Patent Description:
Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a packaging apparatus for producing sealed packages from a web of packaging material and being filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.

Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a method for producing sealed packages from a web of packaging material and being filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.

As is known, many liquid or pourable products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, cream, water, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar, etc., are sold in packages made of a sterilized multilayer packaging material.

A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a multilayer packaging material. The multilayer packaging material comprises at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.

In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the multilayer packaging material also comprises a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil, or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.

Typically, the multilayer packaging material also comprises a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

Often the multilayer packaging material is provided in the form of a web of packaging material, in particular having a succession of repeated patterns, each pattern defining the pattern of one respective single package obtained at the end of the packaging process.

Packages of this sort are normally produced on a fully automatic packaging apparatus, which comprises a conveying device for advancing the web of packaging material along an advancement path, a sterilization unit for sterilizing the packaging material, a tube forming and sealing device arranged within an isolation chamber and configured to form a tube from the advancing packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube, a filling device for directing the pourable product into the tube and a package forming unit configured to form and to transversally seal and cut the tube for obtaining the single packages.

Typically the web of packaging material is provided in the form of a reel, which at some point of the operation of the packaging apparatus is about to exhaust. In order to avoid the need to interrupt the production, a typical packaging apparatus typically comprises a splicing unit for splicing a new web of packaging material to the web of packaging material in use. This, however, requires the portion of the web of packaging material in use, which will be spliced together with the new web of packaging material, to be in a fixed and initially non-moving position.

Therefore, a typical packaging apparatus also comprises a buffer unit arranged upstream of the tube forming and sealing device and configured to buffer the web of packaging material. Thus, prior to the need of splicing the new web of packaging material to the web of packaging material in use, the quantity of the web of packaging material present within the buffer unit (e.g. measured in meters and/or in seconds of the web of packaging material present within the buffer unit) is increased such that during the activation of the splicing unit, the portions of the web of packaging material being arranged upstream of the buffer unit do not advance, while the portions of the web of packaging material arranged downstream of the buffer unit advance as being feed by the buffer unit.

The known buffer units comprise an infeed roller device, an outfeed roller device and a first group of rollers and a second group of rollers. Thereby, the distance between the second group of rollers and the first group of rollers is variable so as to control the quantity of the web of packaging material being present within the buffer unit. When there is the need to increase the quantity of the web of packaging material, one increases the infeed speed with respect to the outfeed speed and increases the relative distance between the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers, while when there is the need to reduce the quantity of the web of packaging material within the buffer unit, one reduces the infeed speed with respect to the outfeed speed and reduces the relative distance between the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers.

During a normal operation condition, the relative distance between the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers is kept substantially constant.

Even though such buffer units operate satisfyingly well, a desire is felt in the sector to further improve the known packaging apparatuses.

<CIT> discloses a tensioning device comprising at least one tensioning assembly having at least a first drive roller, a second drive roller, a first drive motor connected to the first drive roller and configured to actuate rotation of the first drive roller and a second drive motor connected to the second drive roller and configured to actuate rotation of the second drive roller around the second rotation axis. A control unit is configured to control the first drive motor and the second drive motor such that a free loop of a web of packaging material expands and/or advances, in use, between the first drive roller and the second drive roller.

<CIT> discloses tensioning device comprising a main drive roller rotatable around a main rotation axis and a main drive motor configured to actuate rotation of the main drive roller around the main rotation axis. The control unit is configured to control the main drive motor such that an angular speed and/or angular acceleration of the main drive roller is cyclically varied such to control the tension of a tube.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved buffer unit for a packaging apparatus for producing packages formed from a web of packaging material and being filled with a pourable product.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging apparatus for producing packages formed from a web of packaging material and being filled with a pourable product.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for producing packages formed from a web of packaging material and being filled with a pourable product.

According to the present invention, there is provided a buffer unit as claimed in claim <NUM>.

Further advantageous embodiments of the buffer unit according to the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

Advantageously and according to the present invention, there is provided a packaging apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

Further advantageous embodiments of the packaging apparatus according to the invention are specified in the claims being directly or indirectly dependent on claim <NUM>.

Advantageously and according to the present invention, there is provided a method according to claim <NUM>.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are specified in the claims being directly or indirectly dependent on claim <NUM>.

Number <NUM> indicates as a whole a packaging apparatus, in particular an automatic packaging apparatus, for (continuously) producing packages <NUM> filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, such as milk, fruit juice, wine, water, salt, sugar, and similar. Packaging apparatus <NUM> is configured to produce packages <NUM> from a web of packaging material <NUM>, in particular by forming, filling and sealing the web of packaging material <NUM>.

