Vertical packaging machine

Abstract

FIELD: packaging.SUBSTANCE: vertical packaging machine comprising a forming tube, an internal passage section and holding means associated with the forming tube. The holding means comprise a holding device (3) adapted to be displaced between a locking position (P1), in which it at least partially blocks the internal passage section of the moulding tube, and an unlocking position (P2), in which it does not block said internal passage section of the moulding tube. When in the locking position (P1), the holding device (3) is located at a fixed, defined height and is configured to prevent the product from passing through the said internal passage section of the molding tube. When moving to the unlocking position (P2), the said holding device (3) is moved away from the path along which the said product must travel.EFFECT: reduces damage to product and packaging.15 cl, 10 dwg

Description

[0001] FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present invention relates to vertical packaging machines.

[0003] STATE OF THE ART

[0004] The vertical packaging machine comprises a hollow forming tube with an inlet and an outlet downstream of the inlet. The forming tube is configured to receive a continuous film from a film feeder and form said film into a tubular shape. The machine comprises a longitudinal sealing tool for longitudinally sealing said tubular film, thereby forming a film tube.

[0005] The machine further comprises a transverse sealing and cutting tool downstream of the forming tube for cutting the film tube and sealing said film tube on both sides of the cut, forming a film tube closed at the end upstream of the cut and a closed package downstream of the cut. The product to be packaged is fed into the forming tube through its inlet and exits through the outlet, deposited on the transverse sealing and cutting tool or, in extreme cases, on the closed end of the film tube. The machine comprises a display tool for ensuring the forward movement of the film tube so that when the transverse sealing and cutting tool acts downstream of the forming tube and the transverse sealing and cutting tool, there is a portion of the film tube that contains the product inside.Therefore, after the said cross-sealing and cutting tool is actuated, the said product is packaged in a package that is physically separated from the film tube.

[0006] As the product falls along the tube, its velocity increases due to gravity. This may mean, especially as the length of the forming tube increases, that the product strikes the transverse sealing and cutting tool and is broken or damaged due to the impact force. Alternatively, the product may rupture or break the film tube, for example, by striking the sealed end seam or the walls of the film tube, thereby compromising the integrity of the packaging.

[0007] To solve this problem, the molding tube can be tilted relative to the vertical, thereby reducing the falling speed.

[0008] Document US4722373A also discloses a machine that solves these problems. This machine has multiple platforms distributed within a molding tube at different heights, vertically offset from the outlet. A vertical wall is located within the molding tube, longitudinally dividing the tube into two sections. The first section is where the product to be packaged is fed, and where the platforms are offset downstream in an expanded form. The second section is where no product is fed, and where said platforms are returned in a folded form. Each product to be packaged, fed into the molding tube, is supported on a platform and descends through said first section of the molding tube, accompanied by the corresponding platform.Consequently, the product no longer accelerates as it falls through the forming tube under the force of gravity. It only experiences this acceleration between the forming tube's outlet, where the platform no longer supports it, and the transverse sealing and cutting tool or the sealed end of the film tube. This eliminates or reduces the risk of impacting the product or negatively impacting the integrity of the packaging. This allows multiple products to be placed within the forming tube simultaneously, while multiple products, thanks to the presence of platforms, can be present within the forming tube simultaneously.

[0009] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a vertical packaging machine as described in the claims.

[0011] The vertical packaging machine comprises a vertical forming tube with a product inlet, a product outlet downstream of the inlet, and an internal passage section.

[0012] The machine further comprises retaining means associated with the molding tube and comprising at least one retaining device configured to shift between a locking position in which it at least partially blocks the internal passage section of the molding tube between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and an unlocking position in which it does not block said internal passage section of the molding tube. In the context of the present invention, the expression "does not block" should be understood as meaning that it does not prevent the product from passing through the internal part of the molding tube (through the corresponding passage section), and the expression "at least partially blocks" should be understood as meaning that it prevents the product from passing through the internal part of the molding tube (through the corresponding passage section).

[0013] The holding device is located at a fixed, specific height relative to the outlet opening of the molding tube in the locking position and is configured to, in the locking position, prevent the product from passing through the said internal passage section of the molding tube and to be retracted, when moving from the locking position to the unlocking position, from the path along which the said product must follow through the said internal passage section of the molding tube.

[0014] Therefore, in a simple manner, the product is successfully lowered in a stepwise manner along the forming tube by the action of gravity without requiring any accompanying element, and when the product exits the forming tube through the outlet, it does not exit at a speed that may damage said product when hitting the cross-sealing and cutting tool or that may adversely affect the integrity of the package when said product directly impacts the walls or seams of the film tube.In addition, by preventing the vertical movement of the holding device inside the forming tube in the locking position, while preventing the need to return said holding device inside the forming tube to its initial starting point, the large internal passage section of the forming tube is successfully utilized in a simple manner, which allows for feeding a larger amount of product, as well as optimizing the consumption of film for creating packages.

