Packaging machine and method for top film transport

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine (1) comprising a sealing station (7), a top film transport device (3) for a top film (4) and a control device (15) for controlling the top film transport device (3) for a controlled transport of the top film (4) into a tool area (6) of the sealing station (7), wherein the control device (15) is configured to determine, based on a pre-calculation (c) of run times (t) of various machine sequences (AE) performed per machine cycle (M), whose run times (t) influence each other, a target time (S) at which the top film (4) should have arrived within the tool area (6) for a closing operation, and, depending on a set feed rate (v), to start a film feed (16) with maximum delay for the top film (4) to arrive within the tool area (6) at the target time (S).

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging machine according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improved top film transport according to independent claim 10. EP 4 137 417 A1 discloses a packaging machine comprising a film transport device and a control device for controlling the operation of at least one drive unit of the film transport device. The packaging machine is specifically a tray sealing machine. The control device is designed to control the drive unit during a production run of the packaging machine based on a speed- and / or temperature-dependent friction torque characteristic curve, which is determined by a rotary-driven measurement run performed by the drive unit. This allows the inherent friction of the drive unit to be determined from the measurement run and taken into account when controlling the drive unit during the production run, in order to transport the film material while maintaining constant film tension. On a tray sealing machine, when processing heat-sensitive films, it is crucial that the film does not remain too long within the tooling area of ​​a sealing station and wait under the heated sealing plates for processing, i.e., the sealing process. Due to the constantly increasing demands placed on packaging materials regarding their functionality and disposal, the requirements for film transport, particularly in the sealing station of a tray sealing machine, are also increasing accordingly. The general trend towards more sustainable mono-film materials necessitates that the top film transport system be suitable for very thin films that are sensitive to heat and tearing. Tearing in the film material can lead to increased reject rates and machine downtime. An unsuitable top film transport process, in which the film material is heated excessively, can also negatively impact heat-sensitive products, such as chocolate pralines, whose shine dulls undesirably even with slight heating. For top film transport, this means that the film should not be heated unnecessarily, as this can lead to unwanted heat transfer to the heat-sensitive product. The transport of heat-sensitive films is particularly problematic when it is linked to the operation of a gripper unit on a tray sealing machine. Especially with increasing gripper speed, for example, when processing a large quantity of tray components, this would lead to premature film delivery within the sealing station, meaning the film material remains under the heated sealing tool for an unnecessarily long time. This can cause film tears due to overheating. Furthermore, prolonged exposure of the film material under the sealing plates can lead to cutting problems. Experience has shown that it is very difficult for machine operators on site to assess how the top film feed should be adjusted in light of potentially changing, mutually influencing process parameters, in order to ensure that the film feed is such that it is not heated unnecessarily long. Nevertheless, the machine operator should set the film feed in such a way that the film material is reliably supplied for the tray closing process without delaying the production process. Particularly in cases that deviate from a normal manufacturing process, for example packaging cycles with an uneven feed rate, or in the event of a jam behind the machine due to fluctuating or delayed removal of produced packaging, or process-related fluctuations at the packaging machine, especially varying process times of evacuation and / or gassing cycles, undesirable heating of the film material can occur if the film material arrives at the sealing station too early. Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an improved film transport on a packaging machine in the area of ​​a sealing station and a corresponding method. This problem is solved using a packaging machine according to claim 1. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a method according to claim 10. Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims. The packaging machine according to the invention comprises a sealing station, a top film transport device for a top film, and a control unit for controlling the top film transport device for controlled transport of the top film into a tool area of ​​the sealing station. According to the invention, the control unit is designed to determine, based on a pre-calculation of the run times of various, in particular sensor-data-controlled, machine processes, whose run times influence each other, a target time at which the top film should have arrived within the tool area for a sealing operation, and, depending on a set feed rate, to start a film feed with maximum delay to ensure that the top film arrives within the tool area at the target time. This makes it possible to provide the top film just in time in the tool area of ​​the sealing station for the closing process for each machine work cycle, so that there is no unnecessary heating of the film material. Given the desired operation of the sealing station for each machine cycle, the total run times can be accurately predicted by the control unit at the beginning of that cycle. However, the total run time can still change for each machine cycle, for example, due to fluctuating tray feed, backflow, and / or varying gripper movement. Therefore, based on the predicted run times, the control unit recalculates the target time for the top film's arrival in the tooling area for each machine cycle. In particular, it is possible to account for interactions between different machine processes, which may alter their respective run times.The ability to shift this time must be taken into account when determining the target time for the arrival of the top film within the tool area of ​​the sealing station. The invention is particularly suitable in connection with sensor-controlled machine processes at the sealing