Apparatuses and processes for packaging products

Apparatus, comprising an operating device and a die provided with a cavity, said operating device and said die being drivable by a driving device along a closing direction to form containers from a sheet material, said operating device comprising a bell arrangement surrounding a punch, said punch being movable relative to the bell arrangement, wherein said bell arrangement interacts with said die and said punch interacts with said cavity along said closing direction to form said containers, said apparatus comprising a shearing device for separating said containers from said sheet material, wherein said shearing device is slidable in a reciprocating manner within said bell arrangement during separation of the containers from the sheet material,

• said shearing device being drivable by said driving device along said closing direction between a retracted position in which a cutting edge of said shearing device is positioned within the bell arrangement, is distanced from said die and does not interfere with the die during forming of said containers, and an operating position in which said shearing device projects externally of said bell arrangement during shearing of said containers.