Apparatus and method for automatically packaging containers

Apparatus for automatically packaging containers along a work path, wherein one or more containers to be filled are supported by corresponding transport members, and wherein said apparatus comprises at least:

• a feed station to sequentially feed said transport members in which said containers to be filled are disposed,
• a filling unit disposed downstream of said feed station, along said work path, which comprises filling means configured to sequentially perform a plurality of operations of filling said containers,
• a first robotic arm capable of performing at least one programmed function, in order to selectively transfer said transport members one at a time toward said filling means, and
• electronic control means to control at least said filling unit and said first robotic arm,
• said apparatus being characterized in that it also comprises a second robotic arm, which is also capable of performing, autonomously, the same at least one programmed function of said first robotic arm, in order to selectively transfer, under the control of said electronic control means, said transport members one at a time toward said filling means;
• the action of said first and second robotic arms being coordinated by said electronic control means in such a way that while the first robotic arm is moving one of said transport members in correspondence with said filling means, the second robotic arm independently and autonomously moves another of said transport members in order to dispose it adjacent to the transport member moved by the first robotic arm, so that it can be in correspondence with said filling means upon completion of the filling of the containers supported by the first transport member, in such a way that said containers supported by the first and second transport members are filled substantially without a break in continuity.