Digital printing device for packaging machine and packaging machine having digital printing device

Abstract

Described herein is a digital printing device (5) for a packaging machine (1) for producing packages (2), the device comprising a control unit (6) for controlling the digital printing device (5), a conveying device (7) and a digital printing unit (8). The conveying device (7) comprises a planar motor (10) having a plurality of carriers (11) configured to receive the respective packages (2) at an entry station (15) and to transport the respective packages (2) to an exit station (16). The digital printing unit (8) is arranged adjacent to the planar motor (10) at the printing station (17). The control unit (6) is configured to selectively control movement of the carriers (11) in order to selectively guide one or more carriers (11) to the printing station (17) and then to the exit station (17). The digital printing unit (8) is configured to print information and / or messages and / or decorations onto the packages (2) guided to the printing station (17).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital printing device for a packaging machine for packaging pieces. In particular, the present invention relates to a digital printing device for a packaging machine in order to customize some or all of the packages produced by the packaging machine.

[0002] Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging pourable products (especially pourable foods) into packages, especially processing packages from multilayer packaging materials, and the packaging machine has at least one digital printing device, especially allowing customization of some or all packages. Background Art

[0003] As is known to all, many liquid or pourable foods, such as juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature treated) milk, wine, ketchup etc., are sold in the form of packages made of sterilized packaging material, in particular sealed packages.

[0004] A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable foods called Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material. This packaging material has a multilayer structure, which includes a cardboard and / or paper base layer, which is covered on both sides with a heat-sealable plastic material layer, such as polyethylene. In aseptic packaging for long-term storage products, the packaging material also includes an oxygen barrier material layer, such as aluminum foil, which is superimposed on the heat-sealable plastic material layer and then covered with another heat-sealable plastic material layer that forms the inner surface of the package that ultimately contacts the food.

[0005] Such packaging is usually produced by fully automatic packaging machines, which form and fill the packages starting from multi-layer packaging materials. Such automatic packaging machines can produce very high speeds (more than 10,000 packages per hour, or even faster).

[0006] Recently, there has been a demand in the industry to customize packaging, such as applying certain information, messages, pictures or the like onto the packaging.

[0007] However, customized packaging must not affect the high-speed processing of the packaging machine.

[0008] Therefore, the industry desires a packaging machine that can produce customized packages without reducing the production speed of the packaging machine. Summary of the invention

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital printing device for a packaging machine in a straightforward and cost-effective manner, in particular a digital printing device which can customize some or all of the packages produced by the packaging machine.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide, in a straightforward and cost-effective manner, a packaging machine having a digital printing device for the packaging machine, in particular a digital printing device which can customize part or all of the packages produced by the packaging machine.

[0011] According to the invention, a digital printing device according to independent claim 1 is provided.

[0012] In the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1 , preferred embodiments of the digital printing device are defined.

[0013] According to the invention, a packaging machine according to claim 14 and claim 15 is also provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Two non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a packaging machine with at least one digital printing device according to the invention, with some components removed for clarity;

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of a first embodiment of a digital printing device according to the present invention, with some components removed for clarity;

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 a perspective view of a detail of a digital printing device with some parts removed for clarity; and

[0018] Figure 4 1 is a second embodiment of a digital printing device according to the present invention, with some components removed for clarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a packaging machine for producing packages 2 filled with pourable products, in particular pourable foods, such as (pasteurized) milk, juice, wine, ketchup, salt, sugar or the like.

[0020] The packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce packages 2 filled with a pourable product and bearing customized information and / or messages and / or decorations.

[0021] In more detail, the packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce packages 2 from a packaging material having a multilayer structure.

[0022] In further detail, the packaging material may comprise at least one fibrous material layer, such as paper or cardboard, and at least two heat-sealed plastic material layers, such as polyethylene, sandwiching the fibrous material layers between each other. One of the two heat-sealed plastic material layers defines the inner face of the body 2 in contact with the pourable product.

[0023] In addition, the packaging material may further include a gas and light barrier material layer, such as an aluminum foil or an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, particularly disposed between one of the heat-sealable plastic material layers and the fiber material layer. Preferably, the packaging material may further include another heat-sealable plastic material layer sandwiched between the gas and light barrier material layer and the fiber material layer.

