Apparatus and process for packaging a product

Abstract

A process for packaging a product (P) arranged in a support () comprising unrolling a film (), transversely cutting the unrolled portion of film () and preparing cut film sheets (), moving the cut film sheets () to a packaging assembly () defining at its inside a packaging chamber (), progressively moving a number of supports () inside the packaging chamber () of a packaging assembly (), keeping the packaging chamber () open for a time sufficient for a number of supports () and for a corresponding number of film sheets () to properly position inside said packaging chamber (), hermetically closing the packaging chamber () with the film sheets held above the respective support () and at a distance sufficient to allow gas circulation inside the support (), optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber () and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film sheet () to said support (), wherein the cutting of the film () into film sheets () takes place outside the packaging chamber () at a station remote from the location where the film sheets are coupled to the supports. An apparatus () for performing the above process is also disclosed.