DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus and process for articles to be packaged.

The present invention preferably applies, though not exclusively, to the field of packaging articles, such as capsules containing an amount of food product, such as brewing products, for example coffee, a field to which reference will be made hereinafter without losing generality.

In particular, in the relevant technical field, packaging apparatuses are known in which the articles to be packaged are transported on a plane arranged in successive rows so that, along this transport line, the stations can be arranged to carry out a particular packaging step.

On the one hand, it is understood that increasing the size of these rows, i.e. the number of articles each row contains, makes it possible to carry out the same operation related to the aforesaid packaging step on a larger number of articles in one solution. In addition, the higher the number of articles in a row, the greater the productivity of the packaging apparatus, due to the higher article capacity.

On the other hand, the operations carried out in the packaging steps require a high level of precision, and in equal measure for each of the articles arranged in a single row, which depends to a large extent on the position the articles must take up at the transit thereof in the region of the respective packaging station.

To keep the articles of a row in a position that depends on a predefined pattern repeating itself, rigid transport elements that are pulled in sequence and that extend transversely to said transport direction are used.

Therefore, within the group of articles contained in each transverse element, the articles themselves have a mutual position that is fixed. However, slight errors in the positioning of the transverse elements may occur during the transport thereof, errors which depend on the mechanical clearance required for the operation of the apparatus and that cannot be eliminated, but that could lead to inaccurate positions of the articles at the transit thereof in the region of the respective packaging station. In the present disclosure, as well as in the herein enclosed claims, certain terms and expressions are deemed to have, unless otherwise expressly indicated, the meaning expressed in the following definitions.

Here and hereinafter, “article to be packaged” means an article which is intended to be formed, during a packaging process, so as to contain, within a container, an amount of product, such as a food product for example a brewing product, which is sealed from the external environment.

During the process, forming the article to be packaged involves the action of one or more packaging stations, each one designed to implement a packaging step on a plurality of articles to be packaged at a time.

In this respect, the articles to be packaged are transported by a transport system having a transport direction for the articles to be packaged.

In the transport system, the articles to be packaged are collected in several groups in which they are arranged according to a predefined pattern repeating itself in sequence, such as a linear row or more linear rows parallel with each other.

The articles to be packaged may be, for example, food and confectionery products already packaged in individual containers or wrappers, or capsules of coffee or other brewing beverages, bottles and cartons of beverages, pots of yoghurt, individual chocolates (wrapped or naked), candies, small boxes, pouches containing solid, liquid or semi- solid food products; in addition, products of the ceramic industry, sanitary pads for hygienic use, products of the tobacco industry, products of the cosmetic industry, products of the pharmaceutical industry, products of the personal & home care industry.

The articles to be packaged may be identical to each other, or they may differ in some characteristic of shape and/or appearance, such as shape, composition, colour or orientation in relation to other articles to be packaged.

Still for exemplary purposes, an article to be packaged is represented by a capsule, i.e. a hollow element having a round or cylindrical shape, otherwise known as a cup, having the function of a container, casing, covering, protection, cover or closure of a product contained therein, therefore having a predetermined shape, in which a head and a bottom are identified, which provides for it to be arranged in an upright vertical arrangement, lying in a seat on a transport plane defined on said transport system where multiple seats, such as recesses and/or supports, may be provided to hold the articles of a group to be packaged in the position required by the aforesaid predetermined pattern, by means of a stable support which maintains such fixed position, during the transport, in relation to the other articles to be packaged of the same group.

It is also understood that the articles to be packaged are fed continuously when they move at a predetermined speed, possibly variable, i.e. subject to acceleration and deceleration, but different from zero. Continuous feeding therefore differs from step- by-step feeding, in which the articles to be packaged move substantially in a step-by- step manner in the transport system.

“Rigid transport element” means a rigid element having a plurality of seats that precisely define the mutual positions of articles to be packaged positioned in such seats. The element is transported by the aforesaid transport system and is arranged transversely to the transport direction when it is moved.

“Packaging station” means a workstation of the packaging apparatus, arranged to perform a packaging operation on a plurality of articles to be packaged, all belonging to a single group of articles to be packaged transported in a transport element.

In this regard, it should be noted that the aforesaid plurality of articles to be packaged may in this case be a sub-set of said group of articles to be packaged or may coincide with the entire group.