[0024] In further detail, the packaging material may be provided in the form of a web 3 .

[0025] Each package 2 obtained by the packaging machine 1 may comprise a longitudinal seam portion and a pair of respective first transverse sealing bands and respective second transverse sealing bands, in particular arranged on opposite sides of the package 2. In particular, the first transverse sealing band may define a transverse top sealing band and the second transverse sealing band may define a transverse bottom sealing band.

[0026] Special reference Figure 1 , the packaging machine 1 may include:

[0027] a package filling device 4 for filling packages 2, in particular for processing and filling packages 2, in particular for processing packages 2 from a multilayer packaging material and for filling packages 2; and

[0028] at least one digital printing device 5 for selective printing, in particular information and / or messages and / or decorations, onto part or all of the packaging 2 , in particular for customising part or all of the packaging 2 .

[0029] In particular, the digital printing device 5 can be arranged downstream of the packaging filling device 4 ; ie the digital printing device 5 receives the packages 2 from the packaging filling device 4 during use.

[0030] Preferably, the digital printing device 5 can be configured to selectively print desired information, desired messages and / or desired decorations onto a portion or all of the packaging 2 .

[0031] Examples of information and / or messages may relate to the place of production, date and / or time of production, type of product, type of packaging material, personalized information (such as a name, poem, one or more sentences or the like).

[0032] Furthermore, these information and / or messages may be encoded.

[0033] Exemplary decorations may be pictures, photos, barcodes (two-dimensional or three-dimensional barcodes), and the like.

[0034] Special reference Figure 2 , the digital printing device 5 comprises:

[0035] - A control unit 6, which is used to control the operation of the digital printing device 5 itself;

[0036] a conveying device 7 , which is in particular operatively connected to the control unit 6 ; and

[0037] a digital printing unit 8 configured to print information and / or messages and / or decorations onto the package 2 , the digital printing unit 8 being in particular operatively connected to the control unit 6 .

[0038] Advantageously, the digital printing device 5 may further comprise a scanning unit 9 configured to scan the package 2 and, in particular, operatively connected to the control unit 6. In particular, the scanning unit 9 may be configured to scan the package 2 before the digital printing unit 8 prints on the package 2.

[0039] Preferably, the control unit 6 may be configured to control the operation of the conveying device 7 so as to selectively advance the packages 2 to the digital printing unit 8 , and in particular also advance the packages 2 to the scanning unit 9 before advancing the packages 2 to the digital printing unit 8 .

[0040] Preferably, the control unit 6 may be configured to control the operation of the digital printing unit 8, in particular in order to cause the digital printing unit 8 to print the desired information and / or message and / or decoration onto the package 2. In particular, the control unit 6 may at least temporarily digitally store the information and / or message and / or decoration to be printed.

[0041] More preferably, the control unit 6 may be configured to control the operation of the digital printing unit 8 according to the scanning result obtained by the scanning unit 9 .

[0042] In more detail, the conveying device 7 comprises a planar motor 10 having a plurality of carriers 11 configured to receive the packages 2 at an entry station 15 and to convey the packages 2 to an exit station 16 .

[0043] In particular, the control unit 6 may be operatively connected to the planar motor 10 and configured to control the operation of the planar motor 10 , in particular the movement of the carrier 11 .

[0044] Preferably, the control unit 6 may be configured to selectively control the movement of each vehicle 11 .

[0045] Preferably, the control unit 6 may be configured to selectively control the movement of each vehicle 11 .

[0046] In particular, the control unit 6 may be configured to selectively control the movement of each vehicle 11 independently of the other vehicles 11. In this case, independent means that the control unit 6 may selectively accelerate and decelerate each vehicle 11 in a manner that may be different from any acceleration and deceleration of the other vehicles 11. Furthermore, the control unit 6 may also control the movement of each vehicle 11 to avoid any unnecessary collision with one or more other vehicles 11.

[0047] Look back Figure 2 , the digital printing unit 8 is arranged adjacent to the planar motor 10 at the printing station 17 .

[0048] Preferably, the scanning unit 9 may be provided with a planar motor adjacent to the scanning station 18 .