In more detail, web of packaging material <NUM> may have a multilayer structure (not shown) and may comprise at least one layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another. One of these two layers of heat-seal plastic material may define an inner face of package <NUM> eventually contacting the pourable product.

Preferably, web of packaging material <NUM> may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferentially, web of packaging material <NUM> may also comprises a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

According to the embodiment disclosed, web of packaging material <NUM> comprises a succession of patterns, in particular each pattern being associated to one respective package <NUM> once the respective package <NUM> has been formed.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, packaging apparatus <NUM> comprises at least:.

Preferentially, operation of buffer unit <NUM> may be controlled in dependence of operation of conveying device <NUM>.

In more detail, tube forming and sealing device <NUM> may be arranged downstream of buffer unit <NUM> along web advancement path P.

Preferentially, conveying device <NUM> may also be configured to advance tube <NUM> along a tube advancement path Q. In more detail, conveying device <NUM> may be configured to advance tube <NUM> and any intermediate of tube <NUM>, in a manner known as such, along tube advancement path Q. In particular, with the wording intermediates of tube <NUM> any configuration of web of packaging material <NUM> is meant prior to obtaining the tube structure and after folding of web of packaging material <NUM> by tube forming and sealing device <NUM> has started. In other words, the intermediates of tube <NUM> are a result of a gradual folding of web of packaging material <NUM> so as to obtain tube <NUM>, in particular by overlapping lateral edges of web of packaging material <NUM> with one another.

Preferentially, packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a control unit configured to control operation of packaging apparatus <NUM>.

Advantageously, packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise an isolation chamber (not shown and known as such) having an inner environment, in particular a sterile inner environment. In particular, the isolation chamber separates the inner environment from an (hostile) outer environment.

Preferentially, the isolation chamber may have a vertical orientation.

Preferentially, tube forming and sealing device <NUM> may be at least partially arranged within the isolation chamber and/or the inner environment and configured to form and longitudinally seal tube <NUM> within inner environment.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a splicing unit (not shown and known as such) configured to splice a new web of packaging material to web of packaging material <NUM> in use.

In particular, the splicing unit may be arranged upstream of buffer unit <NUM> along web advancement path P.

Preferentially, packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a magazine unit <NUM> having at least a first support for carrying a reel <NUM> of web of packaging material <NUM>. Even more preferentially, magazine unit <NUM> may also comprise a second support for carrying another reel <NUM> of web of packaging material <NUM>.

More specifically, one of the first support and the second support may provide for web of packaging material <NUM> in use and the other one of the first support and the second support may provide for the new web of packaging material <NUM>. In use, the roles of the first support and the second support alternate. For example, at first the first support carries reel <NUM> of web of packaging material <NUM> in use, while the second support carries reel <NUM> of the new of packaging material <NUM>. After the splicing, the second support carries reel <NUM> of web of packaging material <NUM> in use, while the first support carries another reel <NUM> of the new of packaging material <NUM>.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a sterilizing unit (not shown and known as such) configured to sterilize, in particular by means of chemical and/or physical sterilization, the, in use, advancing web of packaging material <NUM>. Preferentially, the sterilization station may be arranged upstream of tube forming and sealing device <NUM> and downstream of buffer unit <NUM> along web advancement path P.

Preferentially, the package forming unit may be configured to shape and transversally seal and in particular cut, in use, tube <NUM> during advancement of tube <NUM> along at least a portion of tube advancement path Q.

With particular reference to <FIG>, tube forming and sealing device <NUM> may comprise a tube forming unit <NUM> at least partially, preferentially fully, arranged within the isolation chamber, in particular within the inner environment, and configured to gradually fold, in use, web of packaging material <NUM> into tube <NUM>, in particular by (gradually) overlapping the lateral edges of web of packaging material <NUM> with one another. Preferentially, tube forming unit <NUM> may extend along a longitudinal axis, in particular having a vertical orientation.

Preferentially, tube forming and sealing device <NUM> may also comprise a sealing unit being at least partially arranged within the isolation chamber and/or the inner environment and configured to longitudinally seal tube <NUM>.

Furthermore, the sealing unit may comprise a sealing head (not shown) arranged within the isolation chamber and being configured to transfer thermal energy to tube <NUM> for longitudinally sealing tube <NUM>. In particular, the sealing head can be of any type, e.g. of the kind operating by means of induction heating and/or by a stream of a heated gas and/or by means of ultrasound and/or by laser heating and/or by any other means.

