A PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A PLURALITY OF SEALED PACKAGES FILLED WITH A POURABLE PRODUCT

A packaging machine (1) for forming a plurality of sealed packages (2) comprises: a conveying device (5), configured to advance a web (4) of packaging material; an isolation chamber (10); a tube forming device (13) configured to form a tube (3) from the advancing web (4) of packaging material; a delimiting element (40) arranged within the tube (3) and designed to divide the tube (3) in a first space (41) and a second space (42); a pressurizing device (43) configured to direct a flow of sterile gas into the second space (42) for obtaining a second gas pressure within the second space (42) ; a sealing device; a filling device (15); a package forming unit (16) configured to form and transversally seal the advancing tube (3); a control unit (17) configured to control the filling device (15) and the package forming unit (16) such that in a transient phase the filling device (15) is in an inactive configuration and the package forming unit (16) is in an active configuration.