Method and Device for Forming Package Bodies Open on One Side from Package Sleeves Open on Both Sides

Abstract

Described and depicted is a method for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, in which the package sleeves are folded flat and held ready for further processing in a stack around at least two folding edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves, in which the flat-folded package sleeves are transferred successively from the stack to a forming station, in which the package sleeves are unfolded in the forming station, in which the package sleeves are pulled in the forming station through a channel coming into contact with the two opposite folding edges of the package sleeve and tapering transversely to the package sleeve and/or the package sleeves are positioned in the forming station between at least two form halves of a form and unfolded by closing the form, and in which the unfolded package sleeves are slid from the forming station onto a mandrel for closing, in particular sealing, a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.

Description

The invention relates to a method for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages in which the package sleeves are folded flat around at least two folding edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves and held ready for further processing in a package stack. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, with a magazine comprising a package stack formed from package sleeves, wherein the package sleeves of the package stack are folded flat around at least two folding edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves.

Methods and devices for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides have already been known for some time. The methods are used in particular for manufacturing filled packages, with methods and devices for filling packages with products also being known in various configurations.

In this context, package bodies are understood to mean containers such as composite cardboard packages which are at least partly formed from a packaging material in the form of a laminate comprising a cardboard layer and outer, in particular thermoplastic, plastic layers, for example from polyethylene (PE). The cardboard gives the packages adequate stability for the packages to be able to be easily handled and stacked, for example. The plastic layers protect the cardboard from moisture and the food from absorption of undesirable substances from the package. In addition, further layers can also be provided, such as an aluminium layer, which prevent the diffusion of oxygen and other gases through the packaging material.

Corresponding package bodies are typically filled with products in the form of food, in particular beverages, with the products being predominantly fluid products. The filling of the package bodies with food takes place in particular in a sterile or aseptic environment of a filling machine, as the food is to have a long shelf life after the packages are filled. For this purpose, the filling machines have, for example, sterilisation rooms and aseptic chambers in which the package bodies are sterilised and then filled and sealed under conditions that are as sterile as possible. After the package bodies are filled, they are typically sealed in the filling machine. When appropriate packaging materials are used, the package body is sealed by sealing the open end.

The package bodies are preferably formed on the filling machine from package sleeves which are in turn manufactured from packaging material blanks, in particular by sealing the longitudinal edges of the packaging material blanks on top of each other. The inner longitudinal edge can thereby be turned outwards in order to prevent the penetration of moisture into the packaging material, in particular the cardboard. Package sleeves formed from a packaging material are thus manufactured which are open at the opposite longitudinal ends. The package sleeves are pre-folded along four folding lines running alongside the package sleeve by which folding edges are created which form the subsequent edges of the package that typically forms a quadratic or rectangular cross-section. However, the package sleeves are first folded flat around two opposite folding edges. Two of the pre-folded folding lines are thereby folded back again. The package sleeve then essentially forms two sections running parallel to each other and lying on top of each other. The flat-folded package sleeves are transferred as a stack to a magazine of the filling machine. The front section of the package sleeve at the front end of the stack is gripped by suction cups and pulled away from the stack, with the package sleeve unfolding, typically until a substantially quadratic or rectangular cross-section is formed. The unfolding takes place along the pre-folded folding lines, two of which have formed the folding edges of the folded package sleeve, as the packaging material can be slightly kinked or folded along the (particularly pre-folded) folding lines. The corresponding unfolded package sleeve is then lifted onto a mandrel of a “mandrel wheel”, the cross-section of the mandrel matching the cross-section of the package sleeve. The package sleeve thereby protrudes outwards above the mandrel such that the protruding part of the package sleeve can be folded against the front of the package sleeve and pressed and sealed there. The corresponding longitudinal end of the package sleeve is thus sealed and regularly forms the base of the subsequently filled package. The sealed end of the package sleeve could also, however, alternatively form the head of the subsequent package if said package is filled through the open base, for example.

The package bodies open on one side are inserted into a sterilisation zone of the filling machine. This is mostly carried out by the package bodies being transferred successively to the cells of a transport unit receiving the package bodies. The transport unit then ensures that the package bodies are transported through the sterilisation zone of the filling machine at a defined speed and at a defined distance from each other. In the sterilisation zone, the package bodies are pre-warmed with hot sterile air and then sterilised, typically with hydrogen peroxide, and dried with sterile air. The sterile package bodies are transferred into the filling and sealing zone and filled there. The opening of the filled package bodies is subsequently sealed before the sealed package is transported via the transport unit from the filling and sealing zone and subsequently removed from the corresponding cells of the transport unit.

In some filling machines, the package bodies are transported by the transport unit in a straight line through the filling machine. Corresponding filling machines are also called longitudinal machines. In other filling units, the so-called rotary machines, the package bodies describe a more or less circular movement which can comprise one or more circular arc sections. The present invention relates in principle to both types of filling machines.

The method and the device of the type respectively described above have proven suitable for the production of packages with at least substantially rectangular or quadratic cross-sections. However, the production of packages with cross-sections significantly different from these is only possible to a limited extent or not possible at all. The package sleeves must be folded flat for reasons of space and then simply and reliably shaped by means of the mandrel wheel. In addition, the shape of the packages must allow the package sleeves to easily reach the mandrel wheel and the package bodies to be reliably removed again from the mandrel wheel.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to configure and further develop the method and the device of the type respectively mentioned above in such a manner that packages with a cross-section that is neither quadratic nor rectangular can be simply and reliably formed.

This object is achieved according to claim 1 by a method for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages

• • in which the package sleeves are folded flat around at least two folding edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves and held ready for further processing in a package stack,
  • in which the flat-folded package sleeves are transferred successively from the package stack to a forming station,
  • in which the package sleeves are unfolded in the forming station,
  • in which the package sleeves are pulled in the forming station through a channel coming into contact with the two opposite folding edges of the package sleeve and tapering transversely to the package sleeve and/or the package sleeves are positioned in the forming station between at least two form halves of a form and unfolded by closing the form, and
  • in which the unfolded package sleeves are slid from the forming station onto a mandrel for closing, in particular sealing, a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.

The stated object is also solved in a device according to the preamble of claim 13 in that provision is made for a transfer unit for transferring the package sleeves of the package stack successively to a forming station for unfolding the package sleeves, and provision is made for a sliding unit for sliding the package sleeves unfolded in the forming station onto a mandrel, and in that the forming station has a channel for at least partly unfolding the package sleeves moved through the channel and/or at least two form halves for simultaneously compressing and unfolding the package sleeves.

It has therefore been recognised that it can be expedient not to unfold the package sleeves when removing them from the package stack and directly transfer them to the mandrel of a mandrel wheel, but rather to use a separate forming station for unfolding the package sleeves. To be able to readily unfold the package sleeves when removing them from the stack, four pre-folded folding lines are required. If the front side of the package sleeve provided on the front end of the package stack is gripped and pulled from the stack, for example with a gripping arm equipped with suction cups, the package sleeve unfolds, with the folding edges forming the edges of the unfolded package sleeve. This is a proven method, although the folding edges codetermine the cross-section shape of the package sleeve to a not insignificant extent.

In contrast, the use of the forming station allows one to employ package sleeves with, if required, only two folding edges which serve the purpose of folding the package sleeves flat so as to be received in a stack. In addition, the two folding edges do not have to determine the form, in particular the cross-section, of the subsequent package. The package sleeves can be brought into the desired form in the forming station without the folding edges having to be arranged in corners of the package or at edges of the sleeve of the package. The folding edges can, for example, be arranged in level sections of the sleeve of the package in order to be able to provide the edges of the sleeve of the package independently of the position of the folding edges or in order to partly or, if required, fully, prevent sharp edges. The edge regions of the sleeves of the packages can thus be formed in the forming station with a very large radius and arched side walls of the sleeve of the package can also be formed more simply, alternatively or additionally.

So that the package sleeves are folded simply and reliably along the at least two folding edges into a flat packaging sleeve, “folding lines” are initially provided along the folding edges. In this regard, the package sleeve preferably has further folding lines or crease lines which are used, for example, for folding the longitudinal ends of the package sleeve for the purpose of closing the package sleeve. In this regard, a head and a base of the package are preferably formed along the further folding lines which are in particular sealed. The folding lines or crease lines are in this case preferably impressed in the packaging material, in particular by “creasing”, which is why the folding lines manufactured in this manner can also be called crease lines. The folding lines or crease lines are created through a linear material displacement with tools which press against the packaging material, for example with punching or pressure tools. In other words, the folding lines or crease lines form linear-type material weakness of the packaging material. The bending capacity of the packaging material is increased along the folding lines manufactured in this manner.