[0015] These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the figures and detailed description of the present invention.

[0016] DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC MATERIALS

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a vertical packaging machine.

[0018] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the holding means of the machine shown in Fig. 1, connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0019] Fig. 3a shows a side view of the retaining means shown in Fig. 2.

[0020] Fig. 3b shows a side view of the holding means shown in Fig. 2, wherein the holding means are in a different position relative to the position shown in Fig. 3a.

[0021] Fig. 4a shows a side view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising several holding devices located in an intermediate position between a locked position and an unlocked position, which move simultaneously and which are connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0022] Fig. 4b shows a side view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising several holding devices located in an intermediate position between a locked position and an unlocked position, which move simultaneously and which are connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0023] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising one movable belt and connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0024] Fig. 6 shows a side view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising two holding units connected by means of two movable belts and connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0025] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising two holding assemblies associated with the driving means of the machine and connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0026] Fig. 8 shows a side view of the holding means of another embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, comprising two movable belts with corresponding active actuation means for each movable belt and connected to the holding structure of said machine.

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The vertical packaging machine 100, as shown by way of example in Fig. 1, comprises a hollow vertical forming tube 1, into which products to be packaged are introduced. The forming tube 1 comprises an inlet 11, through which products to be packaged enter said forming tube 1, an outlet 12, located downstream of the inlet 11, through which said products exit the forming tube 1, and an internal passage section, delimited in the longitudinal direction between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12, through which the products to be packaged fall. The internal passage section is preferably maintained constant along the entire length of the forming tube 1.

[0029] The molding tube 1 preferably comprises at least two vertical walls facing and parallel to each other. The molding tube 1 is preferably rectangular, so that said internal passage section is rectangular and delimited between four internal vertical walls of the molding tube 1. When the molding tube 1 is rectangular, the first vertical wall of said molding tube 1 faces the third vertical wall of said molding tube 1, and the second vertical wall of said molding tube 1 faces the fourth vertical wall of said molding tube 1, wherein each vertical wall is preferably located at an angle of 90° relative to the adjacent vertical wall.

[0030] Machine 100 also contains:

[0031] • a film feeding device 2 for feeding a continuous film, not shown in the figures, into a forming tube, wherein the forming tube 1 is configured to give said film a tubular shape;

[0032] • a longitudinal sealing tool 6, configured to longitudinally seal the longitudinal ends of a tubular film surrounding a molding tube 1 relative to each other, thereby forming a film tube, not shown in the figures; and

[0033] • a tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting, located downstream relative to the forming tube 1 and configured to transversely seal and cut the film tube, thereby obtaining a closed film tube upstream relative to the transverse cut, and obtaining a closed package (not shown in the figures), physically separated from the film tube, downstream relative to said cross-cut, wherein the corresponding product is packaged in the package.

[0034] The machine 100 preferably comprises a loading funnel 10 located upstream of the forming tube 1 and communicating with the inlet opening 11 of said forming tube 1, so that the product falls through the loading funnel 10, is introduced into the forming tube 1 through the inlet opening 11 and exits from said forming tube 1 through the outlet opening 12. Depending on when the tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting acts on the film tube to perform sealing and cutting, and on when and at what speed the product reaches the outlet opening 12 of the forming tube 1, the product can fall on the tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting, if said tool acts on the closed end of the film tube, or on top of it, if the tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting does not act on the film tube.Consequently, the product may be damaged or destroyed by impact with the transverse sealing and cutting tool 5, or the integrity of the packaging may be compromised, for example, by breaking the sealed end of the film tube. This problem becomes more acute the longer the forming tube 1.

[0035] To solve this problem, the machine 100 further comprises holding means that are connected to the molding tube 1 and comprise at least one holding device 3 that allows the product to descend in a stepwise manner through the molding tube 1. In some embodiments, the holding means are connected to the molding tube 1, the holding means are thus directly connected to the molding tube 1, while in other embodiments, the machine 100 comprises a holding structure 101 placed inside the molding tube 1 and attached to the molding tube 1, and the holding means are connected to said holding structure 101 in such a way that they are connected to the molding tube 1 through said holding structure 101.The retaining structure 101 is preferably hollow, the retaining means are located in said retaining structure 101 (at least partially), and it can comprise a closed or open perimeter. For example, in the case of a rectangular molding tube 1, the retaining structure 101 can also be rectangular (closed perimeter) or can comprise three U-shaped or otherwise similar in shape vertical walls (open perimeter), but regardless of whether it has an open or closed perimeter, it preferably follows the shape of the molding tube 1 (except for the open part, in the case of the presence of an open perimeter).

