Apparatus for heat-sealing a lidding film to a supporting element

An apparatus for heat-sealing a lidding film (2) to a supporting element (3) on which a product is present, the apparatus (1) comprising:

• a structure (4);
• a movement track (5) which is fitted on the structure (4) and which extends between an infeed zone and an outfeed zone;
• a heat-sealing device (6) which is fitted on the structure (4), along the movement track (5), and which comprises a supporting unit (10) and a closing unit (11);
• at least one of the supporting unit (10) and the closing unit (11) being movable, relative to the other, between a home position in which they are at a distance from each other, and an operating position in which the supporting unit (10) and the closing unit (11) are coupled to clamp, in use, the lidding film (2) and the supporting element (3);
• a conveying unit (8) which is configured to support the supporting element (3) and is associable with the movement track (5) for moving on said movement track (5), conveying the supporting element (3), from the infeed zone to an intermediate zone (7) at which the heat-sealing device (6) is located, and from the intermediate zone (7) to the outfeed zone;
• wherein:
• the conveying unit (8) defines a seat (16) for the supporting element (3) and comprises one or more active portions (12) configured to support from below the supporting element (3) positioned in the seat (16);
• when the conveying unit (8) is located in the intermediate zone (7), during an activation of the heat-sealing device (6) the one or more active portions (12) couple to the supporting unit (10) to define with said supporting unit (10) a clamping unit for clamping the supporting element (3) against the closing unit (11);
• and
• the clamping unit has an operating part (18) with annular shape which is constituted partly of the one or more active portions (12) and partly of the supporting unit (10).