An example of an operation carried out by said operating station, to which reference can be made later without losing generality, is the application on the article to be packaged of a laminar cover on an opening of the aforesaid capsule, and the subsequent sealing to the rims of such opening.

“Laminar cover” means a flexible flat element capable of sealing the capsule and its contents when it is applied and sealed, for example by welding, to the mouth of the capsule.

“Operating device” means a device, belonging to said operating station, which performs the aforesaid packaging operation on a single article to be packaged at a time.

“Plurality of operating devices” means a group of devices which are arranged to perform the aforesaid packaging operation each one on an article to be packaged of a group of articles transported on a rigid transport element.

“Movement mechanism” means a device which implements the movement of more than one operating device at a time, from a working position, in which the operating device performs its packaging operation on the intended packaging article, and a retracted position which precedes the subsequent action of the operating devices. “Rigid movement” generally means the simultaneous movement of more than one operating device, wherein the position of each operating device in relation to the other operating devices with which it is simultaneously moved does not undergo any change during the movement.

In particular, the concept of “rigid movement” applies to more than one operating device at a time, for example when they are moved between a working position and a retracted position, and vice versa, or when they simultaneously undergo an adjustment of position concerning them all to the same extent.

“Movable pulling line” means equipment performing a linear movement in said transport system, and which is arranged to pull, in a continuous or jerky motion, a respective rigid transport element.

“Positioning marker” means a marker that identifies the position of a point of each rigid transport element, for example one end thereof. It must be understood that each rigid transport element may have one or more markers, as required.

“Detection system” of said positioning markers means a system that can recognise the positions that the positioning markers identify, generating a signal representative of that position.

The detection system may be of the optical type, recognising the position of a suitably illuminated retroreflective element, or alternatively comprising a video camera device which detects and recognises the image of the positioning marker, deriving the position thereof.

“Control unit" means a processor capable of receiving signals generated by the detection system, and of processing a control signal in a feedback loop, determining the actuation of the aforesaid movement mechanism.

“Support structure” means a structure of the packaging station that maintains said plurality of operating devices and the associated movement mechanisms in a position related to the articles to be packaged in the transport system.

A “stationary” support structure means that it is immobile with respect to the transport of the articles to be packaged, in particular because it is constrained to the load-bearing frame of the packaging apparatus, or to the ground.

“Transit” of a transport element “in the region of’ the packaging station means that the transport element is in a suitable position for the station packaging devices to carry out the expected packaging operation on the articles to be packaged. In particular, said support structure is of the bridge-like type if the operating devices are over the articles to be packaged during the transit thereof, and provides at least one support base on the side, or on both sides, of the transport system itself

The Applicant noted that the transfer speed of the articles to be packaged during their packaging process is crucial to the overall process economy, as high production volumes can be achieved with fewer packaging apparatuses.

Furthermore, the Applicant noted that, besides the need to proceed at the highest possible speed, another important and unavoidable requirement is to increase the capacities with which the articles to be packaged are transported in the respective transport system, a requirement which involves an increase in the size of the system itself, and in particular in the transverse width of the rigid transport elements thereof

For exemplary purposes, each rigid transport element might contain between one and three rows, and possibly more, of elements to be packaged; each row might also comprise more than ten elements each, so that the respective packaging stations can implement their respective packaging steps on an increasing number of articles to be packaged.

The Applicant has also verified that increasing the aforesaid transverse dimensions of the rigid transport elements may lead to errors, though minor, in positioning the elements to be packaged. The Applicant found that, in general, the extent of such errors tends to increase by increasing both the aforementioned transverse dimensions and the aforementioned transport speeds, because the error depends mostly on the mechanical clearances in the transport system, which cannot be eliminated and which, on the contrary, allow the transport system to achieve high speeds in the flow of the transported articles to be packaged.

However, the Applicant noted that the reduction of the capacity of the articles to be packaged does not in any case allow for the complete removal of such errors, and that they may in any case determine a wrong application of one or more packaging steps, thus defeating the final result of the packaging process. The Applicant also noted that adjusting the position of the individual rigid transport elements at the packaging stations might increase the complexity of the transport system itself, and its performance in terms of transport capacity might be limited.

The Applicant moreover realized that the substantial immutability of the mutual positions of the articles to be packaged in the same rigid transport element may be exploited to adjust the position of the operating devices acting on the articles to be packaged.

The Applicant therefore perceived that the aforesaid adjustment could be implemented by rigidly moving groups of operating devices and not individual devices, to more easily adapt their position to that determined by the transport of the elements to be packaged.