Independently of the number of folding edges of the package sleeve, although exactly two folding edges are also preferred, between the folding edges corresponding folding lines can be completely dispensed with which extend in a straight line in the longitudinal direction, i.e. at least substantially parallel to the folding edges, along the entire length of the package sleeve. This results in greater flexibility in the choice of the form of package. Further folding lines and folding edges running in straight lines are not required on account of the forming station for unfolding the package sleeves after they are removed from the package stack. Preferably, no further pre-folded folding lines of the package sleeve are provided in addition to the folding edges, and in any case no folding lines running straight along the entire length of the package sleeve. The corresponding pre-folding of folding lines, i.e. in particular the folding of the packaging material around the folding lines before the actual folding of the folding lines and the subsequent folding back, takes place in known methods before the stacking of the package sleeves so that the package sleeves unfold more easily after removal from the stack. This is not required in the present case on account of the forming station and the unfolding of the package sleeves therein. If, therefore, folding lines taking a continuously straight line in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeve should be provided in addition to the folding edges, which is in principle unnecessary, these folding lines are preferably not pre-folded.

Generally, however, no further folding lines are required to produce corresponding folds of the package sleeve. As folds or kinks in the packaging material can occur on folding lines and/or folding edges of the finished package, wider areas of the package can be created without undesirable kinks or folds by reducing the number of folding lines and/or folding edges, which is preferable in certain circumstances. The packages can, for example, be uniformly arched, rounded and/or curved in these areas without this form being affected by kinks or folds.

The at least two folding lines or crease lines which are used for folding the package sleeve flat and therefore form the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve are preferably lines known as “apparent folding lines” which subsequently do not form edges of the packaging or package. A fold along the apparent folding lines is therefore only made to form the package sleeve, but not in the packaging manufactured therefrom which, together with the filling, can form the package. These apparent folding lines should—as do conventional folding lines—facilitate the folding of the package sleeve. These folding lines are called “apparent folding lines” because they are only used when folding the package sleeve flat, but are folded at least approximately straight again during unfolding for manufacturing the package sleeve and the package to be filled. They can be generated by material weaknesses, where, to obtain the liquid-tight state of the composite material, perforations cannot be used, but instead “creases” can. Creases are linear material displacements which are impressed or rolled into the composite material with punching or pressure tools. The two apparent folding lines are straight and run parallel to each other. The packaging material is folded along the at least two apparent folding lines, which thus form the folding edges.

However, further folding lines can also be provided. In particular, though, they are those which do not extend along or only extend along a part of the length of the package sleeve. They can form correspondingly formed edges which facilitate the holding and gripping of the subsequent package, for example. Increased flexibility in the choice of the form of package is also achieved thereby without having to adhere to the known four pre-formed folding lines for unfolding the package sleeve.

The package sleeve is pulled or moved through a channel at least for partial unfolding, in particular for pre-folding before the subsequent full unfolding, in such a manner that the folding edges around which the package sleeve has been previously folded flat come into contact with the channel, in particular with the boundaries of the channel pointing to the middle of the channel. The channel is preferably delimited transversely to the package sleeve by boundaries, for example in the form of sliding surfaces for sliding the package sleeve along. The folding edges can then slide along the boundaries, which are in the form of sliding surfaces, for example. In the transport direction of the package sleeve, which is preferably moved through the channel in a straight line for the sake of simplicity, the channel tapers such that pressure is exerted transversely to the package sleeve on the folding edges of the package sleeve towards the centre of the channel. The corresponding transverse width of the package sleeve consequently decreases when the package sleeve passes through the channel as the tapering of the channel increases. The package sleeve is thereby unfolded for as far as the channel tapers. In other words, the package sleeve is at least partly unfolded and pre-folded. If required, or even preferably, the package sleeve can subsequently be unfolded, in particular fully.

For targeted and defined unfolding of a package sleeve in the forming station, preferably but not necessarily after the pre-folding of the package sleeve in the channel, the package sleeve can be positioned in the forming station between at least two form halves. When closing the form that is formed by the at least two form halves or at least when moving the at least two form halves towards each other, the package sleeve is unfolded. Closing the form halves makes them press against the folding edges of the package sleeve, thus causing the unfolding of the package sleeve.

In principle, the channel can taper for such a distance that the package sleeve is fully unfolded therein, i.e. it has at least the approximate form of the mandrel and/or a suitable form for being lifted onto the mandrel. However, the frictional forces between the channel and the folding edges then become very high, which can result in damage to the package sleeve, whether that be mechanical or owing to the high temperature due to the friction. In addition, the package sleeves must be held more firmly in the event of higher frictional forces in order not to cause interference, which cannot always be ensured, or can only be ensured with greater effort.

In particular, the use of a package sleeve according to the patent applications filed by the applicant under the official application numbers DE 10 2016 003 826.8, DE 10 2016 003 824.1 and DE 10 2016 003 829.2 is preferred, these being hereby, by reference, also made the subject-matter of the present patent application. There, the packages described in further detail in the patent applications, for example, are also formed. The use of the blanks and packaging materials described in the patent applications is also preferred in the present case.

Below, to ensure greater understanding and to avoid unnecessary repetition, the method and the device are described together without differentiating between the method and the device respectively in detail. However, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art based on the context which features are preferred for the method and the device respectively.

In a first particularly preferred configuration of the method, the package sleeves are folded flat around exactly two folding edges. This allows the package sleeves to be stored in a stack in a manner which saves space. Moreover, the package sleeves then only have to be folded around two folding edges. The two folding lines for forming the folding edges are preferably “apparent folding lines” of the type described which therefore do not form any edges of the packaging or package later. A fold along the apparent folding lines is therefore only made in the package sleeve, but not in the packaging or package manufactured therefrom.

However, further folding lines can also be provided in this case. In particular, they are, on the other hand, those which do not extend along or only extend along a part of the length of the package sleeve. They can form correspondingly formed edges which facilitate the holding and gripping of the subsequent package, for example. Increased flexibility in the choice of the form of package is also achieved thereby without having to adhere to the known four pre-formed folding lines for unfolding the package sleeve.

Alternatively, or additionally, the at least two folding edges, in particular the exactly two folding edges, of the package sleeve, around which the package sleeve has been previously folded flat, are moved towards each other in the forming station, thereby enlarging the free cross-section of the package sleeve accordingly. In this manner, an at least partial unfolding of the package sleeve can easily be achieved without more than two folding edges or more than two pre-folded folding edges being required for this, as in the known package sleeves. In known package sleeves, four pre-folded folding edges are present which simplify the unfolding of the package sleeve after removal from the stack of package sleeves. These four pre-folded folding edges form the folding edges of the package sleeve in that case. The present forming station renders such package sleeves dispensable. There it is appropriate for the sake of simplicity for the at least two folding edges to be pushed or pressed against from outside in the forming station. In this manner, with the free cross-section of the package sleeve being enlarged, the folding edges can be moved towards each other and pushed inwards in relation to the associated package sleeve. In this manner, the at least two folding edges can be pushed against, for example, from opposite sides of the package sleeve such that they approach each other, but preferably do not come into contact with each other, as this would typically again be accompanied by a reduction of the free cross-section of the package sleeve.

There, the package sleeve preferably applies itself, at least to a substantial extent, circumferentially to the inside of the form such that the package sleeve obtains a defined form. The form can generally be made of a plurality of parts as the two form halves, or the form halves are, if required, made of a plurality of parts. However, it is appropriate if two parts make up the, in particular vast, majority of the form.

In order to unfold the package sleeve, which is initially folded flat, the front side of the package sleeve provided at the front side of the stack of package sleeves can be gripped and moved to the front away from the stack. Front is understood in this context to mean the side of the stack and of the package sleeve pointing in the transport direction. This takes account of the fact that the package sleeves in the stack are typically upright. However, it would also be conceivable, for example, for the flat-folded package sleeves to lie on top of each other. The upper side of the stack would then be regarded, according to the present understanding, as the front side of the stack. Accordingly, the side of the upper package sleeve pointing upwards would also form the side of the front package sleeve pointing to the front. The orientation of the stack is therefore not an essential factor.