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit 6 is configured to selectively control the movement of the carriers 11 so as to selectively guide at least part of the carriers 11 to the printing station 17 and then to the exit station 16. Preferably, the control unit 6 is configured to selectively control the movement of the carriers 11 so as to selectively guide one or more carriers 11 to the scanning station 18, then to the printing station 17, and finally to the exit station 16.

[0050] In particular, the control unit 6 is configured to control the movement of the carriers 11 so as to direct to the printing station 17 only those carriers 11 carrying packages 2 on which the desired information and / or messages and / or decorations are to be applied.

[0051] In addition, the control unit 6 can also be configured to control the movement of the carriers 11 so as to guide these carriers 11 to, in particular, directly to the exit station 16 (without passing through the printing station 17), and the packages 2 carried by these carriers 11 do not need to be printed with any information and / or messages and / or decorations.

[0052] In other words, the control unit 6 can be configured to selectively move the carrier 11, in particular to directly move the carrier 11, along a first path P from the entry station 15 to the exit station 16, or along a second path Q different from the first path P from the entry station 15 to the printing station 17, in particular from the entry station 15 to the printing station 17 and passing through the scanning station 18 and from the printing station 17 to the exit station 16.

[0053] Preferably, the first imaginary line extending from the entry station 15 to the printing station 17 and the second imaginary line extending from the printing station 17 to the exit station 16 describe and / or define an angle different from 180° or a multiple of 180°. In other words, the second path Q cannot be described by a straight line.

[0054] like Figure 2As shown schematically, the digital printing unit 8 is configured to print information and / or decoration onto the packages 2 which are guided to a printing station 17 in use.

[0055] Furthermore, the scanning unit 9 can be configured to scan all of the packages 2 directed to the scanning station 18 before the packages 2 are directed to the printing station 17. In particular, by scanning the packages 2 before printing, printing can be performed with high accuracy and the printed matter can be printed on a desired portion of the corresponding package 2.

[0056] Preferably, the scanning unit 9 may also be configured to send information on the scanning result of the scanned package 2 to the control unit 6 .

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 6 may be configured to control the digital printing unit 8 according to the scanning result, so as to print information and / or messages and / or decorations on a determined position of the packaging 2 .

[0058] In more detail, the digital printing unit 8 may include one or more digital printing machines, and in particular, each digital printing machine is operably connected to the control unit 6 so that the control unit 6 can control the operation of the corresponding digital printing machine.

[0059] According to some possible embodiments, the digital printing press may be operated to print desired information and / or messages and / or decorations onto different packages 2 (substantially) simultaneously.

[0060] Alternatively or in addition, the digital printing presses may be operated such that the information and / or message and / or decoration of the final package 2 is obtained by printing operations of different digital printing presses.

[0061] Each digital printing press may include one or more print heads.

[0062] Special reference Figure 3 , each carrier 11 may include a support surface 19 for carrying a respective package.

[0063] In particular, each package 2 may extend along a mutually perpendicular longitudinal axis A, a first transverse axis B and a second transverse axis C. Preferably, the package 2 extends along the longitudinal axis A for a greater length than along the first transverse axis B and the second transverse axis C, respectively.

[0064] Preferably, each package 2 can be arranged on the respective carrier 11 with the respective longitudinal axis A being transverse to the support surface 19 , in particular perpendicular to the support surface 19 .

[0065] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3Each carrier 11 can be configured to rotate the corresponding pack 2 about the rotation axis E at the printing station 17 and in particular also at the scanning station 18 , in particular by being controlled by the control unit 6 .

[0066] Preferably, each carrier 11 is configured to rotate itself about an axis of rotation E in order to rotate the corresponding package 2 about the axis of rotation E.

[0067] In more detail, the rotation axis E may be transverse, in particular substantially perpendicular, to the respective support surface 19 .

[0068] More specifically, the control unit 6 may be configured to control each carrier 11 to move along three linear axes and around three rotational axes. In other words, each carrier 11 has six degrees of freedom.

[0069] More specifically, the control unit 6 may be configured to control each carrier 11 to move along a first linear axis X, a second linear axis Y perpendicular to the first linear axis X, and a third linear axis Z perpendicular to the first linear axis X and the second linear axis Y. In this way, the position of each carrier 11 (also together with the corresponding package 2) may be controlled in three-dimensional space.