The Applicant has finally found that making the respective movement mechanisms integral to the support structures of the respective packaging stations would allow the station itself to adjust the position of the operating devices in groups, or even possibly in a single solution, based on the positioning error, either the expected one and the one actually detectable by any detection system, of the rigid transport elements.

In particular, the invention, in a first aspect thereof, relates to a packaging apparatus for articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus comprises a transport system having a transport direction for the articles to be packaged and a plurality of rigid transport elements.

Preferably, the rigid transport elements are moved in sequence, and they extend transversely to that transport direction.

Preferably, each rigid transport element comprises a plurality of seats defining a predefined pattern of articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus comprises at least one packaging station which is arranged along said transport direction.

Preferably, the packaging station has a stationary support structure and a respective packaging system with a plurality of operating devices.

Preferably, each operating device is arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the other operating devices, and each of said operating devices is capable of carrying out a packaging operation on a corresponding article to be packaged at the transit of the respective rigid transport element, in the region of the packaging station.

Preferably, the packaging apparatus comprises a movement mechanism which is integral with said support structure, which rigidly moves at least some of the operating devices of said plurality of operating devices with respect to the position of a correspondent plurality of seats of a single transport element.

This adjustment, made by the movement mechanism, ensures that the correct position of said at least some operating devices of said plurality of operating devices is adapted in a sufficiently precise manner to the deviation of the position of the corresponding plurality of seats of a single transport element, i.e. the position of the transport element, with respect to a nominal position, provided by the design of the apparatus.

Thereby, the mutual position of the operating devices in the packaging system and of the articles to be packaged in the respective seats enables the correct execution of said packaging operation.

Thanks to these features, an optimal correspondence between the positions of the operating devices and the articles to be packaged can be achieved, so that the packaging operation may be carried out with the utmost precision regardless of any position error that may affect the transport element.

It should also be noted that this solution, still thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, can be applied to both continuous transport systems and step-by-step feed transport systems, thus allowing for an increase in both the performance thereof in terms of transport capacity and in the size thereof.

The invention, in a second aspect thereof, relates to a packaging process for carrying out a packaging operation on articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the aforesaid packaging operation is carried out by means of a plurality of operating devices, each one acting on an intended packaging article.

Preferably, the packaging process comprises a step of placing a plurality of articles in a predetermined position on a sequence of rigid transport elements.

Preferably, the packaging process then comprises a step of moving said transport elements according to a transport direction with respect to a packaging station housing said operating devices.

Preferably, at the transit of each transport element in the region of said packaging station, the packaging process comprises a step of adjusting the position of at least some of the operating devices.

Preferably, this movement step takes place by rigidly moving the operating devices with respect to the transport element, i.e. by maintaining the mutual position of the operating devices of said part.

Thereby, a positioning of the operating devices that allows the correct execution of said packaging operation is obtained. In other words, adjusting the mutual position between the packaging elements and their respective operating devices is somewhat simplified, as the transport system is not changed in its structure.

The invention, in a third aspect thereof, relates to a packaging process for carrying out a packaging operation on articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the aforesaid packaging operation is carried out by means of a plurality of operating devices, each one acting on an intended packaging article.

Preferably, the packaging process comprises a step of placing a plurality of articles in a predetermined position on a sequence of rigid transport elements.

Preferably, the packaging process then comprises a step of moving said transport elements according to a transport direction with respect to a packaging station housing said operating devices.

Preferably, at the transit of each transport element in the region of said packaging station, the packaging process comprises a step of detecting its position and, accordingly, adjusting the position of at least some of the operating devices in the packaging station by moving them with respect to the transport element.

Thereby, a positioning of the operating devices that allows the correct execution of said packaging operation is obtained.

In other words, the adjustment of the position error of the transport elements is detected and, thanks to a feedback, the position of the operating devices is adjusted accordingly, allowing an optimal execution of the process itself.

The invention, in a fourth aspect thereof, relates to a packaging station for carrying out a packaging operation on a plurality of articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the aforesaid packaging operation takes place by operating simultaneously, and at the transit thereof, on said plurality of articles to be packaged.

Preferably, the articles to be packaged of said plurality are arranged in predetermined positions according to a predefined pattern.

Preferably, the packaging station comprises a plurality of operating devices, each one intended to act on one of the articles to be packaged and therefore arranged in a respective corresponding position.