In order to be able to easily and reliably grip the front flat-folded package sleeve, suction cups can be used for this purpose which can be mounted on a movable arm. In this way, for example, but not exclusively, the front side of the package sleeve can be moved to the front with the arm. In the way described, the package sleeve is pulled to the front, whereby the package sleeve can be at least partly unfolded. This allows easy and compact handling of the package sleeve. Particularly easy and precise handling of the package sleeve is possible in this case if the package sleeve is moved in a straight line from the stack, and not guided, for example, along a curve or the like. However, the at least partial unfolding and pre-folding of the package sleeve can also be carried out subsequently, and, if required, in a separate method step.

For the sake of simplicity, the package sleeve is preferably moved in a straight line through the channel. The channel then preferably tapers transversely to this straight movement. In other words, the direction of movement is preferably oriented in the longitudinal direction of the channel. In the transverse direction of the package sleeve, pressure can then be exerted on the folding edges of the package sleeve towards the centre of the channel. The corresponding transverse width of the package sleeve consequently decreases when the package sleeve passes through the channel, whereby the package sleeve is at least partly unfolded and pre-folded, in order to subsequently be unfolded, in particular fully. Consequently, it can be preferable if the channel is formed as part of a pre-folding unit from which the package sleeve can be transferred to an unfolding unit for full unfolding.

With regard to guiding the package sleeve through the channel, easy and yet reliable, at least partial, unfolding of the package sleeve is achieved if lateral boundaries of the channel, which can provide sliding surfaces for the package sleeve, push against the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve when the package sleeve is being pulled through in such a manner that the folding edges of the package sleeve move towards each other. The channel enables such an easy and at the same time defined, at least partial, unfolding of the package sleeve.

As a supplement or additionally, at the end of the channel, at least in relation to the transport of the package sleeves through the channel, grooves can be provided on opposite sides of the channel in which in particular the folding lines of the package sleeve arrive. The grooves run through the channel at least substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction of the package sleeves. Accordingly, in the region of the grooves, the channel is preferably slightly wider than immediately before and, if required, immediately after. The package sleeve thereby folds slightly back together in the region of the grooves, although a defined transfer position and place for the package sleeves are created in this manner. The package sleeve can be moved out of the grooves, preferably in a targeted manner, in the longitudinal direction of the grooves. However, the package sleeve can also be transported further along the grooves without the package sleeve leaving the grooves in order to be guided through the grooves in this way. Alternatively, or additionally, the package sleeve can also be transported further with the grooves. The grooves can therefore also, that is, for example, the regions of the channel and of the boundaries of the channel forming the grooves, move in the longitudinal direction of the grooves and carry the package sleeve along in this movement and transport it further. If required, the grooves of the channel and the regions of the channel forming the grooves make, after the sliding of the same, parts of the form of the unfolding unit. Alternatively, however, the grooves can also extend from the channel of the pre-folding unit into the form of the unfolding unit. For the form to be able to close without problems, the grooves should be interrupted between the pre-folding unit and the unfolding unit, in particular between the channel and the form. In principle, in the way described, the package sleeve can also be transferred easily, reliably and in a defined manner from the pre-folding unit to the unfolding unit of the forming station respectively.

So that the package sleeve can be moved through the forming station easily, expediently and without requiring a large amount of space, it is appropriate if the package sleeve is moved in a first transport unit through the pre-folding unit and in a second transport unit to the unfolding unit, in particular into the unfolding unit with the first transport unit and the second transport unit being at least substantially perpendicular to each other. Further simplification and specification of the movement is achieved if at least the first transport unit or at least the second transport unit is oriented in a straight line. Complicated and imprecise guiding around curves or the like can be avoided in this manner. In particular, the straight first transport unit is particularly preferred if the unfolding unit has a channel and the package sleeve can then be moved in a straight line and thus in a very precise manner through the channel.

Fundamentally, a high degree of flexibility for the forming of the package is offered if the folding edges of the package sleeve around which the package sleeve has previously been folded flat are spaced away from at least one edge of the sleeve of a mandrel and/or at least one corner of a head of the mandrel and are slid onto the mandrel. Provision can therefore preferably be made for a previous folding edge not to be provided on any of the mandrel edges, which preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel. Rather, the folding edges are then provided between them. Edges of the package sleeves with larger radii can thus be provided and a situation can be achieved without any problem in which entire sides of the package sleeves are arched and formed in this manner on the mandrel. If required, however, one edge or multiple edges of the mandrel can be provided along which one folding edge of the package sleeve is positioned. However, it is preferable for this not to apply to all edges of the mandrel.

It is expedient for the forming of the package if the distance from the at least one folding edge of the package sleeve to the adjacent edge of the mandrel in one direction, as well as the distance from the at least one folding edge to the adjacent edge in the opposite direction, in particular of the sleeve, of the mandrel, is at least one tenth, preferably at least one fifth, in particular at least one third of the distance between the edges of the mandrel adjacent to both sides of the folding edge. Alternatively, or additionally, it can be convenient for the forming of the package if the distance from the at least one folding edge of the package sleeve to the corner of the head of the mandrel that is transversely adjacent to the mandrel in one direction, as well as the distance from the at least one folding edge to the adjacent corner of the head of the mandrel in the opposite direction is, transversely to the mandrel, at least one tenth, preferably at least one fifth, in particular at least one third of the distance between the edges of the mandrel adjacent to both sides of the folding edge. The folding edges are thus far away enough from an edge region or a corner region of the mandrel in order to form packages with arches or curves, for example, which are to extend across a wide area of the sleeve of the package. However, it is preferable if the above-mentioned distances do not necessarily apply to every folding edge.

The folding edges of the package sleeves can then be readily arranged, for example, on sides of the mandrel, in particular of the sleeve of the mandrel. In this regard, the sides of the mandrel can in particular be flat and/or arched outwards. The folding edges are folded back accordingly until the sections of the package sleeve adjacent to the folding edges are arranged, for example, on one level and form a continuous curve, for example an arch with a constant radius.

The grooves of the channel can also be used to reliably transfer the package sleeves to the unfolding unit for the final unfolding of the package sleeves. For this purpose, a package sleeve can be slid with a feeding unit in the longitudinal direction of the grooves. In this regard, it is further preferred for the defined transfer of the package sleeves if the package sleeves are slid at least partly in the grooves and/or with the grooves to the unfolding unit. Alternatively, or additionally, the feeding unit can engage positively with at least one finger on a longitudinal end of the package sleeve during the sliding of the package sleeve. The package sleeves can thereby be easily and reliably slid. The at least one finger can thus engage on the longitudinal end of the package sleeve pointing opposite to the transport direction and slide the package sleeve forwards in the direction of the unfolding unit. For this purpose, it is preferable for only one linear movement of the at least one finger to also be required. In other words, the at least one finger must only be moved forwards and backwards or upwards and downwards in a straight line.

The package sleeves of the stack can be very easily gripped by a gripping arm in the folded state and pulled through the channel, which applies in particular to gripping arms with suction cups, as the gripping arm can then easily grip the forward-pointing side of the folded package sleeve. Regardless of this, a package sleeve is in particular pulled by the gripping arm through the channel up to the grooves. Once the package sleeve has reached the grooves, the gripping arm preferably separates from the package sleeve, in particularly automatically. This is also very easily possible when suction cups are used, as air can then be easily directed into the suction cups, removing the underpressure.

In order to simplify the handling of the package sleeves between the stack and the mandrel, it is appropriate to slide the package sleeves folded and held between the closed form halves with a transfer unit onto a mandrel in each case. The form halves arranged in the closed position together with the package sleeve held between them can thus finally be slid onto the mandrel. If the form halves are subsequently opened, i.e. parted, the package sleeve remains on the mandrel and the form halves can be used to unfold a further package sleeve. The form halves and the form made from the at least two form halves can thus be adjusted back and forth in at least two opposite directions.

