Application unit, method for operating application unit, and packaging machine having application unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to an application unit (1a, 1b) for placing material cut pieces (2), particularly for forming a bundle, on containers (3) assembled into a container assembly (4), the application unit comprising: at least one clamping element (7a, 7b) having a mold plate (8a, 8b) for connecting the material cut pieces (2) to the containers (3) of the container assembly (4) to be conveyed along a conveying plane; and a drive unit (6a, 6b) configured to move the clamping element (7a, 7b) such that the mold plate (8a, 8b) can be adjusted between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the container (3). According to the present invention, the drive unit (6a, 6b) has a first drive disk (11a, 11b) rotatable about a first rotation axis (9a, 9b) and a second drive disk (12a, 12b) rotatable about a second rotation axis (10a, 10b) arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the first drive disk (11a, 11b), wherein the first and second rotation axes (10a, 10b) are horizontally oriented and arranged at the same height and off-axis from each other, and the clamping element (7a, 7b) includes a first hinge axis and a second drive disk (6a, 6b). Two hinge shafts (13a, 13b, 25a, 25b), wherein the clamping element (7a, 7b) is hinged to the first drive disk (11a, 11b) via its first hinge shaft (13a, 13b) and hinged to the second drive disk (12a, 12b) via its second hinge shaft (25a, 25b), such that the mold plate (8a, 8b) is horizontally oriented as the two drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) rotate about their respective rotation axes (9a, 9b, 10a, 10b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an application unit for placing cut material, particularly in a bundled manner, onto containers assembled into a container group, the application unit having

[0002] - At least one clamping element having a mold plate, the clamping element being used to connect the cut material to the containers to be conveyed along the conveying plane of the container assembly, and

[0003] - A drive unit configured to move the clamping element such that the mold plate can be adjusted between a disengaged and engaged position with the container.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating the application unit and a packaging machine having the application unit. Background Technology

[0005] Application units for packaging machines are known in various configurations from the prior art for pressing and / or pressing material cut sheets, such as cardboard cut sheets, onto containers, such as cans or bottles, that are being formed into a set. In the case of a bundled arrangement, the material cut sheet is pressed onto the container in such a way that it is form-fitted to the container through a suitable opening that matches the container, wherein the material cut sheet is moved segmentally onto the container in the area of ​​the opening.

[0006] Important to the function of the application unit is that its clamping element is guided or held horizontally when the cut material is pressed / pressed onto the container. A disadvantage of known application units is that they have particularly complex structures and cannot, or can only be conditionally, matched at high cost with changes in production conditions, such as changes in product pitch, changes in containers, or the like.

[0007] An application unit for manufacturing cardboard packaging is disclosed in EP 2 239 200 B1, the application unit having a clamping element fixed on a rotating disk, the clamping element closing the cardboard cut material to a lid, the cardboard cut material forming the bottom and sidewalls of the cardboard packaging. A surrounding toothed belt ensures that the clamping element of the application unit remains horizontally oriented at all times. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an application unit that can be manufactured at low cost and allows for easy replacement of changed production conditions, a method for operating the application unit, and a packaging machine having the application unit.

[0009] The objective of this invention is achieved through an application unit having the features of the present invention, a method for operating the application unit or packaging machine, and the packaging machine itself. Advantageous further aspects of the invention, concerning the application unit, the packaging machine, and the method, are given in the following description.

[0010] The application unit according to the present invention is characterized in that,

[0011] - The drive unit has a first drive disk rotatable about a first rotation axis and a second drive disk rotatable about a second rotation axis, arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the first drive disk. The first and second rotation axes are horizontally oriented and arranged at the same height but on different axes from each other.

[0012] - The clamping element includes a first hinge shaft and a second hinge shaft, wherein the clamping element is hinged to a first drive disk via its first hinge shaft and to a second drive disk via its second hinge shaft, such that the mold plate is horizontally oriented as the two drive disks rotate about their respective rotation axes.