Preferably, the packaging station also comprises a system for detecting the position of a group of articles to be packaged according to a predefined pattern. Preferably, the packaging station comprises a movement mechanism which is adapted to move all or at least some of the operating devices of said plurality so that the position of their respective pattern corresponds to the position of the respective articles to be packaged at their transit.

Thereby, the correct execution of this packaging operation by the operating devices in the reached position is made possible.

Thanks to these features, the packaging station does not need to carry out any action on the transport system of the articles to be packaged.

In at least one of the aforesaid aspects, the present invention may further comprise at least one of the following preferred features.

Preferably, in the transport apparatus, the operating devices of the packaging system are integral with each other, and it is provided that the transport mechanism rigidly moves the entire packaging system.

Thereby, the structure of the packaging station is simplified, and the adjustment process ensures that the aforesaid movement occurs only once, at the transit of each transport element.

Preferably, the aforesaid transport system rigidly pulls the transport elements along a straight-line path, at least at said packaging station.

This feature allows to reduce the overall dimensions and minimise positioning errors of the transport elements.

Preferably, the transport system comprises a pair of movable pulling lines to which the respective ends of the transport elements are secured.

This choice allows to minimise the tolerances involved, and therefore the errors which the apparatus must cope with.

Preferably, at the transit of each transport element, the position thereof is detected to adjust the position of at least some of the operating devices in the packaging station.

This makes it possible to determine a feedback loop that is based on the actual error in the position of the transport element, which may not be repetitive and predictable in time, or inferred from other movable elements of the apparatus.

Preferably, each transport element comprises one or more positioning markers, each one arranged in a predefined position. This marker, which may be optical, magnetic, mechanical, and so on, correlates its position with the position of the transport element.

Preferably, the station includes a system for detecting said positioning markers, which generates a signal related to their position at the transit thereof in the region of the packaging station.

The detection system then allows adjusting the movement mechanism in the packaging station.

Preferably, the detection system is of the optical type, with a video camera, and the marker is of the optical type, thus generating a signal representing the position of the transport element in a simple, direct, and precise manner.

Preferably, the optical type detection system comprises markers consisting of a retroreflective element, suitably illuminated, whose position is immediately detectable by means of an optical sensor, in order to compare this position with an expected position corresponding to the nominal position of the rigid transport element, i.e. the theoretical position not affected by any type of position error.

Alternatively, the optical detection system might comprise a video camera and an image recognition system that recognises the marker and its position relative to an expected position.

Preferably, the detection of the marker position, as well as the adjustment of the position of the operating devices with a rigid movement thereof, takes place at the transit of the rigid transport element in the region of the packaging station, i.e. in a position suitable for executing the packaging operation.

Preferably, the transport system is of the type providing for a step-by-step feed, and the detection of the position of the rigid transport elements at the transit thereof in the region of the packaging station takes place when they are stationary.

Preferably, the packaging station also comprises a control unit which receives signals generated by said detection system and which controls the movement mechanism so that, for each transport element, an adjustment of the position of the packaging system is carried out.

The signal thereby generated by the detection system is managed directly by the packaging station.

Preferably, the seats formed in each transport element are arranged in one or more rows that are rectilinear and perpendicular to said transport direction. This allows to maximise the density of the articles to be packaged in the transport system, and it allows the operating devices to be moved by rows.

Preferably, the support structure of the packaging station is of suspended bridge-like type, supporting the packaging system over a plane where the transport elements are pulled.

The operating devices are thereby already in close proximity to the articles to be packaged, and thus require only minor adjustment of their position.

Preferably, the packaging station comprises a device for raising and lowering the packaging system with respect to a plane where the transport elements are pulled.

Thus, the packaging devices take up a raised configuration, in which the transport elements are moved with respect thereto, and a lowered position in which the operating devices carry out said packaging operation.

This allows all the operating devices to be operated in just one solution at the transit of each transport element.

Preferably, the movement mechanism comprises a pair of actuators each acting on a respective end of the packaging system.

This expedient simplifies the structure of the packaging system position adjustment, without having to alter the positions of the operating devices.

Preferably, the operating devices are devices for sealing a laminar cover on an opening of a container, or capsule, which constitutes the article to be packaged.

This makes it possible to effectively synchronise the delivery of the laminar covers with their sealing.

Preferably, the aforesaid sealing device carries out a welding of the laminar cover edge onto said opening rim.