Preferentially, the sealing unit may also comprise a pressing assembly adapted to exert a mechanical force on tube <NUM> so as to ensure the longitudinal sealing of tube <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, filling device <NUM> may comprise a filling pipe <NUM> for directing the pourable product, in use, into tube <NUM>. In particular, filling pipe <NUM> may be in fluid connection or is controllable to be in fluid connection with a pourable product storage tank (not shown and known as such), which is adapted to store/provide for the pourable product, in particular the pourable food product, to be packaged.

Preferentially, filling pipe <NUM> may, in use, be at least partially placed within tube <NUM>.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the package forming unit may comprise a plurality of pairs of at least one respective operative assembly (known as such and not shown) and at least one counter-operative assembly (known as such and not shown); and.

In more detail, each operative assembly may be configured to cooperate, in use, with the respective counter-operative assembly of the respective pair for forming one respective package <NUM> from tube <NUM>. In particular, each operative assembly and the respective counter-operative assembly may be configured to shape, to transversally seal and, preferably also to transversally cut, tube <NUM> for forming packages <NUM>.

In further detail, each operative assembly and the respective counter-operative assembly may be configured to cooperate with one another for forming a respective package <NUM> from tube <NUM> when advancing along a respective operative portion of the respective conveying path. In particular, during advancement along the respective operative portion each operative assembly and the respective counter-operative assembly may advance parallel to and in the same direction as tube <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, buffer unit <NUM> comprises:.

In particular, the portion of web of packaging material <NUM> being present within buffer unit <NUM> may extend between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>.

In particular, buffer unit <NUM> may lack any further roller devices interposed between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM> along web advancement path P. In other words, there are no further roller devices interposed between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM> along web advancement path P.

Preferentially, web of packaging material <NUM> does not interact with any other kind of roller devices, and respective rollers, in addition to infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM> when being within buffer unit <NUM>.

Moreover, the loading of buffer unit <NUM> can be measured as the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> extending between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>. Thereby, the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> within buffer unit <NUM> can be expressed in terms of meters and/or seconds. In more detail, when expressing the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> within in meters, one intends the meters of web of packaging material <NUM> extending between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>, and along a longitudinal axis of web of packaging material <NUM>. In addition or alternatively, when expressing the quantity in seconds, one indicates the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> extending between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM> and the time it is possible to feed web of packaging material <NUM> out of buffering unit <NUM> without the need to introduce new web of packaging material <NUM> into buffer unit <NUM>.

Preferentially, buffer unit <NUM> is controllable in:.

Preferentially, buffer unit <NUM> is controlled, in use, in particular by means of the control unit, in the buffering configuration during a normal production of packaging apparatus <NUM> for forming packages <NUM>. When it becomes necessary (e.g. because one needs to prepare for activation of the splicing unit) to buffer web of packaging material <NUM> within buffer unit <NUM>, in particular between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>, buffer unit <NUM> is controlled, in use, in particular by means of the control unit, in the accumulation configuration. Afterwards (e.g. after completion of a splicing of web of packaging material <NUM> in use with the new web of packaging material <NUM>), buffer unit <NUM> is controlled, in use, in particular by means of the control unit, in the decumulation configuration. Then, buffer unit <NUM> is controlled, in particular by the control unit, in the buffering configuration again.

Moreover, buffer unit <NUM> also comprises an accumulation housing <NUM> having an accumulation space <NUM> configured to randomly receive (see <FIG> and <FIG>) web of packaging material <NUM> while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled, in use, in the accumulation configuration.

In particular, accumulation housing <NUM> may delimit accumulation space <NUM>.

More specifically and with particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, buffer unit <NUM>, in particular accumulation housing <NUM>, may be configured such that while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the accumulation configuration, web of packaging material <NUM> being present within buffer unit <NUM> randomly, in particular freely and randomly, falls into accumulation housing <NUM>, i.e. web of packaging material <NUM> being present within buffer unit <NUM> may only interact with infeed roller device <NUM>, outfeed roller device <NUM> and accumulation housing <NUM> and web of packaging material <NUM> does not take a defined and ordered position.

Additionally, in use, in dependence of the loading of buffer unit <NUM> (i.e. the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> present within accumulation housing <NUM> or, in other words, the meters of web of packaging material <NUM> present within accumulation space <NUM>) the shape of web of packaging material <NUM> continuously changes while buffer unit <NUM> is operated in the accumulation configuration. For example, web of packaging material <NUM> present within accumulation housing <NUM>, in particular accumulation space <NUM>, may take a form as the one shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, but not necessarily. For example, if web of packaging material <NUM> takes the form as the one shown in <FIG> or <FIG>, such a specific configuration would typically persist only for a short time as new web of packaging material <NUM> enters into accumulation space <NUM>.

