A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages from a tube of packaging material

A packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages from a tube of packaging material advanced along an advancement axis of the packaging apparatus, the packaging apparatus comprising:

• at least an endless conveyor device arranged in a conveyor zone;
• a plurality of conveying carts configured to cooperate with and to advance along the at least endless conveyor device;
• and
• a plurality of operative units configured to be moved by the plurality of conveying carts along a first path defined by the movement of the conveying carts along the endless conveyor device and having an operative portion parallel to the advancement axis;
• wherein each operative unit is configured to be selectively moved between an operative configuration, reached along said operative portion of the first path and at which the operative unit is configured to manipulate the tube, and a rest configuration, reached along a rest portion of the first path distinct from the operative portion and in which the operative unit is detached from the tube;
• wherein each operative unit comprises:
• a half-shell configured to at least partially define the shape of the packages;
• and
• at least one of a sealing element or a counter-sealing element, configured to transversally seal the tube between adjacent packages;
• wherein each operative unit is carried by one respective conveying cart and extends laterally away therefrom so that the conveyor zone is laterally spaced apart from an operative zone where the tube is manipulated,
• wherein each one of the plurality of conveying carts is configured to advance along a cart path, the cart path being parallel to the first path;
• wherein the cart path lies within a first plane and the first path lies within a second plane, and wherein the first plane and the second plane are spaced apart from one another and are parallel to one another.