Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming at least one continuous strip of containers comprises a feed line for the indexing along a preset route according to an advancing direction and with a preset advancing step two continuous webs in film material that face each other. The webs pass through a heat-sealing station provided with a separator the end of which is arranged to be inserted between two open longitudinal flaps of the webs. During the phase of heat-sealing of the webs the separator is kept in position to exert downward pressure against said flaps by means of an axial fluid actuator. The invention ensures that at the forming station, that is contiguous with and subsequent to the heat-sealing station the flaps are sufficiently separated to receive the nozzles that blow in the forming fluid.

Abstract: In a continuous strip of containers, the latter are distributed stepwise from one another according to a longitudinal axis of the strip, two adjacent containers being separated by a step. From one longitudinal edge zone traction pins protrude laterally that are intended in use to interact by contact with an advancing device for advancing the strip. For each traction pin a corresponding opposing projection is prearranged that protrudes from the opposite side of the longitudinal edge zone. The strip is designed to be conveyed along an advancing direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. Each opposing projection is located slightly forward in relation to said advancing direction, compared with the relative traction pin, at an axial distance that is shorter than the step between the containers.