Device and method for packaging

In a device for packaging including a vertically aligned fill pipe, a funnel for feeding a fill material into the fill pipe, a forming shoulder for shaping a sheet into a tube to be filled, whereby the tube surrounds the fill pipe, an annular nozzle defined in a space between the funnel and one end of the fill pipe, and a blower device connected to the annular nozzle through a supply pipeline for producing an air flow in order to create a downward air flow in the fill pipe, which air flow entrains the fill material to enable quick movement thereof through the fill pipe into the tube, a format pipe surrounding said fill pipe with an annular gap therebetween and providing a sliding support for the tube that encircles it, the air flow and entrained fill material moving downwardly throughout the length of said fill pipe, and a suction device for removing the air flow from the tube and the lower end of said fill pipe through the gap, the improvement wherein an air flap is positioned within the supply pipeline and movable through plural positions to provide restricted and unrestricted air flow therethrough, and a drive mechanism connected to the air flap for effecting operable driving movement of the air flap through the plural positions to provide a selected air flow to the annular nozzle and thence directly to the one end of the fill pipe.