[0036] The holding means may comprise a number of holding devices 3, which preferably depend on the length of the molding tube 1 and / or on the characteristics of the product P to be packaged, therefore there may be machines 100 with one holding device 3 and machines 100 with several holding devices 3. In cases where the machine 100 comprises several holding devices 3, said holding devices 3 are distributed longitudinally along the length of the molding tube 1.

[0037] Figure 2 shows, as an example, the holding means of the first embodiment of the machine 100, comprising several holding devices 3, wherein said holding means are connected to the holding structure 101 (in this case having an open perimeter) of said machine 100. The vertical walls of the holding structure 101 can be made of a transparent material, as shown in Figure 2 (for example, methacrylate), although they could be made of opaque materials.

[0038] The holding device 3 prevents the uncontrolled increase in the falling speed of the product inside the forming tube 1 from the inlet opening 11 to the outlet opening 12 due to the action of gravity, so that the product successfully reaches the end of the film tube or hits the tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting at a lower speed compared to a machine without any holding device such as the one proposed, preventing damage or breakage of the product or violation of the integrity of the packaging for this reason (or at least significantly reducing the risk of these problems occurring).

[0039] In all embodiments of the machine 100, the holding device 3 is configured to be positioned in a locking position P1 and in an unlocking position P2 (see, for example, Figs. 3a and 3b) and to move between said positions P1 and P2. In addition, during a change in the position of the holding device 3, at least one element is shifted or moved, as will become apparent throughout the description, which in the context of the present invention is understood to mean that any element moving during a change in the position of the holding device 3 is a moving element.

[0040] The holding means of the machine 100 further comprise actuation means for ensuring the said changes in the position of the holding device 3, and the said actuation means may comprise an active means 37.1 for ensuring all changes in position or an active means 37.1 for ensuring a change in position in one direction (for example, from the unlocking position P2 to the locking position P1 of the holding device 3) and a passive means 37.2 for ensuring a change in position in the opposite direction (in this example, from the locking position P1 to the unlocking position P2 of the said holding device 3). The passive means 37.2 does not require a control signal for operation, and it may comprise, for example, at least one spring, pulley or counterweight. For the active means 37.1, in turn, requires a control signal for operation, and it can contain, for example, at least one actuator in the form of a controlled motor or cylinder. Based on the embodiment of the machine 100, the active means 37.1 can contain several actuators, in which case the actuation of said actuators is preferably synchronized and / or coordinated. The actuation means are configured to act on at least one of the moving elements. All moving elements of the holding device 3 are connected to each other in such a way that an action on one of them can be sufficient to ensure the change in position required for said holding device 3 (said actuation can ensure the movement of all moving elements).

[0041] Based on the embodiment of the machine 100, as will be described in detail throughout the description, different holding devices 3 are connected to each other, and an action on one of the moving elements of said holding devices 3 may be sufficient to ensure the displacement of all of these holding devices 3. When there are holding devices 3 that are not connected to each other, at least two active means 37.1 may be required for the actuation means: one to ensure the displacement of the first holding device 3 and all of the holding devices 3 connected to said first holding device 3, and the other to ensure the displacement of the second holding device 3 (not connected to the first holding device 3) and all of the holding devices 3 connected to said second holding device 3.

[0042] The machine 100 comprises a control unit 4 for controlling changes in the position of the holding device 3, and said control unit 4 may be a unit suitable for performing this function, or it may be a general control unit of the machine 100 or another control unit with additional functions. In particular, the control unit 4 is in communication with the active means 37.1 of the actuation means and is configured to control the actuation of said active means 37.1 relative to the corresponding moving element (or moving elements). The control unit 4 may be, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or any other type of device with the functionality of calculation and / or control.

[0043] The change in the position of the holding devices 3 and the product feed are preferably coordinated to improve the efficiency and productivity of the machine 100. The product is typically fed into the forming tube 1 from a product dispensing device (not shown in the figures) located upstream of the forming tube 1 and the loading hopper 10. In some embodiments, depending on the requirements or even the type of product dispensing device used, for example, to determine when the product is fed into the forming tube 1, the machine 100 comprises at least one sensor that detects the passage of the product. In other embodiments, for example, in some comprising a product dispensing device with multiple heads, it is possible to know when the product is fed into the forming tube 1 by monitoring the moment at which the opening of the product dispensing device with multiple heads occurs.

[0044] In the locking position P1, the holding device 3 is at a fixed, specific height relative to the outlet opening 12 of the molding tube 1 between the inlet opening 11 and said outlet opening 12 of said molding tube 1, and at least partially blocks the passage section of the molding tube 1 at said fixed, specific height, preventing the product from passing from said fixed, specific height to the outlet opening 12.