[0013] According to the invention, the drive unit has at least one clamping element with a mold plate, wherein the clamping element is hingedly connected to a first drive disk via its first hinge axis and to a second drive disk via its second hinge axis. The connection of the hinge axis of the clamping element to the first and second drive disks is preferably designed such that the mold plate arranged on the clamping element is always horizontally oriented during drive disk rotation due to the hinge axes being arranged at the same height, wherein the horizontal orientation refers to a prescribed arrangement of the application unit on or in a packaging machine, in which the application unit is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from a generally horizontally extending conveying plane on which a container with material cut material is moved in the conveying direction past the application unit. Advantageously, (regarding the prescribed assembly position of the application unit) the arrangement of the hinge axes at the same height causes a spacing between the hinge axes and the conveying plane during drive disk rotation. Different axis arrangements of the rotating shafts result in spacing or offset of the rotating shafts, wherein the rotating shafts (regarding the prescribed assembly position of the application unit) are preferably arranged staggered sequentially in the conveying direction.

[0014] The resulting reliable horizontal orientation of the mold plate ensures that the cut material to be placed on the container is horizontally guided or held, thereby reliably placing the cut material onto the container when the mold plate is displaced based on the rotational movement of the drive disc. The placement of the cut material occurs during the mold plate displacement, transitioning from a disengaged position to an engaged position with the container. In the engaged position, the cut material is placed onto the container according to the design of the engaged position, i.e., maximum displacement towards the container. In the case of placing the cut material, it is connected to the individual container shapes of the container group in a shape-fitting manner, wherein a clustered connection is preferably established through the cut material.

[0015] The application unit according to the invention is characterized in that it can manufacture, particularly easily and cost-effectively, a mold plate for producing and achieving a reliable horizontal orientation of the clamping element. The application unit according to the invention effectively prevents the mold plate from deviating from the horizontal orientation required for frictionless operation. Here, the application unit can be easily matched to the container's conveying speed by driving the rotational speed of the drive disc around a corresponding axis of rotation. The application unit enables the container to be filled with material cut material in a continuous process.

[0016] The container group can consist of, for example, 4, 6 or 8 containers, wherein the containers are preferably grouped in a 2x2, 3x2 or 4x2 arrangement.

[0017] The containers in the container group are preferably beverage containers or containers for liquid foods. The containers can be constructed, for example, as jars or bottles.

[0018] In principle, the specific configuration of the cut material can be freely chosen. Depending on the destination, the cut material has multiple holes through which the container, particularly the upper section of the container, can be guided. Toothed fastening elements, which can be constructed at an angle relative to the base surface of the cut material, can be provided on the periphery of the holes for connection in accordance with the shape of the container. Particularly preferred is that the cut material is made of cardboard, particularly corrugated cardboard, or cardboard. Optionally, the cut material may have lateral folds. In the folded state, the folds advantageously form a lid for the upper section of the container, for example, to protect it from contamination.

[0019] The design of the connection between the clamping element and the mold plate can be freely chosen in principle. According to a particularly advantageous design of the invention, the clamping element is configured to allow for the releasable arrangement of the mold plate. This design allows the application unit to be matched in a particularly simple manner with changing production conditions, such as the size of the container group, the size of the container, the product pitch, or the like. In the case of a specification change, only the mold plate required for processing needs to be arranged on the clamping element, which can be easily replaced in the case of a subsequent specification change. This allows for a particularly significant reduction in downtime caused by modifying the application unit to the changed specification. The concept of "product pitch" is understood here as the center-to-center distance between two container groups that are adjacent to each other in the conveying direction.

[0020] The arrangement of the clamping elements on the first and second drive discs can, in principle, be designed in any manner. Therefore, it is possible for the clamping element or multiple clamping elements to be fixed in place on the drive discs, wherein matching with the product pitch, for example, for container replacement, can be achieved by simply changing the rotational speed of the clamping element, which is caused by the rotational speed of the drive discs.

[0021] However, according to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the first and second drive discs have receiving openings for a hinge shaft that can be releasably arranged for the clamping element. The releasable arrangement of the hinge shaft allows for easy replacement of the clamping element when needed, thereby facilitating inspection and maintenance.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous configuration, a plurality of receiving openings are arranged on each of the drive discs, wherein the receiving openings are distributed on the drive discs in such a manner that a plurality of clamping elements can be fixed on the drive discs. This further enables the application unit to be provided with a plurality of clamping elements, wherein the number and arrangement of the clamping elements can be selected according to the product pitch of the container. Particularly preferred is the arrangement of the receiving openings such that the application unit is matched with a product pitch of 160 mm, 240 mm and / or 320 mm.