It is conducive for defined and thus very reliable transport of the package sleeves from the channel to the at least two form halves if the package sleeves, during the transfer from the channel to the form halves, are received at least in sections by two groove elements. These groove elements can connect flush to the grooves of the channel, but are otherwise designed as separate elements which are distinct from the grooves of the channel or the channel itself. In this regard, if required, the groove elements form not only the connection between the channel and the form halves for bridging the distance through the package sleeves. The groove elements can also be moved towards each other against a restoring force of at least one spring means during the closing of the form halves. This allows the groove elements to extend between the form halves or into the groove. In other words, the groove elements can, at least in sections, form parts of the form halves. It is then not necessary to transfer the package sleeves from the groove elements to the form halves. The groove elements hold the package sleeve in the form, for example, or between the form halves. During the closing of the form halves, the groove elements are pressed together against the restoring force of at least one spring element in order to enable the unfolding of the package sleeve between the groove elements. The restoring force can be used here to re-open the form, for example if the package sleeve is transferred to the mandrel, such that only at least one drive must be provided for closing the form halves. This is easier in terms of apparatus and also control engineering. Alternatively, or additionally, at least one pneumatically and/or hydraulically operated positioning cylinder can be provided which can be controlled accordingly and ensure that the form is re-opened. Large forces can in this regard be easily exerted on the form to open it. Alternatively, or additionally, the form can be opened and/or closed via an electromagnetic drive. This is easy to implement, but generally supplies smaller forces for opening the form.

The method described above can also be used as part of a method for manufacturing a filled package. In this case, the opening remaining after the filling of the package body can be closed at the corresponding longitudinal end of the package body, which is carried out in particular by sealing the longitudinal ends folded accordingly.

Preferably, the at least two form halves are designed and adjusted to the package sleeves such that the package sleeve, due to the closing of the at least two form halves and of the form, enters at least substantially circumferentially into contact with the inside of the form, which is made by the at least two form halves closing. This allows a form of the package sleeve to be made which need not have a rectangular or quadratic cross-section, but can nevertheless be easily and reliably slid onto a mandrel, and, if required, directly from the form if said form is at least partly slid over the mandrel with the package sleeve. Alternatively, however, the package sleeve can also be slid out of the form and onto the mandrel.

Particularly in addition to an unfolding unit described above, the forming station and the device can have a pre-folding unit comprising the channel, through which the package sleeve is pulled and where the package sleeve is partly unfolded or pre-folded before the package sleeve is transferred into the form. For this purpose, the package sleeve is guided, for example directly after removal from the stack of package sleeves, out of the magazine of the device and through the channel, at least until a certain point of the channel. A simple and reliable procedure is achieved, for example, if the package sleeve is moved through the channel in a straight line. Provision is thus preferably made for a movement which can be very easily and reliably provided.

In this regard, the width of the channel tapers in the transport direction of the package sleeves to a degree which is smaller than the width of the flat-folded package sleeves, in particular in the state in which they are received in the magazine. If required, the channel width can initially be greater than the width of the flat-folded package sleeves. In this manner, it can be ensured that the package sleeves are inserted in the transport direction of the package sleeves into the channel in a reliable and reproducible manner. In the regions in which the channel is narrower than the flat-folded package sleeves, the channel presses against the package sleeves, in particular against the folding edges of the package sleeves and vice versa, such that the package sleeves are partly unfolded. In the partial unfolding and pre-folding of the package sleeves, the regions of the package sleeves adjacent to the folding edges can be unfolded up to an angle of over 10°, in particular of over 20°. As the pre-folding is followed by an unfolding, it can be alternatively or additionally preferred for the sake of simplicity if the package sleeve is only unfolded around the folding edges up to a maximum of 70°, a maximum of 55° or a maximum of 45°. Alternatively, or additionally, the width of the package sleeve in the pre-folding unit can be reduced to a value lower than 95%, preferably lower than 90%, in particular lower than 85%, of the width of the flat-folded package sleeve.

The channel can thus have lateral boundaries which delimit the transverse width of the channel for the package sleeve. During the movement of the package sleeve through the channel, the lateral boundaries come into contact with the folding edges of the package sleeve. The boundaries, which can form sliding surfaces for sliding the package sleeve along, press against the folding edges due to the tapering of the channel. This has the effect that the folding edges move increasingly closer together during transport through the channel and at least partly unfold the package sleeve accordingly. It is particularly preferred if the boundaries of the channel, at least during the movement of the package sleeve through it, are stationary. In this manner, the number of moving parts is reduced, which enhances the reliability of the pre-folding and reduces the amount of equipment required. This also allows a high processing speed to be promptly specified, for example by means of a control unit.

The pre-folding unit described here can generally also be designed as an unfolding unit by which the package sleeves are unfolded fully or in any case to the extent that the package sleeves can be directly slid onto the mandrel. In this case, the channel generally tapers further than in the case of the channel only serving the purpose of pre-folding. The cross-section of the package sleeve can then, if required, be at least substantially equivalent to the cross-section of the sleeve of the subsequent package. During the unfolding of the package sleeves, the regions of the package sleeve adjacent to the folding edges, in particular unlike during the pre-folding and/or regardless of the type of unfolding, be unfolded up to an angle of at least 160°, preferably at least 170°. For the sake of simplicity and to obtain suitable forms of the package, it can alternatively or additionally be preferable if the package sleeve, during unfolding around the folding edges, is unfolded up to a maximum of 200°, preferably up to a maximum of 190°. In this respect, the unfolding can generally take place independently of the extent of the pre-folding of the package sleeve. Alternatively, or additionally, the width of the package sleeve in the unfolding unit can be reduced to a value lower than 75%, preferably lower than 70%, in particular lower than 65%, of the width of the flat-folded package sleeve. In order to limit the folding, however, provision can be made for the width not to be reduced further than a value lower than 55%, preferably lower than 55%, in particular lower than 45%, of the flat-folded package sleeve.

At one end of the channel, grooves situated opposite can be provided to receive the folding edges of the package sleeves. Here, the end of the channel is not necessarily defined by its physical dimension but can equally be understood as the active part of the physical channel. According to this understanding, the channel extends as far as the package sleeves are transported through the channel in the transport direction. The groove provides a defined position for the transfer and the subsequent unfolding of the package sleeves, by which the package sleeves can be fully unfolded in an easy and reliable manner.

Moreover, it is preferable to provide a feeding unit for feeding the package sleeves from the pre-folding unit to the unfolding unit of the forming station respectively in the longitudinal direction of the grooves. The feeding unit can, for example, have at least one movable and driven finger which pushes the package sleeves along the grooves and/or in the longitudinal direction of the grooves, out of the grooves, namely into the unfolding unit, for example, in particular into the form for unfolding the package sleeves. To take advantage of the fact that the package sleeve is reliably held in the grooves and to improve the transfer of the package sleeve, the grooves together with the package sleeve held between the grooves can also be moved further, even when this is not required. In this case, the package sleeve can be transferred to an unfolding unit. The package sleeve can also be moved into the unfolding unit using the grooves. There, the package can be formed, for example, with the grooves then being able to move towards each other in a corresponding form during the closing of the form, and thus further unfold the package sleeve. This is done in particular by the grooves pressing against the folding edges which are received in the grooves. The grooves approach each other here, which consequently also applies to the folding edges.

If a feeding unit has at least one finger engaging on a longitudinal end of the package sleeve and positively sliding the package sleeve to the unfolding unit, the package sleeve can be easily and reliably slid to the unfolding unit without damaging the package sleeve.

If, alternatively or additionally, a gripping arm, preferably having suction cups, is provided for gripping a package sleeve of the stack and for pulling the package sleeve through the channel, the package sleeves can be easily and gradually removed from the stack. This particularly applies when using suction cups, because the free side of the package sleeves can then be gripped. The package sleeves are preferably moved by the gripping arm up to the grooves, but not further. There, the gripping arm can release itself from the package sleeve without stopping, in particular automatically, for example by removing the underpressure in the suction cups.

Alternatively, or additionally, a transfer unit can be provided for sliding the package sleeves that are unfolded and held between the closed form halves onto a mandrel. This transfer unit can be designed to slide the form halves and the form back and forth along a straight line. A more complex movement would be possible, but is not necessarily preferred for the sake of simplicity. If the form is closed, the unfolded package sleeve is preferably arranged on the inside of the form and the form can be slid with the package sleeve onto the mandrel. The form can then be opened and moved away from the mandrel. The package sleeve remains on the mandrel here.

Two separate groove elements connecting to the channel and the grooves can be provided for receiving the folding lines of the package sleeves for the transfer of the package sleeves from the channel to the form halves. These groove elements are then used for the transfer from the channel to the unfolding unit and to the at least two form halves. In this regard, the groove elements can be engaged with the form halves in at least the closed position of the form halves. The groove halves are thus pressed together during the closing of the groove, preferably against the restoring force of at least one spring means. In this manner, the package sleeves need not be transferred from the groove elements to separate form halves.