[0045] In the unlocking position P2, the holding device 3 does not block the passage section of the molding tube 1, so that when said holding device 3 passes from the locking position P1 to the unlocking position P2, the product P, the fall of which was interrupted by said holding device 3 at a fixed certain height, resumes falling through the molding tube 1 to the outlet opening 12 from said fixed certain height, taking into account that said holding device 3 no longer prevents its fall, being in the unlocking position P2.

[0046] When the holding device 3 moves to the unlocking position P2, said holding device 3 is retracted from the path that the product must pass inside the molding tube 1, so that in addition to unlocking the fall of said product, the holding device 3 does not accompany the product when it falls to the outlet opening 12 of said molding tube 1. Thus, the holding device 3 does not move in the vertical linear direction through the molding tube 1, which allows said holding device 3 not to hinder the fall of the product or not to accompany it when lowering through the molding tube 1, where the productivity of the machine 100 can be increased relative to the prior art, since said product falls freely as soon as the holding device 3 moves to the unlocking position P2, using the acceleration due to gravity.

[0047] When the machine 100 includes a plurality of holding devices 3, each holding device 3 is at a fixed specific height relative to the outlet 12 of said molding tube 1 in the corresponding locking position P1, and said fixed specific heights are different from each other.The fall through said moulding tube 1 of the product, which is fed into the moulding tube 1, is thereby interrupted upon reaching a fixed, specific height of the holding device 3 in the locking position P1 and remains held at said fixed, specific height until said holding device 3 is shifted to the unlocking position P2, as a result of which it resumes falling towards the outlet opening 12 of the moulding tube 1, until it reaches a fixed, specific height of another holding device 3 in the locking position P1, where it is again held until said holding device 3 is shifted to the unlocking position P2, etc., thus, the maximum speed that said product can reach when exiting the molding tube 1 depends on a fixed, defined height of the last holding device 3 that held said product, wherein the distance between said holding device 3 and the outlet opening 12 is less than the distance between the inlet opening 11 and said outlet opening 12, wherein said speed is thus lower compared to the case in which there is no holding device 3 at all.

[0048] Preferably, all holding devices 3 are arranged separated from each other and at the same vertical separation distance between them, so that the product moves to the same height each time it falls from one holding device 3 to the next. In this way, it is ensured that the product receives the same impact between one stage and the next (between one holding device 3 and the next), the packaging speed of the machine 100 increases when more than one product is simultaneously located inside the forming tube 1 at different heights (see the example in Fig. 3a and 3b), and the synchronization of the product dispensing device, the holding means and the tool 5 for transverse sealing and cutting, among other things, is simplified, because everyone requires the same amount of time to move from one stage to the next (from one holding device 3 to the next).

[0049] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an example of actuating the holding means of the embodiment of the machine 100. The holding means shown in these figures comprise four holding devices 3, two of which are in the locking position P1, and the other two are in the unlocking position P2. Figure 3a shows two products 91 and 92, each of which is supported on a holding device 3 located in the locking position P1. Under each of these holding devices 3, there is another holding device 3 in the unlocking position P2. When the holding devices 3 change position (the result is shown in Figure 3b), each product 91 and 92 falls until it stops on the next holding device 3, which is in the locking position P1.Consequently, products 91 and 92 accelerate only until they collide with another restraint device 3 in the locking position P1, falling a distance equal to the distance between the two adjacent restraints 3, before stopping or braking again, thereby preventing them from reaching higher speeds.

[0050] At least in the examples shown in Fig. 3a and 3b, the holding structure 101 has a length equal to the length of the molding tube, therefore the height H from the lower base of said holding structure 101 to the holding device 3, when said holding device 3 is in the locking position P1, is equal to a fixed certain height corresponding to the outlet 12 from the molding tube 1.

[0051] In embodiments of the machine 100, in which the holding means comprise several holding devices 3, said holding means can be designed in such a way that when the first holding device 3 is in the locking position P1, another holding device 3 adjacent to said first holding device 3 is in the unlocking position P2 (see the example in Fig. 3a and 3b), so that said holding devices 3 are in the locking position P1 and in the unlocking position P2 alternately along the length of the molding tube 1; or said holding means can be designed so that all holding devices 3 are in the same position at the same time, wherein all holding devices 3 are in the locking position P1 or in the unlocking position P2 at the same time (see, for example, Fig. 4a and 4b).In this latter case, the time required for the holding devices 3 to move from the locking position P1 to the unlocking position P2 and back to the locking position P1 is preferably less than the time required for the corresponding product to fall from one holding device 3 to the next holding device 3. Fig. 4a and 4b show two embodiments in which all holding devices 3 are moved simultaneously and in the same direction. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4a, the holding means comprise a connecting beam 36 (or connecting element) connecting all holding devices 3 to each other, and the actuating means comprise active means (not shown) for moving the connecting beam 36 and passive means 37.2 (in this case counterweights) for moving the movable belt 31 and facilitating the movement of the holding devices 3. In the embodiment shown in Fig.4b, the actuation means comprise an active means 37.1 for displacing the movable belt 31 and a passive means 37.2 associated with each retaining device (in this case a spring).