[0023] This configuration of the invention thus enables the application unit to be matched with different product pitches through the simple pluggability of the clamping element, without the need to adjust the rotational speed of the clamping element by adjusting the rotational speed of the drive disc. The circumferential speed of the clamping element can consistently correspond to the production speed of the packaging machine, thereby eliminating the need for a drive motor or similar different speed profiles.

[0024] A particularly advantageous configuration here is that each drive disc has a plurality of, preferably at least eight, receiving openings arranged on a circular track having a predetermined circumference, particularly 960 mm. The receiving openings are divided into a first group having n equally spaced receiving openings, a second group having n equally spaced receiving openings, and two individual receiving openings arranged between these two groups, the receiving openings of the second group being arranged opposite to those of the first group, all arranged on a common circular track, where n is a natural number and preferably greater than or equal to 3.

[0025] In order to match the application unit with the changed product pitch, it is also possible to replace the two drive discs with another drive disc in which the receiving opening for the clamping element is arranged on a circular track with a smaller or larger circumference.

[0026] A particularly advantageous configuration involves the application unit having multiple, preferably three, four, or six clamping elements, each having a mold plate. The first hinge shaft of each clamping element is connected to a first drive disc, and the second hinge shaft of each clamping element is connected to a second drive disc. These clamping elements specifically enable the reliable arrangement of material cut pieces onto containers grouped in sets of four, six, or eight. When the clamping elements are arranged on a circular track with a preferably set circumference of 960 mm, the containers typically have a diameter of, for example, 58 or 66 mm. Here, for example, the following limitation may apply: in the case of processing containers grouped in sets of eight, with a circular circumference of 960 mm, and three molds evenly distributed along the circumference, it is generally possible to process containers with a diameter of only 58 mm.

[0027] In principle, the arrangement of the clamping elements can be freely selected, wherein, according to a particularly advantageous configuration, the clamping elements are arranged equidistantly from each other, so as to ensure reliable placement of the material cut pieces during continuous production at a constant product pitch.

[0028] The driving of the drive disc can be implemented in any manner in principle. However, according to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the drive unit includes a drive motor, preferably an electric motor, and particularly preferably a servo motor, for driving the drive disc. The use of a drive motor, especially an electric motor or a servo motor, allows for particularly accurate and precise determination of the rotational speed of the drive disc and thus the rotational speed of the clamping element, thereby enabling optimal matching with the conveying speed of the container to be processed.

[0029] Particularly preferably, the drive disc is provided with a drive gear that engages torsionally with the output gear of the drive motor, thereby ensuring particularly reliable drive of the drive disc. Furthermore, the use of the output gear and drive gear for acceleration or deceleration allows the drive motor to be driven within an optimal speed range.

[0030] Furthermore, the objective of the present invention is achieved by a packaging machine having the aforementioned application unit according to the invention or a further improvement thereof. The packaging machine according to the invention is an apparatus for placing cut material onto a container, which, in addition to the application unit, includes a conveying unit for the cut material and a conveying device for moving the container to which the cut material is to be placed along the application unit. Here, the packaging machine according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the packaging machine can be manufactured particularly simply and cost-effectively based on the simple and compact construction of the application unit. The continuously operating application unit here ensures a uniform product flow, thereby enabling the packaging machine to easily participate in previous and subsequent production processes.

[0031] According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the conveying device for conveying containers along the conveying plane in the conveying direction is arranged relative to the packaging machine such that the two rotation axes of the application unit are oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and arranged at the same distance from the conveying plane and offset from each other in the conveying direction. According to this configuration of the invention, the arrangement of the application units ensures that the mold plate of the pressing element is oriented parallel to the conveying plane, thereby ensuring that the cut material is guided, held, and finally placed onto the container with particular reliability and ease.

[0032] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the application unit is supported in such a way that its height position can be changed. This enables the processing of containers of different heights, particularly in packaging machines.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the packaging machine includes an additional application unit. This additional application unit is arranged in the conveying direction after the first-mentioned application unit, according to the destination. Advantageously, the first-mentioned application unit is configured to place, particularly in a bundled manner, the cut material onto containers assembled into a container group, while the additional application unit is configured to lock the two lateral folds of the cut material placed on the containers.

[0034] The firstly mentioned application unit and the other application unit can be implemented with essentially the same structure, however, the difference being that the other application unit preferably has a locking element for locking the lateral folding pieces on the underside of the mold plate or instead of the mold plate. The locking element may, for example, have a shape that extends downwardly in a pointed shape.