This allows a simplification to be achieved in terms of the equipment needed, in that the restoring force of the at least one spring means of the groove elements can be used for opening the form halves. Only the force for closing the form halves must be raised or reduced and the restoring force forces the form halves back into a defined starting position without a separate drive being required for this purpose. In this regard, the opening can preferably take place after the transfer of a package sleeve to a mandrel, as the form halves can then receive another package sleeve between them again. However, the form halves can alternatively be also connected to at least one pneumatic or hydraulic positioning cylinder which causes the form halves to open in a pneumatically or hydraulically controlled manner. Electromotive drives for opening and closing the form halves are, however, also possible and additionally require less peripheral effort. In addition, compared to hydraulic drives in particular, electromotive drives are more capable of meeting the special hygienic requirements in the food processing sector. In this respect, combinations of electromotive and pneumatically drives are also conceivable.

A transfer unit with a simple design enabling the package sleeve to be handled in a manner which saves space can initially move the package sleeve through the pre-folding unit in a first transport direction that is particularly straight for the sake of simplicity, and subsequently move the package sleeve in a second transport direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first transport direction into, preferably even through, the unfolding unit. In this regard, it has been proven preferable if the transfer unit has a gripping arm and a feeding unit. The gripping arm is particularly appropriate for transporting the package sleeve through the pre-folding unit, whereas the feeding unit having preferably at least one finger is expedient for transport from the pre-folding unit into the unfolding unit. The gripping arm can easily grip one side of the package sleeve, in particular if the gripping arm has suction cups. An edge of the package sleeve can easily be pressed against by a finger or the like, for example in order to slide said package sleeve further.

If, in the present case, a longitudinal direction is referred to with respect to the package sleeve, the package body or the package, a direction is understood which is at least substantially parallel to the package sleeve, to the sealed seam of the package sleeve and/or to the sleeve of the package body and the package. In this direction, the corresponding length of the package sleeve, the package body and the package is typically greater than in a direction that is transverse to this direction. In exceptional cases, however, for example in the formation of very low and simultaneously very wide packages, this need not be the case. For ease of understanding and to avoid unnecessary repetition, however, the longitudinal direction is understood to mean the direction described above, even if this may appear incorrect for individual cases. In the present case, the head and the base of a package are thus always situated at the longitudinal ends of the package, by which the longitudinal direction of the package of the package body and of the package sleeve is defined.

Below, the inventions disclosed in the present case are explained in further detail using a drawing depicting merely one exemplary embodiment. In the drawing

FIG. 1A-B shows a blank of a packaging material and a package sleeve formed from a blank of the prior art in a top view in each case,

FIG. 2 a package formed from the package sleeve according to FIG. 1B of the prior art in a perspective view,

FIG. 3 a device for manufacturing the package according to FIG. 2 from a package sleeve according to FIG. 1B of the prior art in a schematic view,

FIG. 4A-C a blank of a packaging material and a package sleeve formed from the blank in a top view,

FIG. 5 a package formed from the package sleeve according to FIG. 4B-C in a perspective view,

FIG. 6 a device for manufacturing the package according to FIG. 5 from a package sleeve according to FIG. 4B-C in a schematic view,

FIG. 7 the unfolding of the package sleeve in a forming station in a schematic side view,

FIG. 8 the pre-folding of the package sleeve in a sectional view according to the sectional plane VIII-VIII of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9A-B the forming of the package sleeve in a sectional view according to the sectional plane IX-IX of FIG. 7,

FIG. 10A-B the forming station of FIG. 7 in a perspective and a side view,

FIG. 11A-B the pre-folding unit of the forming station of FIG. 10 in a perspective view and a sectional view from above,

FIG. 12A-B the feeding unit of the forming station of FIG. 10 for feeding package sleeves from the pre-folding unit to the unfolding unit in a perspective view and a sectional view from above,

FIG. 13A-B the unfolding unit of the forming station of FIG. 10 in an opened and a closed position in a perspective view,

FIG. 14 a detail of the unfolding unit of FIG. 13 in a perspective view,

FIG. 15A-C the unfolding unit of the forming station of FIG. 10 in an opened and a closed position along horizontal sectional planes from above and

FIG. 16 the transfer unit of the forming station of FIG. 10 for transferring the package sleeves to the mandrels of the mandrel wheel in a perspective view.

FIG. 1A describes a blank 1 of a packaging material 2 as known from the prior art. The packaging material 2 is designed as a laminate made from multiple material layers arranged on top of each other. In particular, this is a cardboard/plastic composite. The packaging material 2 depicted has two outer layers of a thermoplastic plastic, preferably polyethylene (PE), which enable sealing, that is fusing, of the outer layers of the packaging material 2. Between them, a structure-lending cardboard layer with a relatively high bending stiffness for the packaging material 2 is provided. In addition, at least one barrier layer can also be provided which is preferably made from aluminium, polyamide and/or an ethylene vinyl alcohol. Further layers are also conceivable.

The blank 1 is used to manufacture a package sleeve 3 which is formed by the outer and opposite longitudinal borders 4 of the blank 1 being bent over towards each other and connected to each other, in particular sealed on top of each other. The blank 1 has a row of folding lines 5,6 on which the blank 1 can be folded in order to form the desired package 7. In this regard, the folding lines 5,6, which are crease lines if required, simplify the folding and additionally ensure reliable folding. Most folding lines 5,6 are provided on the upper edge 8 and the lower edge 9 of the blank 1, which are later folded to form the base and the head as well as the gable of the package 7. In addition, the blank 1 has four substantially parallel folding lines 6 on which the blank 1 is pre-folded before the package sleeve 3 is formed or thereafter. If the packaging material 2 is bent over once on the folding lines 5,6, further folding of the packaging material 2 at the same point will only be opposed by a lower resistance which is in any case significantly lower than along folding lines 5,6 which have not been previously folded.

FIG. 1B depicts the package sleeve 3 after the longitudinal borders 4 of the blank 1 are sealed on top of each other. In this regard, the corresponding sealed seam 10 is provided near one of the folding lines 6 of the package sleeve 3 for optical reasons. The package sleeve 3 has, on its longitudinal edges, folding edges 6 around which the package sleeve 3 has been folded flat so that the front section 11 and the rear section 12 of the package sleeve 3 lie on top of each other. The package sleeves 3 can in such a manner be easily stored when folded flat. The subsequent unfolding around the four pre-folded folding lines 6 is then still easily possible. A package sleeve 3 with a rectangular cross-section is then obtained.

Below, the package 7 depicted in FIG. 2 can be obtained using the corresponding package sleeve 3. In the package 7, the four pre-folded folding lines 6 then form, in the region of the sleeve 13 of the package 7, the edges of the package 7 as the pre-folded folding lines 6 previously formed the edges of the package sleeve 3. The longitudinal ends 14,15 of the package sleeve 3 are folded and sealed to form the base 16 of the package 7 and to form the head 17 of the package 7. In this regard, so-called package ears 18 are formed on the head 17 of the package, said package ears being folded downwards and applied to the sleeve 13 of the package 7 and sealed or stuck to it. In the base 16, the corresponding package ears are folded inwards and are therefore no longer discernible as such after the base 16 is formed.

FIG. 3 depicts a device 20 for filling package bodies 21, in particular with flowable foods, for forming packages 7, i.e. a so-called filling machine, comprising a magazine 22 for holding package sleeves 3 ready and a device for forming package bodies 21 from the package sleeves 3, which are closed on one side and can thus receive, for example, a flowable foodstuff through the remaining opening. The device 20 depicted and in this respect preferred has a row of parallel processing lines, of which only one processing line 23 is depicted in FIG. 3. Each processing line 23 is assigned a magazine 22 with a stack 24 and a bundle of package sleeves 3 folded flat around two of the folding lines 6. As described above, the package sleeves 3 have been formed from blanks 1 of a packaging material 2 whose longitudinal borders 4 are sealed to each other. The package sleeves 3 are unfolded by a feeding unit 25. In this regard, the package sleeves 3 are unfolded by pulling a subsequent side surface of the corresponding package sleeve 3 away from the stack 24 without further action around the pre-folded folding lines 6 which form the edges of the package sleeve 3 and the subsequent package 7. If required, an application unit could also be provided for applying spouts that are not depicted to the package sleeves 3.