[0052] When the holding means comprise several holding devices 3, in some embodiments of the machine 100, such as the machine shown in Fig. 5, at least one holding device 3 is displaced in the first direction D1 inside the forming tube 1 to move to the locking position P1 and in the second direction D2, opposite to the first direction D1, to move to the unlocking position P2, and at least one holding device 3 is displaced in the second direction D2 inside the forming tube 1 to move to the locking position P1 and in the first direction D1 to move to the unlocking position P2, preferably synchronously. In Fig. 5, all holding devices 3 are shown in an intermediate position between the locking position P1 and the unlocking position P2 to facilitate their understanding. In other embodiments, such as in the embodiment shown in the examples of Fig.4a and 4b, all retaining devices 3 are shifted in the same direction to move to the locking position P1 and in the same direction to move to the unlocking position P2.

[0053] If the machine 100 contains inactive restraining devices 3 (which, for whatever reason, do not operate during the operation of the machine 100), said restraining devices 3 remain in the unlocked position P2 at all times to prevent the product from falling. The above explanations apply only to active restraining devices 3 (restraining devices 3 that actually operate and change position during the operation of the machine 100).

[0054] In some embodiments of the machine 100, the holding means comprise a pulling element 32 associated with each holding device 3, and said pulling element 32 is configured to move within the molding tube 1 when the associated holding device 3 changes position. In the case where the machine 100 comprises a connecting beam 36, said connecting beam 36 preferably connects the corresponding holding devices 3 via the pulling elements 32.The holding means further comprise at least one movable belt 31 (for example a conveyor belt), and said movable belt 31 and pulling element 32 are integrally offset, so that a segment of said movable belt 31, associated with pulling element 32, remains extended inside the moulding tube 1, when the corresponding holding device 3 is in the locking position P1, wherein said segment of the movable belt 31 at least partially blocks the internal passage section of the moulding tube 1, and said segment acts as a holding device 3. Preferably, in these cases, the moulding tube 1 comprises at least two vertical walls facing each other, such as those mentioned above, and the pulling element 32 is designed with the possibility of displacement between both walls.The holding means preferably comprise one deflecting device 35 upstream of the pulling element 32 and another deflecting device 35 downstream of said pulling element 32, associated with each holding device 3, for directing the displacement of the movable belt 31. The pulling element 32 preferably comprises a roller, a rod or a similar element.

[0055] The segment of the movable belt 31, associated with the pulling element 32, can be located outside or inside the forming tube 1 or the holding structure 101 in embodiments of the machine 100 comprising the holding structure 101, with the corresponding holding device 3 in the unlocking position P2. In embodiments comprising said segment of movable belt 31 located outside of holding element 101 or outside of forming tube 1, deflecting devices 35 may correspond, for example, to a through hole made in holding structure 101 and / or in forming tube 1, if necessary, for introducing movable belt 31 into it. In other embodiments, in which segment of movable belt 31 is located inside forming tube 1 or inside structure 101, deflecting devices 35 may correspond, for example, to a roller, rod or the like, located inside forming tube 1.

[0056] In the simplest embodiments of a machine 100 comprising holding means of this type, said machines 100 comprise one holding device 3, one pulling element 32 and one movable belt 31. However, in other less simple embodiments, the machines 100 comprise several holding devices 3, one pulling element 32 associated with each holding device 3 and one or more movable belts 31. For example, in the embodiments shown in Fig. 3a and 3b, the holding means comprise one movable belt 31 associated with all pulling elements 32, while in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the pulling means comprise two movable belts 31 (this embodiment is otherwise similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3a and 3b).

