Forming assembly and method for forming a plurality of sealed packs for pourable food products starting from a tube of packaging material

Abstract

There is described a forming assembly () for forming a plurality of sealed packs () starting from a tube () of packaging material, comprising first conveying means () movable along a first path (Q) comprising: a first operative branch (Q), which has a main elongation direction parallel to an advancing direction (A) of the tube (); and a first return branch (Q) comprising an initial portion () which is arranged immediately downstream of the operative branch (Q) and extends transversally to the advancing direction (A); first conveying means (') comprise one of a sealing element () or a counter-sealing element (); and a first half-shell (), which is movable along the operative branch (Q) between: a first rest position, in which it is detached from the tube () or the formed pack (); and a first operative position, in which it grips the tube () or the formed pack (); the first half-shell () is arranged in the first operative position along a first portion () of the first operative branch (Q); the first half-shell () is kept in the first operative position along an initial portion (), so as to grip and convey the pack () in a staggered position with respect to the advancing direction (A); and moves, from the first operative position to the rest position at an end () of the initial portion () opposite to the first portion (), so as to discharge the pack () in a staggered position with respect to the advancing direction (A).