The device 26 for forming the package 7 has a mandrel wheel 27 which in the case depicted and in this respect preferred comprises six mandrels 28 and rotates cyclically, i.e. gradually, anti-clockwise. Devices of the type described are also known in which the mandrel wheel only has four mandrels and/or four different mandrel wheel positions. The corresponding processing units and the corresponding processing steps can then be condensed accordingly.

In the depicted device 26, a package sleeve 3 is slid onto the mandrel 28 in the first mandrel wheel position I. The mandrel wheel 27 is then rotated further into the next mandrel wheel position II, in which the longitudinal end 15 of the package sleeve 3, which protrudes opposite the mandrel 28, is heated with hot air by a heating unit 29. In the next mandrel wheel position III, the heated longitudinal end 15 of the package sleeve 3 is pre-folded by a press 30 and in the following mandrel wheel position IV, said longitudinal end is tightly closed in the folded position by a sealing unit 31, in particular into a base 16. In this way, a package body 21 closed on one side is obtained which is removed from the mandrel 28 in the following mandrel wheel position V and transferred to a cell 32 of a circulating endless transport unit 33. In the next mandrel wheel position VI, the mandrel 28 is not assigned any work step. If required, the number of mandrel wheel positions and mandrels 28 and the processing steps provided there can differ from the representation according to FIG. 3 and the associated description. In addition, a spout can be connected to the packaging material in at least one (further if required) mandrel wheel position. The longitudinal end of the package sleeve closed on the mandrel wheel is then preferably the head of the subsequent package. Whether the package body is filled through the subsequent head or through the subsequent base plays only a minor role in the present case.

The package body 21 taken from the mandrel wheel is transported, with the open longitudinal end pointing upwards, in the associated cell 32, in particular a cell chain, through a filling machine 34. In this way, the package body reaches an aseptic chamber 35, which comprises a sterilisation zone 36 and a filling and sealing zone 37, through which the package bodies 21 are transported from left to right in the transport direction symbolised by the arrows. The package bodies 21 do not have to be transported in a straight line but can also transported in at least an arc or even in a circle.

The aseptic chamber 35 is fed sterile air via corresponding sterile air connections 38. The package bodies 21 are successively pre-heated by a pre-heating unit 39 by hot sterile air being blown onto them. The package bodies 21 are then sterilised by means of a sterilisation unit 40, preferably by means of hydrogen peroxide, whereupon the package bodies 21 are dried through application of sterile air by a drying unit 41 and, after the transition from the sterilisation zone 36 into the filling and sealing zone 37, brought into a filling position 42 below a filling outlet 43. There, the package bodies 21 are successively with food 44. The filled package bodies 21 are then closed with a closing unit 45 through folding of the upper region of the package body 21 and sealing. The filled and sealed packages 7 are then removed from the cells 32 of the transport unit 33. With the transport unit 33, the now empty cells 32 are moved further towards the mandrel wheel 27 in order to receive further package bodies 21 there.

FIG. 4A depicts a further blank 50 of a packaging material 51 which generally resembles the blank 50 in terms of the packaging material 51, the blank 50 and the folding lines 52,53,54. However, the difference is that the folding lines 52,53,54, in particular crease lines, are arranged and designed differently. In particular, only two folding lines 52 are thus provided which extend in a straight line in the longitudinal direction and along the entire length of the blank 50. Two further folding lines 53 are distributed in sections in the longitudinal direction of the blank 50 and enclose a section of the blank there. In the corresponding region, the folding lines 53 run parallel to each other, which is not, however, mandatory. In addition, the upper border 55 and the lower border 56 of the blank 50 are provided with folding lines 54. The folding lines 54 of the lower border 56 are used to form a base 57, whereas the folding lines 54 of the upper border 55 are used to form a head 58 of a package 59.

The blank 50 is sealed along the longitudinal edges 60, making a sealed seam 61, in order to form a package sleeve 63 whose front side 64 and rear side 64′ are depicted in FIGS. 4B-C. The package sleeve 63 is folded on both folding lines 52 running in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeve 63, forming the folding edges 65, such that the front side 64 and the rear side 64′ of the package sleeve 63 contact one another.

Using the corresponding package sleeve 63, the package 59 depicted in FIG. 5 can be formed. The package 59 has a flat base 57 which is perpendicular to the length of the package 59. In contrast, the head 58 of the package 59 is oblique to the length of the package 59 and thus forms a package gable 66. In this regard, the package gable 66 has a larger front gable surface 67, which is larger than the rear, smaller gable surface 71 arranged on the other side of the sealed seam 68. The sealed seam 68 and adjacent sections of the head 58 form, on opposite sides of the package 59, package ears 69, which are folded downwards and applied and sealed to the sleeve 70 of the package 59. If required, a larger opening section, a larger weakness and/or a larger spout can be provided on the larger gable surface 67. For the sake of simplicity, neither an opening section nor a weakness or a spout is depicted. It is significant in the package 59 that no continuous folding lines 52 or folding edges 65 are provided on the front longitudinal borders of the package 59. Furthermore, a special aspect of the package 59 is that the folding edges 65 are not provided for folding the package sleeve 63 flat on any longitudinal border of the package 59. Rather, the folding edges 65 are received in the surfaces between the longitudinal borders or longitudinal edges of the package 59. The folding edges 65 of the package sleeve 63 are, in other words, folded back again and thus no longer form any folding edges of the package 59. In addition, on the rear edges of the sleeve 70 of the package 59, no folding lines 52,53,54 extending in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the package are provided. Due to the distribution of the folding lines 53, these do not run in a straight line along the entire length of the sleeve 70 of the package 59 and also at least not in sections along the edges of the sleeve 70 of the package 59, but rather in regions beside it.

FIG. 6 depicts the device 80 for filling such packages 59. In this regard, the device 80 corresponds to a large extent to the device 20 depicted in FIG. 3, and consequently the differences between the device 80 depicted in FIG. 6 and the device 20 depicted in FIG. 3 are essentially described below in order to avoid unnecessary repetition. For these reasons, identical components in FIGS. 3 and 6 are labelled with identical reference signs. In the device depicted in FIG. 6, a mandrel wheel could also alternatively be provided with a different number of mandrels and/or a different number of mandrel wheel positions. In this context, it would be particularly preferable, for example, to provide a mandrel wheel with only four mandrels and/or only four mandrel wheel positions.

One difference is, for example, that the package sleeves 63 depicted in FIG. 4B-C are prepared in the magazine 22 of the device 80 in the form of the stack 81 and are thus only pre-folded on two folding lines 52 extending in a straight line along the entire length of the package sleeve, with these folding lines 52 forming the folding edges 65 of the package sleeves 63 around which the package sleeves 63 are folded flat. Furthermore, provision is also made in the device 80 depicted in FIG. 6, in addition to the device 20 depicted in FIG. 3, for a pre-folding unit 82 for pre-folding the package sleeves 63 after removal of the package sleeves 63 from the stack 81 of package sleeves 63, and for an unfolding unit 83 for unfolding the package sleeves 63 which are removed from the stack 81 of package sleeves 63 of the magazine 22. The pre-folding unit 82 and the unfolding unit 83 are combined in the device 20 depicted and in this respect preferred to make a forming station for forming the unfolded package sleeve 63 to be transferred to the mandrel wheel 85. However, it would also be possible to provide only the pre-folding unit 82 or the unfolding unit 83. Only after running through the forming station 84 are the package sleeves 63 slid onto the mandrels 86. In this regard, the mandrels 86 are also designed differently from the mandrels 28 depicted in FIG. 3. The mandrels 86 can be namely spread, i.e. moved from a narrower starting position into a wider pressing position, with a pressing surface being provided in the pressing position of the mandrel 86, against which the corresponding longitudinal end 87 of the package sleeve 63 can be folded and pressed in order to close the longitudinal end 87, in particular to seal it in a fluid-tight manner. In this manner, package bodies 88 are finally formed which are delivered to the cells 32 of the transport unit 33, which is in the form of a cell chain here.

