Centring device for centring a packaging film for a forming unit of a packaging machine

A centring device for centring a packaging film for a forming unit of a packaging machine;

• wherein the forming unit comprises a guide body extending along a sliding axis and is configured to receive the packaging film having a substantially tubular and flattened shape, which comes from a reel placed upstream of the forming unit so as to wrap the guide body, and which slides along the sliding axis, so as to form a plurality of packages;
• the centring device comprising:
• a support structure connectable to the forming unit at an inlet area thereof for the packaging film;
• centring elements connected to the support structure and movable between a rest configuration in which the centring elements are proximal to the support structure, and an active configuration in which the centring elements are distal with respect to the support structure for compressing the packaging film against the guide body of the forming unit;
• actuation members connected to the centring elements and configured to drive them between the rest configuration and the active configuration;
• wherein the actuation members are configured to selectively activate at least one of the centring elements from the rest configuration to the active configuration, and exert a force between the packaging film and the centring elements thereof, so as to align the packaging film in accordance with a predefined sliding axis thereof on the forming unit;
• wherein the rest configuration corresponds to a static position in which the centring elements are inactive and disengaged from the film, while the active configuration corresponds to a dynamic working position in which the centring elements are in contact with the film to press it against a surface of the guide body so as to align it with the sliding axis;
• and wherein the centring elements are selectively activatable only under conditions of the film skidding with respect to the sliding axis, remaining distal from the film itself during its movement along the sliding axis.