It should be noted that preferentially the term "randomly" indicates that the shape of web of packaging material <NUM> is not determined and may vary.

In further detail, web of packaging material <NUM> randomly, in particular randomly and freely, extends between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM> while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the accumulation configuration.

In particular, as buffer unit <NUM> lacks any further roller device and/or roller between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>, web of packaging material <NUM> present within buffer unit <NUM> is freely connected between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>.

Moreover, while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the quantity of web of packaging material <NUM> present within buffer unit <NUM> can be modified, in particular until accumulation space <NUM> is fully occupied and/or a maximum load is obtained.

In more detail and with particular reference to <FIG>, buffer unit <NUM> is configured such that web of packaging material <NUM> is arranged in a free loop <NUM> within buffer unit <NUM>, in particular between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>, while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the buffering configuration.

In even more detail, buffer unit <NUM> is configured such that while, in use, buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the buffering configuration free loop <NUM> present within buffer unit <NUM> fluctuates around an average shape, e.g. measured in meters and/or in dependence of the position of an apex <NUM> of free loop <NUM>.

It should be noted that free loop <NUM> may develop as there are no further elements (such as, for example, rollers), which may define the shape of web of packaging material <NUM> extending within buffer unit <NUM>, in particular between infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>, and in particular also because of the acting gravitational force.

Advantageously, buffer unit <NUM> may be configured such that while buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the decumulation configuration, the randomly, in particular the freely and randomly, arranged web of packaging material <NUM> is decumulated out of accumulation space <NUM>, and in particular out of buffer unit <NUM>. Preferentially, buffer unit <NUM> is controlled back from the decumulation configuration to the buffering configuration once web of packaging material <NUM> present within buffer unit <NUM> takes the form of a free loop <NUM> again, and in particular having the desired quantity of web of packaging material <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, accumulation housing <NUM> may comprise a main wall <NUM>, a plurality of lateral delimiting walls <NUM> transversal, in particular perpendicular, to main wall <NUM> and a main opening <NUM> through which web of packaging material <NUM> enters into accumulation space <NUM>.

In particular, main wall <NUM> may be opposite to main opening <NUM>.

More specifically, main wall <NUM> may define a bottom wall of accumulation housing <NUM>.

Preferentially, main opening <NUM> may be delimited by respective lateral delimiting walls <NUM>.

In particular, main opening <NUM> may be arranged at an upper portion of accumulation housing <NUM>.

In use, when buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the accumulation configuration, web of packaging material <NUM> has a shape of a free loop until web of packaging material <NUM> starts to contact main wall <NUM>. Then, web of packaging material <NUM> becomes randomly distributed within accumulation housing <NUM>, in particular accumulation space <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, infeed roller device <NUM> may comprise a drive roller <NUM> and one or more counter rollers <NUM>, in the specific case shown two, in particular for interposing web of packaging material <NUM> between drive roller <NUM> and the one or more counter rollers <NUM>.

Moreover, infeed roller device <NUM> may also comprise an actuator <NUM>, in particular a motor, even more particular an electrical motor, configured to actuate a rotation of drive roller <NUM>. In particular, actuator <NUM> may be configured to control an angular speed of drive roller <NUM> such to at least partially control an infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> into accumulation housing <NUM>, in particular accumulation space <NUM>.

Reverting again to <FIG>, outfeed roller device <NUM> may also comprise a main roller <NUM> and one or more counter rollers <NUM>, in the specific case shown two, in particular so as to interpose, in use, web of packaging material <NUM> between main roller <NUM> and the one or more counter rollers <NUM>.

Preferentially, outfeed roller device <NUM> may also comprise a brake <NUM> configured to decelerate main roller <NUM>, in particular so as to control the tension of web of packaging material <NUM>, in particular downstream of outfeed roller device <NUM> along web advancement path P.

In particular, web of packaging material <NUM> may freely extend between drive roller <NUM> and main roller <NUM>.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, buffer unit <NUM> and/or conveying device <NUM> may be configured such that:.

In more detail, infeed roller device <NUM>, in particular drive roller <NUM>, is configured such to at least partially control the infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> into buffer unit <NUM> such that:.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, conveying device <NUM> may comprise a roller <NUM> arranged upstream of infeed roller device <NUM> along web advancement path P. In particular, roller <NUM> may be arranged such that web of packaging material <NUM> has an auxiliary free loop <NUM> between roller <NUM> and infeed roller device <NUM>.

In use, packaging apparatus <NUM> forms packages <NUM> filled with the pourable product. In particular, packaging apparatus <NUM> forms packages <NUM> from tube <NUM> formed from web of packaging material <NUM>, tube <NUM> being continuously filled with the pourable product.