[0057] In some embodiments of the machine 100, as in the first embodiment and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, for example, the holding means comprise at least one holding unit 200 with a first holding device 3 and a second holding device 3 distributed longitudinally along the length of the molding tube 1, wherein the holding device located farthest from the outlet opening 12 of the molding tube 1 is the first holding device 3, and the holding device that is closest to the outlet opening 12 of the molding tube 1 is the second holding device 3.The holding unit 200 comprises a connecting block 33 for connecting two pulling elements 32 to each other, connected to two holding devices 3 of said holding unit, and said connecting block 33 comprises a rotating shaft 330 fixed relative to the forming tube 1, and a connecting beam 331 connecting both pulling elements 32. The rotating shaft 330 is connected directly to the forming tube 1 or to the holding structure 101 in embodiments of the machine 100 comprising the holding structure 101. The connecting block 33 may comprise two parallel connecting beams 331, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the connecting beams 331 is connected to two pulling elements 32 of said holding unit 200, and they are located facing each other on each side of said pulling elements 32. Each rotating shaft 330 is connected to both connecting beams 331.The connecting beams 331 and, consequently, the pulling elements 32 rotate relative to the rotating shaft 330 when the position of the holding devices 3 of the holding unit 200 is changed, so that both holding devices 3 of the same holding unit 200 change position simultaneously upon one actuation. Consequently, in the holding unit 200, when the first holding device 3 is in the locking position P1, the second holding device 3 is in the unlocking position P2 and vice versa.

[0058] In some embodiments of the machine 100, as in the first embodiment and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, for example, the holding means comprise several holding units 200 similar to those described above, and said holding units 200 are distributed along the length of the molding tube 1 one after another. In some of these embodiments, as, for example, in the first embodiment, the holding means comprise one movable belt 31, which is connected to all of the holding units 200 (and, consequently, to all of the holding devices 3 of the holding means).

[0059] In other embodiments of the machine 100, in which the holding means comprise several holding units 200, as shown, for example, in Fig. 6, where two holding units 200 are shown, said holding means comprise a number of movable belts 31.1 and 31.2 equal to the number of holding units 200 (two in this case). The movable belt 31.1 is connected to the first holding device 3 of the holding unit 200, located farthest from the outlet opening 12 of the forming tube 1, and to the second holding device 3 of the holding unit 200, located closest to the said outlet opening 12, and each of the remaining movable belts 31.2 is connected to the second holding device 3 of the holding unit 200 and to the first holding device 3 of the holding unit 200, located adjacent to the said holding unit 200 and downstream relative to it.

[0060] In other embodiments of the machine 100, similar to those shown in Fig. 7, in which two holding units 200 are shown, the holding means comprise several holding units 200 distributed along the length of the forming tube 1 one after the other, and a number of movable belts 31.1 and 31.2 equal to the number of holding units 200 (two in this case). Each movable belt 31.1 and 31.2 is connected to the first holding device 3 and to the second holding device 3 of the same holding unit 200. In these embodiments, as is the case in the embodiment in Fig. 7, the actuating means are preferably connected to all holding units 200, so that all holding devices 3 are displaced simultaneously.

[0061] In some embodiments of the machine 100, in which the holding means comprise several holding devices 3, one pulling element 32 for each holding device 3 and at least one movable belt 31, wherein at least one pulling element 32 is displaced in the first direction D1, when the corresponding holding device 3 moves to the locking position P1, and in the second direction D2, opposite to the first direction D1, when said corresponding holding device 3 moves to the unlocking position P2, and at least one pulling element 32 is displaced in the second direction D2, when the corresponding holding device 3 moves to the locking position P1, and in the first direction D1, when the corresponding holding device 3 moves to the unlocking position P2.The retaining devices 3, the pulling elements 32 of which are biased in the first direction D1 for moving to the locking position P1, can form a first retaining group, and the retaining devices 3, the pulling elements 32 of which are biased in the second direction D2 for moving to the locking position, can form a second retaining group, thus the retaining means comprise two retaining groups. The retaining devices 3 of the first retaining group are configured to be in the locking position P1, when the retaining devices 3 of the second retaining group are in the unlocking position P2, and the retaining devices 3 of the first retaining group are configured to be in the unlocking position P2, when the retaining devices 3 of the second retaining group are in the locking position P1. The same movable belt 31 can be connected to all the pulling elements 32 (see Fig.5), or the holding means may comprise a first web 31.1 connected to all pulling elements 32 of the first holding group and a second movable belt 31.2 connected to all pulling elements 32 of the second holding group (see Fig. 8). In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the actuation means comprise corresponding active means 37.1 for each movable belt 31.1 and 31.2.

[0062] Some embodiments of the machine 100 comprise several holding devices 3 with associated pulling elements 32 and at least one movable belt 31 to facilitate the simultaneous displacement of all holding devices 3, the holding means may further comprise a connecting element 36 for connecting all pulling elements 32 to each other, as occurs in the embodiments shown in some figures.