[0035] A folding device for folding or turning over the lateral folding sheet of the material cut is preferably arranged between the firstly mentioned application unit and the other application unit.

[0036] To address the aforementioned objective of the invention, a method for operating an application unit or packaging machine according to the invention is provided (as described above in accordance with the invention or in a further improved manner), wherein the container is first conveyed at a first product pitch and then the product pitch is changed to convey the container at a second product pitch, which is different from the first product pitch, wherein a fixed number of clamping elements are used regardless of the product pitch, and the position of the clamping elements on the drive disc is not changed.

[0037] According to the method of the invention, the application unit has a fixed number of clamping elements whose positions on the drive disc are immutable, thereby eliminating the need to modify the application unit when changing product pitches. This allows the method to be implemented particularly easily and cost-effectively, wherein the clamping elements are designed to be used with multiple product pitches.

[0038] According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the method, the rotational speed of the clamping element is variable, provided the product pitch is predetermined accordingly. Changing the rotational speed by altering the rotational speed of the drive disc allows the application unit to be matched in a particular way with the changing product pitch, thereby particularly increasing the flexibility of the method.

[0039] According to an alternative method for operating an application unit or packaging machine according to the invention (as described above in accordance with the invention or in a further improved manner), the container is first conveyed at a first product pitch and then the product pitch is changed to convey the container at a second product pitch, which is different from the first product pitch, wherein the number of clamping elements and / or the position of the clamping elements on the drive disc are changed when the product pitch is changed.

[0040] According to this method, the application unit is modified based on the product pitch, wherein the clamping elements are altered in position and / or number to match the changed product pitch. This method according to the invention allows for easy matching with different product pitches using the same application unit, which can be matched to the changed product pitch by simply adjusting the number or position of the clamping elements.

[0041] Particularly advantageously, in this configuration, the rotational speed of the clamping element is constant with a correspondingly predetermined product pitch; that is, the rotational speed does not change over time with a given product pitch, wherein this rotational speed corresponds to the container conveying speed. According to this configuration, the rotational speed advantageously corresponds to the container conveying speed, thereby ensuring optimal interaction between the mold plate arranged on the clamping element and the material cutter arranged on the container. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 A perspective view of the application unit and multiple grouped containers is shown in the schematic diagram;

[0044] Figure 2 It shows the source Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of the applying unit that interacts with the grouped containers;

[0045] Figure 3 A perspective view showing a second embodiment of the application unit;

[0046] Figure 4 &5 shows the origin Figure 1 and 2 A three-dimensional view of the application unit during the processing of material cutting with folded pieces;

[0047] Figure 6 It shows that the material immediately following the direction of transport originates from... Figure 5 A perspective view of the application unit for locking the folding piece. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the application unit 1a is shown in the position of the application unit relative to a plurality of container groups 4 composed of containers 3 to be processed on a packaging machine having a conveying device (not shown here).

[0049] The application unit 1a includes four clamping elements 7a. The application unit 1a also includes a drive unit 6a for driving the clamping elements 7a, the drive unit having a first drive disk 11a and a second drive disk 12a. The drive disks 11a and 12a are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, transverse to the conveying direction 27 of the container 3. The first drive disk 11a rotates about its first rotation axis 9a, and the second drive disk 12a rotates about its second rotation axis 10a. The first and second rotation axes 9a and 10a are arranged sequentially and spaced apart from each other in the conveying direction, and the heights of the first and second rotation axes 9a and 10a, i.e., the distances between the first and second rotation axes and the conveying plane of the container 3, are equal.

[0050] A drive unit 6a with two drive discs 11a and 12a is used to adjust a clamping element 7a on which a mold plate 8a is provided. The clamping element is arranged in the area between the first drive disc 11a and the second drive disc 12a. The clamping element 7a is connected to the first drive disc 11a via a first hinge shaft 13a and to the second drive disc 12a via a second hinge shaft 25a. A hinge pin 24, pivotally supported on the clamping element 7a, is used to arrange the clamping element 7a on the first and second drive discs 11a and 12a. The hinge pin is arranged on the first and second drive discs 11a and 12a with its end opposite to its free end via a quadrilateral element 26 arranged in a receiving opening 14a. When the receiving opening 14a is aligned with the free end of the mold plate 8a, the clamping element 7a is positioned on the mold plate 8a. Figure 1 When an embodiment does not have a quadrilateral shape, a connecting element of a different shape, such as a circle, is preferably used instead of a quadrilateral element 26.

