  so that, when the moving cross-beam  281  is moved towards the base  273  there is no incision of the tape  43  at the first lower knife  271   a  and the first upper knife  275   a.    
      Thus, at the subsequent advancing step of the tape  43  a region  265  of the tape  43 , interposed between two adjacent containers  3  arrives in the area of the fifth lower knife  271   a  and the fifth upper knife  275   a,  without that region  265  containing an incision, so avoiding the undesired effect of “cut-on-cut”, i.e. a cut executed in the area of a perforation line  267  previously provided in the tape  43 .  
      That tends to prevent the production of swarf, that, in the machines of the Prior Art, in particular in the case of forming of aluminium films, is particularly difficult to remove owing to the extremely small size and the high number of discard particles produced.  
      In the machines of the Prior Art care is actually taken to cut, in a cutting station, all of the regions interposed between adjacent containers and then, downstream of the cutting station, to separate from the tape a section of containers, such separation resulting in a cut overlapping with one of the incisions made before.  
      The possibility of vertically moving the upper knives  275   a,    275   b,    275   c,    275   d,    275   e  permits, when it is desired to produce sections  263  comprising a lower number of containers  3 , the rendering non-operational of the corresponding number of upper knives: in this manner the apparatus  1  is very versatile since it allows a rapid change of size of the sections  163  to be produced.  
      Obviously, the number of lower and upper knives with which the shearing device  269  is equipped may be different, and advantageously greater, than the number of lower and upper knives shown in  FIG. 37 .  
      With reference to the  FIG. 50 , a variant of the apparatus  1  is shown, wherein a shearing device  269   a  analogous to that previously described is associated with the knurling and coding unit  221 . The knurling and coding unit  221  comprises a pair of half-moulds with one of which there is associated a plurality of fixed knives, whereas with the other there is associated a plurality of adjustable knives whose position may be adjusted in the manner previously described. The fixed knives and adjustable knives are arranged to cut the tape  43  to obtain the perforation lines  267 .  
      Downstream of the knurling and coding unit  221  cutting means is provided for separating from the tape  43  sections  263  formed by a pre-established number of knives.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 49 and 50 , a tape  43  is obtained wherein a plurality of containers  3  is achieved, grouped within sections  163  that will have to be separated from the tape  43  by the shearing device  269   a.    
      Lines of perforation  267  are produced in regions  362  between adjacent containers  3  and intended to belong to the same carton  163 .  
      Conversely, no perforation line  267  is provided in regions  353  between containers  3  intended to belong to different sections  163 , since, in such regions, the cutting means will separate the section  163  from the remaining portion of the tape  43 .  
      The sections  163 , once separated from the tape  43 , are collected in containers  354  arranged downstream of the cutting means, and are directed to a packaging device.  
      Therefore, in apparatus for packaging suppositories it is possible to form, fill and seal the containers containing the suppositories in a sterile environment. The sections including containers are separated from the tape while still lying in the sterile environment, from which the sections may then be removed, for example by operators.  
      Packaging of the sections may then take place in non-sterile premises, so that the operating costs can be contained.  
      Furthermore,providing the shearing device  269   a  associated with the knurling and coding unit  221  contains the cost of the apparatus, since a dedicated shearing device is not required.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 14, 38 ,  39 , downstream of the shearing device  269 , the shearing station  261  comprises a collecting device  287  arranged for receiving the sections  263  previously obtained from the tape  43 .  
      The collecting device  287  comprises a pair of C-shaped guides  289  arranged for receiving a section  263 .  
      The guides  289  are moved, as indicated by the arrows F 17  and F 18  between a grabbing position A, represented with continuous line in  FIG. 38 , wherein the guides  289  retain a section  263 , and a releasing position B, represented with dashed line in  FIG. 38 , wherein the guides  289  deliver the section  263  to an underlying collecting drawer  291  (see  FIG. 14 ). The collecting device further comprises electromagnetic actuating means  293  arranged for transferring the guides  289  from the grabbing position A to the releasing position B, and vice versa.  
      The guides  289  are mounted in a wheel  295  rotatably driven by a motor  297 : thus, it is possible to deposit into the drawer  291  sections  263  mutually rotated by  1800 .  
      That permits, in the case of containers  3  having a portion substantially shaped like a truncated cone, such as the containers for suppositories, reduction of the space occupied by a group of superimposed sections  263 , by preventing the “fanlike” effect shown in  FIG. 40 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 41 , during operation the guides  289  may collect a first section  263   a  and deposit it into the drawer  291  without subjecting it to rotation. Successively, the guides  289  may collect a second section  263  and deposit it into the drawer  291  after having rotated it by 180°. Still successively, the guides  289  may receive a third section  263   c  and place it into the drawer  291  without having subjected it to rotation. By proceeding in this manner it is possible to form stacks comprising a pre-established number of superimposed sections  263 .  
      Therefore, the wheel  295  causes the guides  289  to execute a rotation of 180° every alternate advancing step of the tape  43  through the shearing station  261 .  
      The apparatus  1  is also particularly suitable for forming bottles or phials starting from plastics film. In this case, referring to  FIG. 2 , the forming station  9  comprises: 
          a first unit  35  wherein the first film  5  and the second film  7  are subjected to a pre-heating and a welding along a peripheral edge  47   a  in order to define pre-forms  299  of the containers  3   a  to be formed;     a second unit  37  wherein the weld bead corresponding to the peripheral edge  47   a  of the pre-forms  299  is cooled in order to harden. Punching of the pre-forms  301  along the peripheral edge  47   a  takes place also in the station  37 ; such punching does not involve the entire extension of the peripheral edge  47   a:  portions  301  of said peripheral edge  47   a  actually remain fixed to the tape  43  in order to enable transferring of the pre-forms  299  and then of the formed containers.     a third unit  39  wherein the first film  5  and the second film  7  are heated in order to be prepared for the subsequent forming; and     a fourth unit  41  wherein pressurised air is injected into the pre-forms  299  in order to obtain containers  3   a  from the pre-forms  299 .        

      In particular, the apparatus may be used for producing containers  3   a  of the type described in European Patent Application Publication EP-A-0719630.