In more detail, operation of packaging apparatus <NUM> (in other words, the formation of packages <NUM>) comprises at least the steps of:.

Preferentially, the formation of packages <NUM> also comprises a further step of advancing, during which tube <NUM> is advanced, in particular by conveying device <NUM>, along tube advancement path Q.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the formation of packages <NUM> also comprises a step of forming, during which packages <NUM> are formed from tube <NUM>, in particular by shaping, transversally sealing and in particular transversally cutting tube <NUM>. Preferentially, during the step of forming, packages <NUM> are formed by operation of the package forming unit.

Preferentially, operation of packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise the step of sterilizing, during which web of packaging material <NUM> is sterilized by the sterilization unit.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, operation of packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a step of splicing, during which a web of packaging material <NUM> in use is spliced with a new web of packaging material <NUM>.

Operation of packaging apparatus <NUM> may also comprise a step of controlling during which the buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in one of the accumulation configuration, the buffering configuration and the decumulation configuration.

In more detail, a step of accumulating is executed while the buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the accumulation configuration and during which web of packaging material <NUM> is randomly accumulated within buffer unit <NUM>, in particular within accumulation space <NUM> of accumulation housing <NUM>.

Moreover, a step of normal buffering is executed while the buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the buffering configuration and during which free loop <NUM> of web of packaging material <NUM>) is maintained within buffer unit <NUM>, in particular between inlet roller device <NUM> and outlet roller device <NUM>.

Additionally, a decumulation step is executed when the buffer unit <NUM> is controlled in the decumulation configuration and during which web of packaging material <NUM> is decumulated from buffer unit <NUM>, in particular from accumulation space <NUM> of accumulation housing <NUM>.

In even more detail, during the step of accumulating the infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> into buffer unit <NUM> may be larger than the outfeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> out of buffer unit <NUM>.

Moreover, during the step of decumulating, the infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> into buffer unit <NUM> may be smaller than the outfeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> out of buffer unit <NUM>. This may include the possibility of keeping the infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> at least for some time at <NUM>/s.

Additionally, during the step of normal buffering, the infeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> into buffer unit <NUM> may substantially correspond to the outfeed speed of web of packaging material <NUM> out of buffer unit <NUM>.

Preferentially, the step of accumulating may be executed prior to the step of splicing.

Moreover the step of decumulating may be executed during the step of splicing.

In further detail, the step of accumulating may be executed after the step of normal buffering. After termination of the step of accumulating, the step of decumulating is executed and then the step of normal buffering is executed again.

The advantages of buffer unit <NUM> and/or packaging apparatus <NUM> and the method according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, buffer unit <NUM> comes along with a simple design. This because there is neither a first group of rollers nor a second group of rollers as in the prior art buffer units. Accordingly, one also avoids relying on means for varying the relative distance between the first group of rollers and the second group of rollers.

A further advantage resides in that web of packaging material <NUM> when passing through buffer unit <NUM> is not in contact with any roller besides the ones of infeed roller device <NUM> and outfeed roller device <NUM>. This also reduces the stresses acting on web of packaging material <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A buffer unit (<NUM>) for a packaging apparatus (<NUM>) for forming packages (<NUM>) from a web of packaging material (<NUM>) and being filled with a pourable product;
the buffer unit (<NUM>) being configured to buffer the web of packaging material (<NUM>) and comprises:
- an infeed roller device (<NUM>) configured to feed the web of packaging material (<NUM>) into the buffer unit (<NUM>);
- an outfeed roller device (<NUM>) configured to direct the web of packaging material (<NUM>) out of the buffer unit (<NUM>) ;
characterized in that the buffer unit (<NUM>) further comprises:
- an accumulation housing (<NUM>) having an accumulation space (<NUM>) configured to randomly receive the web of packaging material (<NUM>);
wherein the buffer unit (<NUM>) is controllable in an accumulation configuration, in which the web of packaging material (<NUM>) is randomly accumulated within the buffer unit (<NUM>) ;
wherein the accumulation housing (<NUM>) comprises a main wall (<NUM>), a plurality of lateral delimiting walls (<NUM>) transversal to the main wall (<NUM>) and a main opening (<NUM>) through which the web of packaging material (<NUM>) enters into the accumulation space (<NUM>);
wherein when, in use, the buffer unit (<NUM>) is controlled in the accumulation configuration the web of packaging material (<NUM>) has a shape of a free loop until the web of packaging material (<NUM>) starts to contact the main wall (<NUM>), then the web of packaging material (<NUM>) becomes randomly distributed within the accumulation housing (<NUM>).