[0070] Furthermore, each control unit 6 may also be configured to control the angular movement of each carrier 11 about the rotation axis E, a second rotation axis F perpendicular to the rotation axis E and a third rotation axis G perpendicular to the rotation axis E and the second rotation axis F. This allows controlling the angular movement of the carrier 11 (also together with the respective package 2).

[0071] By providing six degrees of freedom, the angular and spatial position of the package 2 can be precisely controlled, in particular to improve scanning and / or printing operations.

[0072] Special reference Figure 2 The planar motor 10 may further include a planar control module 20 , in particular, the planar control module 20 is operably coupled to the control unit 6 .

[0073] Preferably, the plane control module 20 may include a plurality of coils configured to generate a local electromagnetic field for selectively moving the vehicle 11 .

[0074] The control unit 6 may be configured to control the plurality of coils to control the movement of the carrier 11 , in particular along the first X, second Y and third Z linear axes and around the E, second F and third G rotational axes.

[0075] More specifically, the control unit 6 may be configured to control the carrier 11 along the third linear axis Z so as to lift the carrier 11 from the planar control module 20. In particular, the carrier 11 is placed on the planar control module 20 with the coil de-energized.

[0076] Furthermore, the planar control module 20 may extend along a first axis (particularly parallel to the first linear axis X) and a second axis (particularly parallel to the second linear axis Y).

[0077] Advantageously, each carrier 11 may comprise at least one magnetic and / or ferromagnetic element, allowing each carrier 11 to interact with the local electromagnetic field generated by the coil.

[0078] The control unit 6 may be configured to selectively control the movement of each carrier along the first and first linear axis X and the second and second linear axis Y by controlling the interaction of the local electromagnetic field with at least one magnetic and / or ferromagnetic element of each carrier 11 .

[0079] Special reference Figure 2 , the conveying device 7 may also include:

[0080] - an inlet carrier 21 for feeding the packages 2 to an inlet station 15 where they are transported onto a respective carrier 11 ; and

[0081] An exit carrier 22 for receiving packages 2 at the exit station 16 ; in particular the exit carrier 22 receives, in use, packages 2 from a respective carrier 11 .

[0082] In more detail, the inlet carrier 21 may be configured to advance the packages 2 from the package filling device 4 to the planar motor 10 .

[0083] Advantageously, the inlet carrier 21 may include one or more feed tracks 23. Figure 2 Only one is shown in the specific example.

[0084] The feed track 23 may comprise a conveyor belt, on which, in use, the packages 2 are placed.

[0085] According to some possible embodiments, the exit carrier 22 may be configured to advance the packages 2 from the exit station 16 to a further end-of-line processing apparatus.

[0086] Preferably, the exit carrier 22 may include an outfeed track 24 .

[0087] The outfeed track 24 may include a conveyor belt for advancing the packages 2 .

[0088] Special reference Figure 1 The package filling device 4 is configured to produce packages 2 and to fill the packages 2 with a pourable product.

[0089] In more detail, the package filling device 4 may be configured to produce the packages 2 by forming the tube 30 from the web 3 , sealing the tube 30 longitudinally, filling the tube 30 with the pourable product and sealing and cutting the tube 30 transversely.

[0090] Special reference Figure 1 , the packaging filling device 4 may include:

[0091] a conveying unit 31 for advancing the web 3 (in a known manner) along a web advancing path P to a forming station 8 where the web 3 is formed into a tube 4, in use;

[0092] - an isolation chamber 32, which has an internal environment, in particular a sterile environment containing sterile gas, and is separated from the (harsh) external environment;

[0093] - a tube forming and sealing device 33 configured, when in use, to form the advancing web 3 into a tube 30 in the inner environment and to longitudinally seal the tube 30 in the inner environment;

[0094] a filling device 34 which fills the tube 30 with the pourable product; and

[0095] - a package forming device 35 configured to form, transversely seal and transversely cut the pusher tube 30 during use, so as to form the package 2.

[0096] Furthermore, the packaging machine 1 may also comprise a sterilizing device which is configured to sterilize the advancing web 3 at the sterilizing station when in use.