This sealing, which must be carried out on a very small target area, may therefore benefit from the positioning accuracy of the operating devices with respect to the capsules to be sealed.

The present invention will be hereinafter described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, which is provided for illustrative and non-limiting purposes with reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

* Figure 1 shows a first overall perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus for packaging articles according to the present invention;

* Figure 2 shows a second partial perspective view of the packaging apparatus of Figure 1, from a different point of view, showing a packaging station thereof;

* Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the packaging station of Figure 2, with an enlargement relative to the transport system of the packaging apparatus;

* Figure 4 shows a perspective and partial section view of the packaging station of Figure 2 and of a part of the packaging apparatus;

* Figure 5 shows, through some enlargements of a partial perspective view of the packaging apparatus of Figure 1, a position optical detection system; and

* Figure 6 shows, with respective elevation views referred to as A, B, C and D, four examples of position adjustment in the packaging apparatus of Figure 1.

In the enclosed figures, 100 denotes as a whole an apparatus for packaging articles to be packaged.

In this example, a particular article to be packaged is taken into consideration for non limiting purposes, namely a capsule for the production of brewing beverages.

The capsule is of the type consisting of a substantially rigid casing, cup-shaped, having an open circular opening at the top that must be closed by a cover which, in the present example, is a flat laminar cover.

The flat laminar cover consists of a flexible sheet which has a contour such as to be superimposed, with a very small tolerance range, on the flat rim of the upper mouth.

This sheet may, still for exemplary purposes, be made of a plastic material or composite material, with a heat-sealable face applied to the aforesaid rims. Alternatively, there may be glue deposition between the rims and the sheet.

In any case, the laminar cover is arranged to precisely adhere to the rims of the circular mouth. Subsequently, the application requires the cover to be sealed tightly, e.g. by welding, to achieve a permanent separation of the capsule content from the outside.

The packaging apparatus 100 comprises an annular-type transport system 200, driven by a pair of end rollers 201, which determines a sliding transport plane where an inlet section 300 and an outlet section 400 are identified.

It is understood that the example shown herein provides a step-by-step feed of the transport plane, with a substantially constant average feed speed, but a continuous feed at a constant speed might also be provided. The transport plane of the transport system 200 thus moves between these sections, defining a rectilinear transport direction F.

Between these two inlet and outlet sections 300, 400, the packaging apparatus 100 comprises, in sequence, in the order determined by the transport direction F, a delivery station 500 of the capsules, which are delivered on the transport plane in rows arranged according to a line that is substantially perpendicular to said transport direction F.

Each row of articles to be packaged extends so as to transversely occupy the entire length of the transport plane; in the present example, the delivery station 500 of the articles to be packaged delivers a pair of parallel, adjacent rows of articles to be packaged, supplying them from a plurality of stacks contained in tubular channels of the delivery station 500.

Subsequently, the packaging apparatus 100 comprises a capsule filling station 600 comprising a plurality of dispensers 601, arranged in this example in four rows, in view of the transverse dimensions of each individual dispenser 601 which is arranged to deliver a predetermined amount of product, in the present example a brewing product such as coffee.

Then, the packaging apparatus 100 comprises a conditioning station 700, which is for placing the articles to be packaged in a preliminary condition suitable for the execution of a subsequent packaging operation.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, said conditioning station 700 is a station for positioning laminar cover elements on a capsule to be closed.

Subsequently, it is provided a packaging station 800 which, in the present embodiment, carries out a packaging operation consisting in sealing the capsules by welding the laminar cover element onto the rims of their top mouths, of a respective laminar cover.

Thus, the aforesaid packaging station 800 is arranged at the transport system 200 along said transport direction F, so as to carry out a packaging operation on the articles to be packaged which, in this example, consists in sealing the laminar cover elements on the mouth of the capsules.

Once having passed through this packaging station 800, the transport system 200 leads the sealed capsules to a station 900 for extracting the capsules from the transport plane (Figure 1), positioned at the outlet section 400.

The transport system 200 has a plurality of rigid transport elements 1 which are pulled in sequence in the transport direction F, e which extend transversely to said transport direction F.

Each transport element 1 is made from an elongated rigid plate having, in this example, two rows of circular through holes extending along its length and forming respective seats 2 each receiving a single capsule from said delivery station 500. As the plate is rigid, the transport element 1 is rigid, and the positions defined on it by said seats 2 for the articles to be packaged cannot vary from one another.