[0063] In any of the embodiments of the machine 100, in which the holding means comprise at least one pulling member 32, said holding means may comprise guide means 38 for guiding the displacement of the pulling member 32 (see, for example, Figs. 4a, 4b and 5). For example, the molding tube 1 or the holding structure 101 in the embodiments of the machine 100 comprising the holding structure 101 may comprise a groove (which may be a through groove) having the shape of the desired displacement (for example, linear or curved), and one end of the pulling member 32 (or an additional element connected to said end of the pulling member 32) is placed in the groove. The guide means preferably comprise two grooves, wherein one groove is connected to each end of the pulling member 32.Alternatively, the forming tube 1 or the holding structure 101 in embodiments of the machine 100 comprising the holding structure 101 may comprise an additional projection or guide (not shown in the figures), and the pulling member 32 may comprise a groove interacting with the guide or projection of the forming tube 1 or the holding structure 101 in embodiments of the machine 100 comprising the holding structure 101.

[0064] In some embodiments of the machine 100, not shown in the figures, the holding device 3 comprises a bendable element placed longitudinally inside the molding tube 1 and connected at the first end to said molding tube 1. The actuation means are preferably associated with the second end of the bendable element and are configured to provide, by activating it, a displacement of said second end towards the first end of the bendable element to ensure the transition of the holding device 3 to the locking position, thus, with said displacement, the bendable element bends and a part of said bendable element moves inside the molding tube 1 (from one wall to the front wall of the molding tube 1), at least partially blocking the internal passage section of said molding tube 1.

[0065] In some embodiments of the machine 100, not shown in the figures, in which the holding means comprise one or more holding devices 3, each holding device 3 comprises a platform located inside the molding tube 1, connected to an actuation means, wherein the platform is connected to the actuation means with freedom of rotation through a non-vertical rotating shaft, wherein said platform is configured to rotate relative to said rotating shaft in a controlled manner to ensure a change in the position of the holding device 3. The change in the position of the platform can be accomplished by means of a drive, such as, for example, a cylinder.

[0066] In other embodiments of the machine 100, not shown in the figures, in which the holding means comprise one or more holding devices 3, each holding device 3 comprises a platform located inside the molding tube 1. The platform of each holding device 3 is located on an inflatable chamber located in the molding tube 1, so that the inflatable chamber, when inflated, ensures that the said platform partially blocks the passage section of the molding tube 1. The inflatable chamber is preferably connected or glued to the platform and ensures the horizontal position of the platform in the locking position. The control unit 4 is responsible for controlling the actuation of the drive or the inflation / deflation of the inflatable chamber.

[0067] In other embodiments of the machine 100, not shown in the figures, in which the holding tool comprises one or more holding devices 3, each holding device 3 comprises an inflatable chamber, which is located at least partially in the molding tube 1. The actuation means are configured to inflate said inflatable chamber to ensure a change in the position of the holding device 3, wherein the holding device 3 at least partially blocks the passage section of the molding tube 1 when the inflatable chamber is inflated. The control unit 4 is responsible for controlling the inflation / deflation of the inflatable chamber.

Claims

1. A vertical packaging machine comprising a vertical moulding tube (1) with an inlet (11) for a product, an outlet (12) for a product downstream of the inlet (11) and an internal passage section, characterized in that the machine (100) further comprises retaining means associated with the moulding tube (1) and comprising at least one retaining device (3) adapted to shift between a locking position (P1) in which it at least partially blocks the internal passage section of the moulding tube (1) between the inlet (11) and the outlet (12), and an unlocking position (P2) in which it does not block said internal passage section of the moulding tube (1),wherein the holding device (3) in the locking position (P1) is located at a fixed, defined height relative to the outlet opening (12) of the molding tube (1) and is configured to prevent the product from passing through said internal passage section of the molding tube (1), and wherein said holding device (3) is additionally configured to be at least partially retracted when moving from the locking position (P1) to the unlocking position (P2) from the path along which said product must follow through said internal passage section of the molding tube (1)., 2. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means comprise several holding devices (3), wherein each holding device (3) is configured to shift between a corresponding locking position (P1), in which it at least partially blocks the internal passage section of the molding tube (1), and a corresponding unlocking position (P2), in which it does not block the said internal passage section of the molding tube (1), wherein each holding device (3) is located at a fixed, specific height relative to the outlet opening (12) of the said molding tube (1) in the corresponding locking position (P1), and wherein the said fixed, specific heights differ from each other.

3. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the holding means further comprise a pulling element (32) associated with each holding device (3), wherein said pulling element (32) is configured to move inside the forming tube (1) when said holding device (3) changes position between the locking position (P1) and the unlocking position (P2); at least one movable belt (31) displaceable together with the pulling element (32) so that a segment of said movable belt (31) associated with said pulling element (32) remains extended inside the forming tube (1), at least partially blocking the internal passage section of the forming tube (1), when the corresponding holding device (3) is in the locking position (P1); and actuation means configured to ensure a change in position of the holding device (3).

4. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one holding device (3) is configured to move in a first direction (D1) inside the forming tube (1) to move to the locking position (P1) and in a second direction (D2), opposite to the first direction (D1), to move to the unlocking position (P2), and at least one holding device (3) is configured to move in a second direction (D2) inside the forming tube (1) to move to the locking position (P1) and in the first direction (D1) to move to the unlocking position (P2), wherein the holding means are designed in such a way that one of the said holding devices (3) is in the locking position (P1) when the other holding device (3) is in the unlocking position (P2).

5. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding means comprise at least one holding unit (200) comprising a first holding device (3) and a second holding device (3) distributed longitudinally along the length of the molding tube (1), wherein the first holding device (3) is the holding device that is located farthest from the outlet opening (12) of the molding tube (1), and the second holding device (3) is the holding device that is closest to the outlet opening (12) of the molding tube (1), wherein said holding unit (200) further comprises a connecting block (33) configured to connect to each other two pulling elements (32) associated with two holding devices (3) of said holding unit (200), and said connecting block (33) comprises a rotating shaft (330) fixed relative to the molding tube (1),for simultaneously changing the position of the first holding device (3) and the second holding device (3) when rotating the connecting block (33) relative to the rotating shaft (330)., 6. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the holding means comprise several holding units (200) distributed along the length of the forming tube (1) one after the other, and the same movable belt (31) connected to all holding devices (3), thus all holding devices (3) are displaced simultaneously.

7. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the holding means comprise several holding units (200) distributed along the length of the forming tube (1) one after the other, and a number of movable belts (31.1, 31.2) equal to the number of holding units (200), wherein the first movable belt (31.1) is connected to the first holding device (3) of the holding unit (200) located farthest from the outlet opening (12) of the forming tube (1), and the second holding device (3) of the holding unit (200) located closest to said outlet opening (12), and wherein each of the remaining movable belts (31.2) is connected to the second holding device (3) of the holding unit (200) and to the first holding device (3) of the holding unit (200) located adjacent to said holding unit (200) and downstream relative to it, thus all holding devices (3) shift together.

8. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the holding means comprise several holding units (200) distributed along the length of the forming tube (1) one after the other, and a movable belt (31.2, 31.2) respectively connected to each holding unit (200) so that said holding means comprise a number of movable belts (31.2, 31.2) equal to the number of holding units (200), wherein each movable belt (31.2, 31.2) is connected to a first holding device (3) and a second holding device (3) of the connected holding unit (200), and wherein the actuation means are designed with the possibility of ensuring the simultaneous displacement of the holding devices (3) of all holding units (200).

9. The vertical packaging machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding means comprise several holding devices (3) configured to move in the first direction (D1) to move to the locking position (P1), wherein said holding devices (3) form a first holding group, and several holding devices (3) configured to move in the second direction (D2) to move to the locking position (P1), wherein said holding devices (3) form a second holding group, wherein the holding devices (3) of the first holding group and the second holding group are arranged alternately along the length of the forming tube (1), and the movable belt (31) is connected to all the pulling elements (32), or the movable belt (31.1) is connected to all the pulling elements (32) of the first holding group, and the holding means comprise a second movable belt (31.2), connected with all the pulling elements (32) of the second holding group; wherein the holding devices (3) of the first holding group are configured to be in the locking position (P1) when the holding devices (3) of the second holding group are in the unlocking position (P2), and vice versa, the actuation means are configured to ensure the simultaneous displacement of the holding devices (3).

10. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the holding means comprise a connecting block (33) connected to all the pulling elements (32) of the holding devices (3) of the first holding group and the second holding group, thus the holding means are designed with the possibility of simultaneously shifting all the holding devices (3).

11. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the movable belt (31) is connected to all pulling elements (32) and the holding means are designed with the possibility of simultaneously changing the position of all holding devices (3).

12. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the holding means additionally comprise a connecting block (33) connecting all the pulling elements (32) to each other.

13. A vertical packaging machine according to any one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the actuation means comprises at least an active means (37.1) acting on at least one of the elements displaced during a change in the position of the holding device (3), or at least an active means (37.1) and at least a passive means (37.2) acting on at least one of the said elements.

14. A vertical packaging machine according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that it comprises a holding structure (101) placed in a molding tube (1) and fixed with the molding tube (1), wherein the holding means are connected to the holding structure (101) in such a way that said holding means are connected with the molding tube (1) through said holding structure (101).

15. A vertical packaging machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the forming tube (1) or the holding structure (101) comprises a first guide means configured to guide the displacement of each pulling element (32), and a second guide means configured to guide a segment of the movable belt (31) associated with the pulling element (32), which remains extended inside the forming tube (1) when the corresponding holding device (3) is in the locking position (P1).

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