[0097] In use, the packaging machine 1 produces packages 2 filled with a pourable product.

[0098] The operation of the packaging machine 1 comprises at least the following steps:

[0099] - filling of the packages 2 with the pourable product, in particular performed by a package filling device 7; and

[0100] - selectively printing information and / or messages and / or decorations onto the packaging 2 , in particular performed by a digital printing device 5 .

[0101] Furthermore, the operation of the packaging machine 1 may also include a step of forming the packs 2 , in particular performed by the pack filling device 7 .

[0102] In particular, the steps of filling and forming the packages 2 can be performed simultaneously.

[0103] More specifically, during the forming step and the filling step, the tube 30 is formed from the advancing web 3, longitudinally sealed, filled with the pourable product, transversely sealed and cut.

[0104] Preferably, the printing step is performed after the filling step, in particular after the filling and shaping step.

[0105] According to some preferred embodiments, the operation of the packaging machine 1 may also comprise a feeding step during which the packages 2 are fed to, in particular from, the package filling device 7 to the digital printing device 5 .

[0106] In more detail, in the selective printing step, the following sub-steps are performed:

[0107] - loading the packages 2 onto the respective carriers 11 at the inlet station 15;

[0108] - selectively moving some or all of the carriers 11 to the printing station 17; and

[0109] Printing information and / or messages and / or decorations on these packs 2 moved to the printing station 17 .

[0110] Advantageously, the selective printing step may also comprise a scanning sub-step for scanning the packages 2 before performing the printing sub-step.

[0111] Preferably, in a sub-step of selective movement, the carrier 2 (and the corresponding package 2 ) can be moved first to the scanning station 18 and then to the printing station 19 .

[0112] Furthermore, after the printing sub-step, the carrier 11 (and accordingly the packages 2 ) are moved to an exit station 16 .

[0113] Furthermore, during the printing step, another movement sub-step is performed, during which some carriers 11 are moved from the entry station 15 to the exit station 16 without passing through the printing station 17 .

[0114] In more detail, during the printing sub-step, the control unit 6 controls any movement of the carrier 11 by controlling the local electromagnetic field selectively generated by the coil.

[0115] Reference Figure 4 , numeral 5' denotes an alternative embodiment of the digital printing device according to the present invention; since the digital printing device 5' is similar to the digital printing device 5, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and the same reference numerals are used as much as possible to represent the same or corresponding parts.

[0116] In particular, the digital printing device 5 ′ differs from the digital printing device 5 in that the exit carrier 22 includes a first outfeed track 24 and a second outfeed track 24 ′ that is offset from the first outfeed track 24 .

[0117] Furthermore, the control unit 6 is configured to move the carrier 11 so that, when in use, packages 2 printed by the digital printing unit 8 are fed to the second outfeed track 24 ′, whereas, when in use, packages 2 not printed by the digital printing unit 8 are fed to the first outfeed track 24 .

[0118] Since the operation of the digital printing device 5 ′ is similar to that of the digital printing device 5 , the following description is limited to the differences between the two.

[0119] In particular, in the selective printing step, the printed packages 2 are fed to the second outfeed track 24 ′ after the printing sub-step, while other unprinted packages 2 are fed to the first outfeed track 24 .

[0120] The advantages of the digital printing devices 5 and 5 ′ and / or the packaging machine 1 according to the present invention will be apparent from the above description.

[0121] In particular, the digital printing devices 5 and 5' allow for selective customization of the packages 2 without reducing the overall production speed.

[0122] Obviously, modifications may be made to the digital printing device 5 and / or the packaging machine 1 described herein without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

[0123] According to some possible embodiments, not shown, the packaging machine 1 may comprise a plurality of digital printing devices 5 .

[0124] In particular, each digital printing device 5 may be arranged to receive a portion of a plurality of produced packages 2 and / or to print onto a portion of a plurality of produced packages 2 .

[0125] According to one or more embodiments, as shown, each carrier 11 can receive a corresponding package 2, or a plurality of carriers 11 (preferably two carriers 11) can be configured to receive a package 2 together. That is, a single package 2 can be sorted and moved by a plurality of carriers 11 through the conveying device 7.

