Apparatus and process for packaging products

Apparatus for packaging a product comprising:

• a forming station configured for receiving a base film and forming by it a precursor body having a plurality of tray-shaped elements adjacent to each other, wherein the forming station comprises:
• at least one upper portion, and
• at least one lower portion,
• the upper portion and lower portion being coupled to be movable with respect to each other between an open position of the forming station, wherein the upper portion and lower portion are spaced from each other and enable a longitudinal segment of the base film to enter the forming station, and a closed portion of the forming station, wherein the upper portion and lower portion are approached to each other for blocking said longitudinal segment of the base film with respect to the forming station and forming in such longitudinal segment one or more of said tray-shaped elements,
• a packaging station configured for receiving said precursor body and a closing film, the packaging station being configured for fixing the closing film to the precursor body at least at an upper opening of a predetermined number of said tray-shaped elements for forming packages flanked to each other, the packaging station, comprising in turn:
• a lower tool comprising a predetermined number of seats each configured for receiving at least one of said tray-shaped elements, and
• an upper tool facing the lower tool and configured for cooperating with the lower tool for fixing at least a portion of said closing film to one or more tray-shaped elements placed in said seats, wherein the upper tool and lower tool are movable with respect to each other between an open condition of the packaging station, wherein the upper tool and lower tool are spaced from each other and enable to place one or more tray-shaped elements in said seats and to place said closing film portion above one or more respective tray-shaped elements, and a closed condition of the packaging station, wherein the upper tool and lower tool are approached to each other for blocking the one or more tray-shaped elements in said seats with respect to the packaging station and fixing said closing film portion to such one or more respective tray-shaped elements present in said seats,
• at least one movement device configured for moving, along a predetermined advancement path of said precursor body, at least one of said forming station and packaging stations,
• a control unit active on said forming station and packaging stations and also on the movement device, and configured for:
• commanding a movement of the forming station between the respective open position and the respective closed position,
• commanding a movement of the packaging station between the respective open condition and the respective closed condition,
• commanding the movement device to perform at least one of the following:
• a displacement of the forming station along said predetermined advancement path at least when the forming station is in said closed position,
• a displacement of the packaging station along said predetermined advancement path at least when the packaging station is in said closed condition,
• coordinating the movement of the forming station between the respective open position and the respective closed position, with the movement of the packaging station between the respective open condition and the respective closed condition, and with said at least one displacement performed by the movement device for conferring—to at least one longitudinal portion of the precursor body—a discontinuous step-by-step movement along said predetermined advancement path
• comprising at least one stop group configured for acting on at least one of:
• said base film,
• the precursor body formed by the forming station,
• said packages formed by the packaging station,
• the stop group being further configured for being placed between at least one release condition, wherein it enables to move the precursor body or, respectively, said packages along the advancement path, and a gripping condition, wherein the stop group acts on the precursor body or, respectively, on said packages, by preventing them a movement along the advancement path;
• said control unit being configured for commanding the stop group to be placed and remain in said closed condition when forming station is in said open position and/or when said packaging station is in said open condition, wherein said stop group comprises:
• a first stop group active on said precursor body and operating in an area comprised between said forming station and said packaging station, or active on said base film and operating upstream the forming station, and
• a second stop group active on said precursor body and operating in an area comprised between said forming station and said packaging station, or active on said packages downstream the packaging station,
• said control unit being configured for commanding the first and second stop groups to be substantially simultaneously placed and remain both in said gripping condition when said forming station is in said open position and/or when said packaging station is in said open condition.