Moreover, in the device 80 depicted in FIG. 6, compared to the device 20 depicted in FIG. 3, provision is made, after a sealing unit 89 for sealing the sealed seam 68 of the package gable 66, for a gable pre-folding unit 90 for pre-folding the package gable 66 and a sealing-on unit 91 for sealing the package ears 69 onto the sleeve 70 of the package 59. In addition, in the device 80 depicted and in this respect preferred, a forming unit 92 is provided for the subsequent forming of the filled and closed package 59. The package 59 obtains its final form in this forming unit 92. To ensure greater understanding, the forming unit 92 is depicted in such a manner that the package 59 protrudes at the top and bottom in relation to the forming unit 92. However, the entire length of the package 59 is preferably received in the forming unit 92.

FIG. 7 provides a schematic view of the forming station 84 of the device 80 depicted in FIG. 6. The forming station 84 makes use of the package sleeves 63, which, folded together in a stack 81 of package sleeves 63 in a magazine 22, are held ready around two folding lines 52 and folding edges 65. In this regard, the forming station 84 comprises a gripping arm 93 with suction cups 94 which grips the front side of the front flat-folded package sleeve 63 of the stack 81 and pulls the package sleeve into and through the channel 95 of the pre-folding unit 82. The pre-folding unit 82 is in particular depicted in the side view of the forming station 84 according to FIG. 8. The gripping arm 93 is depicted in dashes to show how it grips a package sleeve 63 of the stack 81. The gripping arm 93 then moves backwards in a straight line together with the package sleeve 63 and pulls the package sleeve 63 in a straight line into a channel 95 tapering transversely to the package sleeve 63. In the channel 95, the folding edges 65, around which the package sleeve 63 has been folded flat, come into contact with the boundaries 96 of the channel 95. The folding edges 65 finally press from the inside against the channel 95, which in turn unfolds the package sleeve 63 slightly, the more the further the package sleeve 63 is pulled and transported through the channel 95. Provision is made on the rear end of the channel 95, on both sides of the channel 95, for grooves 97 oriented in the longitudinal direction of the folding edges 65 into which the package sleeve 63 engages in the corresponding position with the folding edges 65. The suction cups 94 are then released, as is the gripping arm, from the package sleeve 63. The package sleeve 63 remains in the channel 95, held in the grooves 97.

Two fingers 98 are arranged above the package sleeve 63 positioned in this manner, as depicted in FIG. 7 in particular. These fingers 98 now drive the package sleeve 63 downwards and press the package sleeve 63 downwards into a form 99 of the unfolding unit 83 to unfold the package sleeve 63. The form 99 of the unfolding unit 83 is depicted in the section in FIG. 9A-B in particular. As an example, the form 9 is depicted in FIG. 9A with two form halves 100,101 in an opened position. The pre-folded package sleeve 63 is taken from the form 99 in this position, for which purpose provision is also made in the form 99 depicted and in this respect preferred for grooves 102 into which the folding edges 65 of the package sleeve 63 engage. The form 99 is then closed and reaches the closed position depicted in FIG. 9B as an example. The package sleeve 63 is unfolded and applies itself at least substantially to the inner contour 103 of the form 99. In this manner, the package sleeve 63 can be at least approximately brought into the later form of the package 59. Instead of the depicted form of the contour, contours of other forms can also be provided if required depending on the form in which the packages are to be manufactured. In FIG. 7, the double arrow and the mandrel 86 of a mandrel wheel 85 provided under the form 99 indicate that after closing, the form 99 moves downwards over the mandrel 86 and transfers the unfolded package sleeve 63 to the mandrel 86 or slides it onto the mandrel 86.

FIG. 10A-B depicts in detail the forming station 84, which has only been schematically represented in FIG. 7 for the sake of greater clarity. A stack 81 of package sleeves 63 is stored in the magazine 22. This is also depicted in detail in FIG. 11A-B. Provision is made behind the stack 81 for a slider 110 which presses the stack 81 against stops 111 on both sides of the stack 81 in order to position each front package sleeve 63 in an exact manner. In this regard, if required the slider 110 is pressed against the rear side of the stack 81 by the restoring force of a spring means and also if the length of the stack 81 decreases. However, the spring means is also dispensable or can be replaced by other devices. The front side of the respective front package sleeve 63 can be gripped by a gripping arm 93. For this purpose, the gripping arm 93 depicted and in this respect preferred has suction cups 94 which are placed on the front side of the respective front package sleeve 63. The suction cups 94 are closed by this and can be at least partly evacuated, forming a vacuum. As the package sleeves 63 are held on the suction cups 94 in this manner, the package sleeves 63 can be pulled forwards off the stack 81. In this regard, the package sleeves 63 are pulled past the stops 111. The gripping arm 93 depicted and in this respect preferred moves in a straight line away from the stack 81 and through a channel 95. For this purpose, the gripping arm 93 is held on a slide 113. The slide 113 can be moved along guides 114 and held on the guides 114, which have a rod-shaped design. The slide 113 moves forwards and back via a rotating motor drive 115, which is linked to the slide 113 via a lever mechanism 116, with the rotation of the drive 115 being realised in a linear movement of the slide 113 forwards and back.

The channel 95 depicted and in this respect preferred is formed by two channel elements 117 laterally bordering the channel 95. The gripping arm 93 can be moved through the channel elements 117. The channel elements 117 form a channel 95 tapering away from the stack 81, in whose rear region, viewed from the stack 81 of the package sleeves 63, a groove 97 is provided in each case which extends substantially parallel to the folding lines 65 of the package sleeves 63 in the stack 81 and in the vertical direction. In addition, the grooves 97 extend all the way to the lower border of the channel elements 117 and thus of the channel 95. The channel elements 117 form the boundaries 96 of the channel 95, which is formed between the channel elements 117. In addition, the channel elements 117 provide sliding surfaces 118 pointing to the inside of the channel 95. If the package sleeves 63 are pulled from the stack 81 through the channel 95, the folding edges 65 of the package sleeves 63 slide off the sliding surfaces 118 until the package sleeves 63, together with the folding edges 65, engage into the grooves 97 of the channel elements 117. The gripping arm 93 is then released from the package sleeves 63 because the underpressure in the suction cups 94 is then automatically removed. The width of the channel 95 is slightly greater at the end facing the stack 81 of package sleeves 63 than the package sleeves 63 themselves. Further in the channel 95, the folding edges 65 press against the sliding surfaces 118, which equals the pressing of the sliding surfaces 118 against the folding edges 65 of the package sleeve 63. In this manner, the folding edges 65 are pressed towards each other and the package sleeve 63 partly unfolded. This is also referred to as pre-folding of the package sleeves 63. Due to the folding edges 65 engaging into the grooves 97, the pre-folding takes place in a defined and reproducible manner. The system part comprising the channel 95 can therefore be referred to as the pre-folding unit 82.

FIG. 12A-B particularly depicts a feeding unit 98 of the forming station 84, whose object is to pass the package sleeves 63 held in the grooves 97 of the channel 95 down on to an unfolding unit 83 in which the package sleeves 63 are then fully unfolded. The feeding unit 98 is held on a traverse 119 which is held by slides 120 on lateral vertical guides 121 and can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the slides 120 have rolls 123 which can roll down the lateral guides 121, which have a rod-shaped design. In addition, the feeding unit 98 has two fingers 124 which are arranged in an upper position above the channel 95 or at least above the package sleeves 63 pulled through the channel 95 and held in the grooves 97. The feeding unit 98 can be moved up and down in a controlled manner by a belt drive 125 which is motor-driven by a drive 126. The belt 127 is arranged as a closed belt 127 circumferentially around two guide rollers 128, of which one guide roller can be driven by the motor drive 126 in opposite directions as needed. If the package sleeves 63 are held in the grooves 97 of the channel 95, the feeding unit 98 or rather the fingers 124 move downwards. In this regard, the fingers 124 grip onto the upper longitudinal end of the package sleeve 63 from above and press the package sleeve 63 downwards along the grooves 97. The fingers 124 then move back upwards and a further package sleeve 63 is pulled through the channel 95 into the grooves 97.