[0126] The carriers 11 may comprise respective fixing elements configured to hold the packages 2 in a predetermined position between the carriers 11. The carriers 11 may receive the packages 2 by applying pressure by means of respective fixing elements located on opposite sides of the packages 2.

[0127] Advantageously, due to the use of the engagement mover, the conveying device can be adapted to packages 2 of different sizes.

Claims

1. A digital printing device (5) for a packaging machine (1) for producing packages (2), the digital printing device (5) comprising: - a control unit (6) for controlling the digital printing device (5); - conveying equipment (7); as well as - digital printing device (8); The conveying device (7) comprises a planar motor (10) having a plurality of carriers (11), wherein the carriers (11) are configured to receive packages (2) at an inlet station (15) and to transport the packages (2) to an outlet station (16); wherein the digital printing unit (8) is arranged at a printing station (17); wherein the control unit (6) is configured to selectively control the movement of the carriers (11) so as to selectively guide one or more carriers (11) to the printing station (17) and then to the exit station (16); and The digital printing device (8) is configured to print information and / or messages and / or decorations onto the packaging (2) guided to the printing station (17).

2. The digital printing device according to claim 1, wherein each carrier (11) is configured to receive a corresponding package (2), or wherein a plurality of carriers (11), preferably two carriers (11), jointly receive a package (2).

3. The digital printing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a scanning unit (9), wherein the scanning unit (9) is arranged adjacent to the planar motor (10) at a scanning station (18) and configured to scan the package (2); wherein the control unit (6) is configured to selectively control the movement of each of the carriers (11) so as to selectively direct the carriers (11) to the scanning station (18), then to the printing station (17), and finally to the exit carrier (16); and The control unit (6) is configured to control the operation of the digital printing unit (8) according to the scanning result obtained by the scanning unit (9).

4. A digital printing device according to claim 3, wherein each carrier (11) is configured to rotate the pack (2) around a rotation axis (E) at the scanning station (18).

5. The digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (6) is configured to control the movement of the carrier (11) along three linear axes and around three rotational axes.

6. A digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (6) is configured to selectively move the carrier (11) along a first path (P) from the entry station (15) to the exit station (16), or along a second path (Q) from the entry station (15) to the printing station (17) and from the printing station (17) to the exit station (16).

7. A digital printing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the angles described and / or defined by a first imaginary line extending from the entry station (15) to the printing station (17) and a second imaginary line extending from the printing station (17) to the exit station (16) are different from 180° or multiples of 180°.

8. The digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the planar motor (10) comprises a planar control module (20), the planar control module (20) comprising a plurality of coils configured to generate a local electromagnetic field for selectively moving the carrier (11); wherein each carrier (11) comprises at least one magnetic and / or ferromagnetic element; wherein the plane control module (20) extends along a first axis and a second axis; The control unit (6) is configured to selectively control the movement of each vehicle (11) along the first axis (X) and the second axis (Y) by controlling the interaction of the local electromagnetic field with the at least one magnetic and / or ferromagnetic element of each vehicle.

9. The digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying device (7) further comprises: - an inlet carrier (21) for feeding the packages (2) to the inlet station (15); as well as - an outlet carrier (22) for receiving said packages (2) at said outlet station (16).

10. The digital printing device according to claim 9, wherein the exit carrier (22) comprises a first outfeed track (24) and a second outfeed track (24') offset from the first outfeed track (24).

11. A digital printing device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (6) is configured to move the carrier (11) so that, when in use, the packages (2) printed by the digital printing unit (8) are fed to the second discharge track (24'), and when in use, the packages (2) not printed by the digital printing unit (8) are fed to the first discharge track (24).

12. The digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the digital printing unit (8) comprises a plurality of digital printing presses.

13. Digital printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each carrier (11) comprises a supporting surface (19) configured to carry the respective package (2).

14. A packaging machine (1) for producing packages (2) filled with a pourable product, comprising: - a package filling device (4) for filling the package (2) with the pourable product; as well as - At least one digital printing device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. Packaging machine according to claim 14, wherein the package filling device (4) is configured to fill and produce the packages (2) from a multilayer packaging material.

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