Thus, each transport element 1 has a plurality of seats 2 that define a predefined position pattern of the articles to be packaged, a pattern that repeats itself in all the transport elements 1.

It is understood that the two rows of seats 2 on each transport element 1 correspond exactly to the two rows of capsules that are delivered simultaneously from the delivery station 500 when the intended transport element 1 transits below it.

However, it is understood that the number of rows may vary in the single rigid plate. In this example, the two rows of seats 1 are identical and positioned in such a way that each opening of one row corresponds to an opening of the second one.

A predefined pattern of elements to be packaged is thereby obtained, in this example with a double-row rectangular geometry, resulting from the delivery, in two separate rows, by the delivery station 500.

Referring on the other hand, to the packaging process according to the invention, the delivery station 500 provides a step in which a plurality of articles to be packaged is positioned in the intended seats 2, thus in a predetermined position on a sequence of rigid transport elements 1.

The transport system rigidly pulls the transport elements 1 along the straight-line path defined by the aforesaid transport system 200, generally at least at the packaging station 800 implementing the present invention in this example of a packaging apparatus.

In this respect, the transport system 200 comprises a pair of movable pulling lines, consisting for example of transport chains 3, to which the respective ends of the transport elements 1 are secured, with an anchorage (Figure 3) providing a pulling pin 4 at each of said ends.

The aforesaid packaging station 800 has a stationary support structure 5 and a packaging system 6 with a plurality of operating devices 7, each one being arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the other operating devices 7. In this example, the operating devices consist of a plunger element 8 which is moved with an alternating motion from top to bottom and vice versa in a vertical direction FI, which has at its distal end a welding end 9 which couples with the laminar cover and the rims of the capsule upper mouth.

However, it is understood that the operating device 7 might also carry out another function requiring a precise positioning with respect to the position of the intended capsule, which in turn is determined by the position of the respective transport element 1.

In general, each of said operating devices 7 is capable of carrying out a packaging operation on a corresponding article to be packaged at the transit of the respective transport element 1 in the region of the packaging station 800.

In this regard, in the present example, the packaging station 800 comprises two rows of operating devices 7 which correspond, as for arrangement and number, to the two rows of seats 2 of each transport element 1, so that they are simultaneously implemented on the articles to be packaged at the transit of the respective transport element 1.

The support structure 5 is of suspended bridge-like type, and it supports the packaging system 6 over the transport plane where the transport elements 1 are pulled. Such structure comprises a pair of uprights 10 at each end of the packaging station 800, rising from a base of the support structure 5, and the top of each of said pairs of uprights 10 is joined by a transverse support element 11, forming a box-shaped casing of the packaging system 6 from which said operating devices 7 protrude downwards.

The support structure 5 is constrained to the load-bearing frame of the packaging apparatus 100, and it is therefore stationary in relation to the transport system 200.

From the point of view of the process according to the invention, the transport system 200 carries out a step in which the transport elements are moved according to a transport direction F, with respect to a packaging station 800 housing said operating devices 7.

In order to move the operating devices 7, the packaging station 800 includes a raising and lowering device 12 of the packaging system 6 with respect to the transport plane where the transport elements 1 are pulled, such that the operating devices 7 for the packaging operation take up a raised configuration, in which the transport elements 1 are move with respect thereto, and a lowered position in which the operating devices 7 carry out said packaging operation. The raising and lowering device 12 comprises, at the lower ends of the uprights 10, a motor drive inside the support structure 5 acting by means of three pins 15 connected to the packaging system 6 by means of respective connection seats 14.

The support structure 5 also comprises a pair of sealing wheels 13 enclosing the compartment containing the aforesaid motor drive.

The aforesaid motor drive therefore controls the raising and lowering uprights 10 according to a frequency that depends on their rotation speed, selected so as to follow the sliding speed of the transport elements 1 on the transport plane.

As it can be seen, in this example the part of the support structure that is above the transport plane has been made movable for moving the packaging system 6, but another type of movement system may be provided, in which the support structure above the transport plane is stationary.

The packaging apparatus 100 according to the invention comprises a movement mechanism, referred to as a whole by 17, which is integral with said support structure, in particular with the support element 11, rigidly moving the operating devices 7, or at least a part thereof, with respect to a corresponding plurality of seats 2 of a single transport element 1.