[0051] The arrangement of the clamping element 7a on the first drive disk and the second drive disk 11a, 12a is achieved such that the first hinge shaft 13a and the second hinge shaft 25a of the clamping element 7a have a common distance that is always the same as that of the conveying plane, so that the clamping element 7a and the mold plate 8a arranged on the clamping element 7a are always horizontal, i.e. parallel to the conveying plane and parallel to the arrangement of the containers 3 arranged in the container group 4 during the rotation of the drive disk 11a, 12a.

[0052] The clamping elements 7a are evenly distributed on the periphery of the first drive disk 11a and the second drive disk 12a, wherein the first drive disk 11a and the second drive disk 12a respectively have a first receiving opening group 20a and a second receiving opening group 21a. Each receiving opening group 20a, 21a has three receiving openings 14a distributed on the periphery and arranged equidistantly from each other. Two additional receiving openings 14a are arranged in the middle on a circular track between the first receiving opening group 20a and the second receiving opening group 21a, respectively. The receiving openings 14a of the first receiving opening group and the second receiving opening group 20a, 21a are arranged opposite each other on the drive disks 11a, 11b on the circular track.

[0053] The first and second drive discs 11a and 12a are rotated about their first and second rotation axes 9a and 10a by the drive application unit 1a, thereby causing the clamping element 7a to rotate with its mold plate 8a about the first and second rotation axes 9a and 10a. The mold plate 8a here cooperates with the container 3 that is assembled into the container group 4 and causes the material cut 2 (preferably cardboard cut 2) arranged on the container group 4 to be displaced toward the container 3.

[0054] Interacting with the mold plate 8a, the material cutter 2 is guided from the container group 4 at the application unit 1a along the conveying direction 27. Figure 1 The position shown in the diagram, placed on container group 4, for forming cluster 5, has been shifted to... Figure 2 In the position immediately following the application unit in the conveying direction 27, the material cutter 2 covers the upper side of the container 3 through a hole 23, such that the hole 23 is arranged coaxially with the container 3 in the region on the upper side of the container 3. During interaction with the container assembly 4, the mold plate 8a guides the material cutter 2, holds the material cutter parallel to the upper side of the container 3, and moves the material cutter from the outer mating position with the container assembly 4 to the inner mating position.

[0055] exist Figure 3 The diagram below illustrates another configuration of the applying unit 1b. (Compared to...) Figure 1 and Figure 2 Unlike the application unit 1a shown, the driving unit 6b of the application unit 1b has two wheel-shaped driving disks 11b and 12b, wherein the first driving disk 11b is rotatable about a first rotation axis 9b, and the second driving disk 12b is rotatable about a second rotation axis 10b. Bolts 22 are used to hinge the clamping element 7b onto the first driving disk 11b and the second driving disk 12b, and hinge bolts 24 extending through the clamping element 7b are hingedly connected to the first and second driving disks 11b and 12b by means of the bolts. The hinge bolts 24 constitute the first and second hinge axes 13b and 25b of the clamping element 7b.

[0056] and Figure 1 and 2 The configuration of the receiving opening 14a of the drive unit 6a shown is different. Figure 3 The first and second drive discs 11b and 12b of the application unit 1b shown have circular receiving openings 14b through which bolts 22 extend. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the first drive disk 11b and the second drive disk 12b have a first receiving opening group 20b and a second receiving opening group 21b, which are arranged opposite each other. Between the two receiving opening groups 20b and 21b, two individual receiving openings 14b are arranged on a circular track of the receiving opening 14b, respectively, between the receiving opening groups 20b and 21b.

[0057] The drive unit 6b is driven by a drive motor 15 arranged on the frame 18. The rotational motion of the drive motor is transmitted through two output gears 16 to a drive gear 17 that is torsionally connected to the drive discs 11b and 12b. This drive causes the first and second drive discs 11b and 12b to move about their first or second rotational axes 9b and 10b, wherein the clamping element 7b rotates in a permanently horizontal orientation corresponding to the rotational motion of the first and second drive discs 11b and 12b via a mold plate 8b arranged thereon. The mold plate 8b has an opening 19 that matches the container 3 of the container assembly 4 to be processed and allows for the displacement of the material cutter 2 toward the container 3, thereby forming a bundle 5.