On leaving the channel 97 downwardly, the package sleeve 63 is received by the groove elements 129 depicted in FIG. 13A-B in particular, which at least directly join the channel 95 in the forming station 84 depicted and in this respect preferred, even if the groove elements 129 are separate elements. The groove elements 129 provide grooves 130 which align with the grooves 97 of the channel 95. In this manner, after leaving the channel 95, the package sleeve 63 is guided with its folding edges 65 further into the grooves 130 of the groove elements 129. In addition, in the device depicted and in this respect preferred, the groove elements 129 extend down into the two form halves 100,101 of the unfolding unit 83. The form halves 100,101 are initially arranged with the groove elements 129 in an open position in which the package sleeve 63 is slid, along the grooves 97,130 by means of the feeding unit 98, from the channel 95 down between the form halves 100,101. Once the package sleeve 63 has arrived there, the form halves 100,101 are closed, with the groove elements 129 and the form halves 100,101 being moved towards each other. The grooves 130 of the groove elements 129 press against the folding edges 65 of the package sleeve 63, which is unfolded in this way and thereby engages from the inside against the inner contour of the form 99 made by the form halves 100,101.

The groove elements 129 are, as depicted in FIG. 14 in particular, pressed together against the restoring force of two spring elements 131 provided between the groove elements 129. It is ensured in this way that when the form 99 is opened and when the form halves are parted, the groove elements 129 are moved apart into the starting position again.

FIG. 15A-C depicts the unfolding unit in horizontal sections from above. In FIGS. 15A-B, the form halves 100,101 or rather the form 99 is in the open position. Two positioning cylinders 132 are provided on top of each other, each of which has a plunger 133 that is slidable in the positioning cylinder 132, said plunger being connected by a rod 134 to one form half 100,101. In this regard, the positioning cylinders 132 are designed such that they can pneumatically or hydraulically move the associated form halves 100,101 into the closed position. The form halves 100,101 thereby reach the position depicted in FIG. 15C with the unfolded package sleeve 63 between them, said package sleeve applying itself to the inner contour of the form 99 made by the form halves 100,101. The form halves 100,101 are held together with the positioning cylinders 132 on a traverse 135 which can be moved vertically up and down by slides 136 on the lateral guides 121. In this way, the form 99 or rather the form halves 100,101 can be moved downwards in the closed position and upwards in the open position. For this purpose, the slides 136 run via rolls 137 up and down on the rod-shaped guides 121. The traverse 135 is driven by a belt drive 138, which is driven by a motor drive 139. The belt 140 is arranged as a closed belt 140 circumferentially around two guide rollers 141, of which one guide roller 141 can be driven by the motor drive 139 in opposite directions as needed. The corresponding unit can be understood as the transfer unit 144.

The lateral guides 121, the belt drives 125,138 and the motor drives 126,139 are held and mounted on a common frame 142. Furthermore, a traverse 143 holding the groove elements 129 is fixed in a stationary manner in the common frame 142. The groove elements 129 can thus be moved together and apart again but not up and down. The groove elements 129 thus retain their position when the form 99 moves downwards.

When the form 99 moves down, as depicted in particular in FIG. 16, the package sleeve 63 unfolded therein is slid onto the mandrel 86 of the mandrel wheel 85 arranged under it. The form 99 can then be opened, which can be done by the restoring force of the spring means 131 arranged between the groove elements 129 rather than by the positioning cylinders 132. However, this is not essential. After opening or during opening, the form halves 100,101 are moved upwards by the traverse in order to receive a further package sleeve 63 for unfolding. As the groove elements 129 are not adjusted vertically, the groove elements 129 can, if required, already receive a new package sleeve 63 after the form 99 is opened, while the form 99 is moved back into its upper position in order to receive and unfold the package sleeve 63 in this position.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A method of forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, comprising:

folding a package sleeve flat around at least two folding edges running in a longitudinal direction of the package sleeve and holding them in a stack,

transferring the flat-folded package sleeve successively from the stack to a forming station,

unfolding the package sleeve in the forming station, by positioning the package sleeve in the forming station between at least two form halves of a form,

pulling the package sleeve from the forming station through a channel coming into contact with the two opposite folding edges of the package sleeve and tapering transversely to the package sleeve,

and unfolding the package sleeve by closing the form,

sliding the unfolded package sleeve from the forming station onto a mandrel, and closing or sealing a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeve is folded flat around exactly two folding edges, and/or no folding line running straight along the entire length of the package sleeve is provided between the folding edges for folding the package sleeve.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least two folding edges are pressed against from opposite sides of the package sleeve such that the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve are moved towards each other to enlarge a free cross-section of the package sleeve in the forming station.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeve is unfolded by being at least substantially circumferentially applied to the inside of the form.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein a side of the folded package sleeve forms a front side of the stack, the package sleeve is pulled from the stack by suction cups and/or the package sleeve is pulled in a pre-folding unit for partial unfolding of the package sleeve in a straight line through the channel.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein, when the package sleeve is being pulled through it, at least one lateral boundary of the channel presses against the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve in such a manner that the folding edges of the package sleeve are moved towards each other.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the package sleeve, together with the at least two folding edges, engages associated grooves at the end of the channel in opposite sides of the channel and is transported further in the longitudinal direction of the grooves into an unfolding unit.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeve is moved in one direction through a pre-folding unit and is moved at least substantially perpendicularly to a direction of movement in the pre-folding unit to an unfolding unit.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeve, together with the at least two folding edges, is spaced away from an edge of a sleeve of the mandrel and/or a corner of a head of the mandrel and is slid onto the mandrel, and the distance from the at least two folding edges to the edge of the sleeve and/or the at least one corner of the head, is at least one tenth of the distance between an adjacent edge and/or corners, and/or the folding edges are arranged on flat and/or outwardly arched sides of the sleeve of the mandrel.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the package sleeves slide with a feeding unit in the longitudinal direction of the grooves to the unfolding unit and the feeding unit is engaged positively with at least one finger on a longitudinal end of the package sleeve during the sliding of the package sleeve.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeves comprising the stack are successively gripped by a gripping arm with suction cups and are pulled through the channel unfolded and/or the package sleeves that are unfolded and held between the closed form halves slide with a transfer unit onto the mandrel in each case.

32. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package sleeves, during the transfer from the channel to the form halves, are received at least in sections by two groove elements and wherein the groove elements are moved towards each other against a restoring force of at least one spring during the closing of the form halves, and after the transfer of the package sleeve to the mandrel, the form halves are parted by the restoring force of the at least one spring to receive a further package sleeve.

33. A device for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, comprising

a magazine comprising a stack formed from package sleeves, wherein the package sleeves of the stack are folded flat around at least two folding edges running in a longitudinal direction of the package sleeves,

a transfer unit for transferring the package sleeves from the stack, successively to a forming station, wherein the forming station has at least two form halves of a form for simultaneously compressing and unfolding the package sleeves and a channel for at least partly unfolding the package sleeves moved through the channel, and

a sliding unit for sliding the unfolded package sleeves in the forming station onto a mandrel.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the at least two form halves are designed in such a manner that the package sleeve is unfolded by the closing of the form, and comes in contact with an inside of the form in at least a substantially circumferential manner.

35. The device according to claim 33, wherein a pre-folding unit has the channel and/or the channel is designed to move the package sleeves through it in a straight line and the width of the channel tapers in a transport direction of the package sleeves to a degree which is smaller than the width of the flat-folded package sleeves, which are received in the magazine, such that at least one lateral boundary of the channel presses against the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve and moves the folding edges of the package sleeve towards each other.

36. The device according to claim 33, wherein at least one lateral boundary of the channel, at when the package sleeve is being moved through it, is stationary and/or the end of the channel, grooves situated opposite are provided to receive the folding edges of the package sleeves.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein a feeding unit feeds the package sleeves into an unfolding unit in the longitudinal direction of the grooves, either in the grooves and/or with the grooves and the feeding unit comprises at least one finger that engages a longitudinal end of the package sleeve and positively slides the package sleeve towards the unfolding unit.

38. The device according to claim 33, wherein a gripping arm grips a package sleeve of the stack and pulls the package sleeve through the channel, up to the grooves and/or the transfer unit slides the package sleeve unfolded between the closed at least two form halves onto the mandrel.

39. The device according to claim 33, wherein at least two groove elements receive the at least two folding edges of the package sleeves during the transfer of the package sleeves from the channel to the at least two form halves, and the at least two groove elements are engaged with the form halves in at least the closed position of the form halves, and the groove elements are spring-loaded and arranged in such a manner that they move towards each other against a restoring force of at least one spring means during the closing of the at least two form halves.

40. The device according to claim 39, wherein the restoring force of the at least one spring means of the at least two groove elements causes the at least two form halves to open after the transfer of the package sleeve to the mandrel.