This movement concerning the operating devices 7 represents a fine adjustment which allows their correct positioning so that the mutual position of the operating devices 7 in the packaging system 6 and of the articles to be packaged in their respective seats 2 allows the correct execution of the packaging operation, i.e. specifically, the operation of sealing the laminar cover on the rims of the capsule top mouth.

From a more general point of view, it is provided that the movement mechanism 17 rigidly moves a part of the operating devices 7, integral with each other, of the packaging system 6, in order to adjust the position of the operating devices 7 of such part with respect to the reference seats 2.

In the present example, the special case is shown wherein the operating devices 7 of the packaging system 6 are all in a block integral with each other, and wherein it is provided that the movement mechanism 17 rigidly moves the entire packaging system 6, i.e. the operating devices 7 all together.

From the point of view of the process according to the invention, at the transit of each transport element 1 in the region of the packaging station 800, there is provided a step in which the position of at least a part of the operating devices 7 is adjusted by moving them rigidly with respect to the intended transport element 1 which is stationary at the packaging station 800, in a position suitable for carrying out the packaging operation. A mutual positioning of the operating devices and seats 2 in the aforesaid transport element 1, allowing for the correct execution of the packaging operation, i.e. the sealing of the covers, is thereby achieved.

In the present example, the movement mechanism 17 comprises a pair of actuators 18, in particular linear actuators, each one acting on a respective end of the packaging system 6, which is free to move by sliding and rotating in a horizontal plane that is defined by the support structure, i.e., in the present case, the transverse support element 11.

In the present example, the actuator 18 comprises a rotary electric motor 19 and a screw shaft which is driven by the rotation of the motor 19: the screw shaft is engaged in a nut of a respective movable equipment 20 on which the end of the body of the packaging system 6 is integral through a control pin 21 which allows the rotation of said body induced by a different translation of the two ends.

The aforesaid movement mechanism 17 comprises a system for detecting the position of the transport element 1 at the transit thereof in the region of the packaging station 800.

In this position, such position is detected to actively adjust, by means of a feedback loop, the position of the operating devices 7 in the packaging station 800 as described above.

From the point of view of the packaging process according to the present invention, at the transit of each transport element 1 in the region of said packaging station 800, there is provided a step in which its position is detected, and consequently the position of at least a part of the operating devices 7 in the packaging station 800 is adjusted by moving them with respect to the detected transport element 1, thereby achieving a positioning of the operating devices 7 that allows the correct execution of the packaging operation, i.e. the sealing of the laminar cover.

In the present example, each transport element 1 comprises one or more positioning markers 22, each one arranged at a predefined position which here is each end of the transport element 1.

The marker 22 may be of any type, for example an optical marker consisting of a retroreflective element that is suitably illuminated, or a permanent magnet, or a mechanical element, and so on.

The detection system may therefore comprise one or more elements 23 detecting the position of a respective marker 22 at the packaging station 800. In the present example, in which the marker 22 is a retroreflective element, the detection element 23 is an appropriate optical sensor, in particular a photocell.

Said detection elements 23 generate, in the detection system, a signal which is representative of the position of the transport element 1, and in particular of its possible rotation or misalignment on the transport plane of the transport system 200 at the packaging station 800.

The movement mechanism 17 therefore provides a control unit 25 which receives said signals generated by said system and sends a position control command to the movement mechanism 17 (Figure 5) so that, for each transport element 1, a position adjustment of the packaging system 6 is carried out.

Referring to Figure 6, the possible adjustments allowed by the movement mechanism 17, i.e. its actuators 18, are shown.

In case A, the packaging system 6 does not require any position adjustment as the transport element 1, on which its operating devices 7 operate, is in the expected position.

In case B, the packaging system 6 requires an overall leftward movement, because the transport element 1, on which its operating devices 7 operate, is in a more forward position than expected.

It is understood that, correspondingly, the packaging system 6 may be subject to an overall rightward movement, because the transport element 1, on which its operating devices 7 operate, is in a less forward position than expected.

In case C, the packaging system 6 requires a slight counter-clockwise rotation, because the transport element 1, on which its operating devices 7 operate, is in a position rotated in that direction.

On the contrary, in case D, the packaging system 6 requires a slight clockwise rotation, because the transport element 1, on which its operating devices 7 operate, is in a position rotated in that direction.

However, it is understood that the packaging system may also be subject to a combination of the above-described movements.

A person skilled in the art may, to meet additional and contingent requirements, make numerous further modifications and variations to the above-described packaging apparatus and packaging process for articles to be packaged, all of which, however, fall within the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.