[0058] Figure 4 and Figure 5 It shows the source Figure 1 or Figure 2 The application unit 1a and a plurality of container groups 4 composed of containers 3 are used for processing, wherein, however, the application unit 1a is used for processing another type of material cut material 2. In this case, the material cut material 2 is processed having two lateral folded pieces 2a. The folded pieces are in a folded state (see...) Figure 6 It serves as a cover for container 3 to protect it from contamination.

[0059] The material cut piece 2 is placed on the container 3 of the corresponding container group 4 in the manner and method described above by means of the application unit 1a. Then, the lateral folding piece 2a is folded by means of a folding device (not shown) that is immediately following the application unit 1a in the conveying direction 27.

[0060] Another application unit 1c is located immediately following the application unit 1a in the conveying direction 27. This application unit 1c is used to lock the folded pieces 2a of the material cutter 2 together.

[0061] The additional application unit 1c is constructed in essentially the same way as the first application unit 1a; however, the clamping elements 7a of the mold plate 8a are additionally equipped with locking elements 28. The corresponding locking elements 28 have a downwardly pointed shape and preferably extend over the entire length of the mold plate 8a to which they belong.

[0062] The container assembly 4, together with the folded material cut pieces 2 arranged thereon, is conveyed to the application unit 1c along the conveying direction 27 by means of a conveying device. The application unit 1c is driven so that its first and second drive discs 11a, 12a rotate about their first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a, thereby causing the clamping element 7a to rotate about its mold plate 8a and the locking element 28 arranged on the mold plate about the first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a. Here, the locking element 28 engages with the material cut pieces 2 and locks the two folded pieces 2a of the corresponding material cut pieces 2 together.

[0063] List of reference numerals

[0064] Application units 1a, 1b, 1c

[0065] 2. Material cutting

[0066] 2a Folded piece

[0067] 3 containers

[0068] 4 Container Groups

[0069] 5 clusters

[0070] 6a, 6b drive units

[0071] 7a, 7b clamping elements

[0072] 8a, 8b mold plates

[0073] 9a, 9b First Rotation Axis

[0074] 10a, 10b Second Rotation Axis

[0075] 11a, 11b First drive disk

[0076] 12a, 12b Second Drive Disk

[0077] 13a, 13b First hinge axis

[0078] 14a, 14b Receiving openings

[0079] 15 Drive Motors

[0080] 16 Output gear

[0081] 17 Drive gear

[0082] 18 Frames

[0083] 19 Opening

[0084] 20a, 20b First receiving opening group

[0085] 21a, 21b Second receiving opening group

[0086] 22 bolts

[0087] 23 holes

[0088] 24 Hinged bolts

[0089] 25a, 25b Second hinge shaft

[0090] 26 Quadrilateral Components

[0091] 27 Conveying direction

[0092] 28. Locking element.

Claims

1. An application unit (1a, 1b) for a packaging machine for placing material cut material (2) onto a container (3) assembled into a container assembly (4), said application unit having: - At least one clamping element (7a, 7b) having a mold plate (8a, 8b), the clamping element being used to connect the material cut material (2) to the container (3) to be conveyed along the conveying plane of the container assembly (4), and - Drive units (6a, 6b), the drive units being configured to move the clamping elements (7a, 7b) so that the mold plates (8a, 8b) can be adjusted between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the container (3). Its features are, The drive unit (6a, 6b) has a first drive disk (11a, 11b) rotatable about a first rotation axis (9a, 9b) and a second drive disk (12a, 12b) rotatable about a second rotation axis (10a, 10b) arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the first drive disk (11a, 11b). The first and second rotation axes (10a, 10b) are horizontally oriented and arranged at the same height but on different axes from each other. - The clamping elements (7a, 7b) include a first hinge shaft and a second hinge shaft (13a, 13b, 25a, 25b), wherein the clamping elements (7a, 7b) are hingedly connected to the first drive disk (11a, 11b) via their first hinge shaft (13a, 13b) and to the second drive disk (12a, 12b) via their second hinge shaft (25a, 25b), such that the mold plate (8a, 8b) is horizontally oriented as the two drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) rotate about their respective rotation axes (9a, 9b, 10a, 10b).

2. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping elements (7a, 7b) are configured to allow the mold plates (8a, 8b) to be loosely arranged.

3. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first drive disk and the second drive disk (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) have receiving openings (14a, 14b) for releasably arranging the hinge shafts (13a, 13b, 25a, 25b) of the clamping elements (7a, 7b).

4. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) has multiple receiving openings (14a, 14b) distributed around the periphery of the drive disk so that multiple clamping elements (7a, 7b) can be fixed on the drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), and the spacing between the multiple clamping elements can be matched to different product pitches.

5. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each drive disk (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) has a plurality of receiving openings (14a, 14b) arranged on a circular track with a predetermined circumference. The circular track includes n equally spaced receiving openings (14a, 14b) in a first receiving opening group (20a, 20b), n equally spaced receiving openings (14a, 14b) in a second receiving opening group (21a, 21b), and two single receiving openings (14a, 14b) respectively positioned between the two receiving opening groups (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b). The receiving openings of the second receiving opening group are arranged opposite to the receiving openings (14a, 14b) of the first receiving opening group (20a, 20b), where n is a natural number.

6. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Multiple clamping elements (7a, 7b) are provided, each having a mold plate (8a, 8b). The first hinge shaft (13a, 13b) of the clamping element is connected to the first drive disk (11a, 11b), and the second hinge shaft (25a, 25b) of the clamping element is connected to the second drive disk (12a, 12b).

7. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The clamping elements (7a, 7b) are arranged at equal intervals.

8. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The drive unit (6a, 6b) includes a drive motor (15) for driving the drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b).

9. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) have drive gears (17) that can be torsionally engaged with the output gear (16) of the drive motor (15).

10. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The application units (1a, 1b) are used to place the material cut pieces (2) in a bundle onto the container (3) which is assembled into a container group (4).

11. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spacing between the plurality of clamping elements can be matched with product pitches of 160 mm, 240 mm and / or 320 mm.

12. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the drive disks (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) has at least eight receiving openings (14a, 14b).

13. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The circular track has a circumference of 960 mm.

14. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that, n is greater than or equal to 3.

15. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 6, characterized in that, Set up 3, 4 or 6 clamping elements (7a, 7b) each with a mold plate (8a, 8b).

16. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drive motor (15) is an electric motor.

17. The application unit (1a, 1b) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drive motor (15) is a servo motor.

18. A packaging machine having an application unit (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims.

19. The packaging machine according to claim 18, characterized in that, A conveying device is provided for conveying a container (3) along a conveying plane in a conveying direction (27), wherein two rotating shafts (9a, 9b, 10a, 10b) are oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction (27) and arranged at the same distance from the conveying plane and staggered from each other in the conveying direction (27).

20. The packaging machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that, An additional application unit (1c) is provided, wherein the application units (1a, 1b) mentioned first are configured to place the material cut piece (2) on the container (3) which is assembled into the container group (4), and the additional application unit (1c) is configured to lock the two lateral folds (2a) of the material cut piece (2) placed on the container (3).

21. The packaging machine according to claim 20, characterized in that, A folding device is provided between the first-mentioned application units (1a, 1b) and the other application unit (1c) for folding the lateral folding pieces (2a) of the material cut material (2).

22. The packaging machine according to claim 20, characterized in that, The additional application unit (1c) is the application unit according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

23. The packaging machine according to claim 20, characterized in that, The aforementioned application units (1a, 1b) are configured to place the material cut pieces (2) in a bundle onto the container (3) which is assembled into a container group (4).

24. A method for operating an application unit (1a, 1b) or packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, in, The container (3) is first conveyed at a first product pitch and then the product pitch is changed to convey the container (3) at a second product pitch, which is different from the first product pitch. Its features are, A fixed number of clamping elements (7a, 7b) are used regardless of the product pitch, and the position of the clamping elements on the drive disc (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) remains unchanged.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, With the product pitch predetermined accordingly, the rotational speed of the clamping elements (7a, 7b) is variable.

26. A method for operating an application unit (1a, 1b) or packaging machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 23, in, The container (3) is first conveyed at a first product pitch and then the product pitch is changed to convey the container (3) at a second product pitch, which is different from the first product pitch. Its features are, When changing the product pitch, change the number of the clamping elements (7a, 7b) and / or the position of the clamping elements on the drive disc (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b).

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that, With a predetermined product pitch, the rotational speed of the clamping elements (7a, 7b) is constant, wherein the rotational speed corresponds to the conveying speed of the container (3).

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