station, i.e., in machine processes that are not time-controlled with respect to preset, unchanging intervals, but rather are coordinated based on sensor-detected process progress of the respective machine processes. The film feed of the top film according to the invention can preferably be adapted and controlled in such a way that it provides the top film with minimal dwell time within the tool area, even if the run times should change again due to process-related factors following the initial calculation. Maximum delay of the film feed for the arrival of the top film in the die area means that the top film arrives within the die area as late as possible, i.e., has a minimal dwell time there before the closing process, so that it is not unnecessarily heated before the closing process. Delaying the arrival of the top film until the predetermined target time can be easily controlled by adjusting the set feed speed and taking into account the required feed length of the film material until it is correctly positioned within the die area. A machine cycle that exhibits at least one changed process parameter compared to at least one preceding machine cycle can, due to the mutual interaction of the machine processes, lead to a change in at least one of the cycle times. The control device according to the invention takes this into account during the film feed of the top film by pre-calculating, for each machine cycle, at least the cycle times of the machine processes preceding the film feed as a machine cycle-specific basis for determining the target time at which the top film should be within the tool area of ​​the sealing station. The target time is therefore a variable target value on the basis of which the film feed can be carried out specifically for each machine cycle. This ensures that the top film is optimally positioned for each machine cycle. Preferably, the film feed speed can be adjusted by an operator via a display on the control unit. This film feed speed can be a feed speed specific to the film material and recommended by the film material manufacturer. The film feed speed preset by the operator is thus available in the control unit, at least as an output control speed. It would be conceivable for the control unit to be designed to start the film feed with maximum delay, depending on a set feed acceleration, to ensure the top film arrives within the tool area at the target time. This allows for a smooth start-up to prevent the top film from tearing, particularly in the area of ​​a cut film grid. Preferably, the feed acceleration can be set by the operator on the control unit's display. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device is designed to adjust the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration depending on a temperature detected within the tool area. In particular, the control device is designed to adjust the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration preset by the operator on the control device's display if the control device deems this necessary with regard to the detected operation of the packaging machine, especially with regard to detected operating parameters at the sealing station. For example, if there is a temperature increase within the sealing station. In this case, it may be advantageous for the control device to increase the film feed speed and reduce the film feed acceleration.This type of film feed is therefore characterized by a careful approach followed by a rapid feed to move the top film into the tool area. One variant proposes that the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration is a variable that changes with each machine cycle. In particular, the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration can be a variable that is adapted to at least one recorded operating parameter of the machine cycle. According to an advantageous embodiment, the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration is a parameter dependent on the geometry of a film remnant grid cut into the top film. This allows for consideration of increased susceptibility to cracking in thin film strips of the film grid during film feed. Consequently, cracks in the film material, particularly in the area of ​​the film remnant grid, and the associated machine downtime can be better prevented. It is conceivable that the control unit is designed to dynamically adjust the target time based on extrapolated machine runtimes derived from recorded process values. Specifically, the control unit is designed to continuously determine the runtimes of various machine processes, particularly several consecutive machine processes, by extrapolating these runtimes. Based on this, the target time for the arrival of the top film within the tooling area of ​​the sealing station is repeatedly calculated. The extrapolation of the machine runtimes can be performed in real time for each machine cycle while the machine cycles are running, allowing the target time to be dynamically adjusted for each cycle simultaneously. This makes it possible to adjust the target time, determined based on the pre-calculated runtimes, for each machine cycle during its execution, if necessary.to correct based on extrapolated live data in order to provide a corrective for the machine-work cycle-specific just-in-time provision of the top film. One embodiment provides that the control unit is configured to initiate a pre-start with respect to an extrapolated remaining runtime of a machine sequence decisive for the pre-start, up to the target time, if the remaining runtime is less than or equal to the feed time required by the set film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration. This remaining runtime can vary per machine cycle, allowing the control unit to dynamically control the pre-start in order to make the top film available within the tool area of ​​the sealing station at the correspondingly varying target time. One option involves the control unit being configured to start the pre-calculation, particularly the extrapolation, of the run times per machine cycle once all packaging bases intended for the sealing process have arrived in the tooling area. This reduces the control system's overhead for the film feed, especially any necessary correction function. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the delivery of the top film within the tooling area of ​​the sealing station based on the situation, taking the tray feed into account. This occurs only when a complete set of packaging bases is present within the tooling area, as a minimum requirement. This prevents the top film from being delivered prematurely. In particular, at least one light barrier is provided to check the packaging components for completeness and / or at least one light barrier is provided to detect the movement of a sealing tool component of the sealing station in order to determine the target time. The light barrier can be located at the entrance area of ​​the sealing station, in particular perpendicular to the production direction at the entrance area of ​​the sealing station. In particular, a first signal from the light barrier associated with the lower part of the sealing tool, resulting at the beginning of the machine work cycle by lowering the lower part of the sealing tool of the sealing station, can cause the control unit to calculate the run times of the machine processes of the current machine work cycle and to determine the target time based on this, and / or a second signal from the light barrier associated with the lower part of the sealing tool, resulting in the same machine work cycle by raising the lower part of the sealing tool of the sealing station, can cause the control unit to calculate, using extrapolated process values, the remaining run time that the lower part of the sealing tool still needs until it reaches the maximum lifting height at which it is joined with the upper part of the sealing tool positioned above it.The second signal thus serves as a trigger to calculate the remaining runtime for closing the sealing station, which clamps the top film between the lower and upper sealing tool parts. This calculation of the remaining runtime can be repeated for the early start function until the condition for the early start is met. One variant involves the control unit being designed to dynamically adjust the target time, determined based on the first signal from the light barrier, with respect to the remaining runtime calculated based on the second signal. In other words, the required interval for the film feed time can be dynamically shifted relative to the remaining runtime in order to determine the target time more precisely, particularly to delay it as much as possible. This provides a dynamic correction function for optimally determining the target time for the film feed, thus improving just-in-time delivery of the top film, using reduced measurement technology. One embodiment provides that the machine processes are those occurring at the packaging machine, those preceding the packaging machine in the production direction, and / or those following the packaging machine in the production direction. This makes it possible to consider processes occurring before or after the sealing station when supplying the top film material to the tooling area of ​​the sealing station. For example, fluctuations in the feed rate prior to the film feed and / or fluctuations in the removal of finished packages following the sealing station can be taken into account. This can be particularly advantageous for the film feed within a production line. In particular, the packaging machine is configured as either a tray sealing machine or a thermoforming packaging machine. On a thermoforming packaging machine, it would be conceivable that the transport of the bottom film via conveyor chains depends on the dynamic top film feed. In this configuration, the control of the conveyor chains for each machine cycle would depend on the dynamic control of the top film feed. The top film transport and the bottom film transport are thus coordinated based on the dynamic, just-in-time control of the top film feed. The invention further relates to a method for the just-in-time provision of a top film within a tool area of ​​a sealing station of a packaging machine. The method according to the invention provides that a control unit, based on a pre-calculation of the run times of various machine processes, whose run times influence each other, is performed on it for each machine cycle, determines a target time at which the top film should have arrived within the tool area for a sealing operation. Furthermore, depending on a set feed rate, the control unit starts a film feed with maximum delay so that the top film arrives within the tool area at the target time. Thanks to the invention, the film feed is controlled in such a way that the top film does not arrive prematurely within the heated tool area of ​​the sealing station, i.e., below the hot sealing plates, which could damage it through heat absorption. Instead, thanks to the machine-cycle-specific control of the film feed according to the invention, it can be delayed for each machine cycle, i.e., started with maximum delay, so that the top film only arrives within the tool area at the calculated target time, thus ensuring a minimal dwell time below the sealing plates before the packaging bases are sealed. The method according to the invention is particularly advantageous for the use of mono-films. A preferred variant provides that the control unit dynamically adjusts the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration per machine cycle depending on the temperature detected within the tool area. In particular, the film feed speed is increased and the film feed acceleration is reduced when a temperature increase is detected, and vice versa when a temperature decrease is detected. Accordingly, the film feed can be dynamically controlled to react to temperature fluctuations within the tool area. It would be possible to take at least one product-related parameter, particularly its temperature sensitivity, into account when adjusting the film feed speed and / or film feed acceleration. For example, based on a temperature sensitivity setting in the control unit, which is relatively high for chocolate pralines, a minimum film feed speed could be stored in the control unit, serving as a lower limit for the feed of the top film. This would limit the maximum heat transfer into the film. One practical approach involves the control unit extrapolating the runtimes of the machine sequences and dynamically adjusting the target time based on this. This is specifically a real-time extrapolation of the machine sequence runtimes, meaning a live data-driven, dynamic adjustment of the target time while the relevant machine sequences are in progress. This allows the target time to be dynamically determined, taking into account the machine-cycle-specific interactions between the machine sequences, so that the top film is ready for the sealing process within the tool area of ​​the sealing station just in time for each machine cycle. One variant provides that the control device initiates an early start with respect to an extrapolated remaining runtime of a machine sequence decisive for the early start, for example a lifting movement to raise a sealing tool lower part, if the remaining runtime is less than or equal to a feed time required by means of the set film feed rate. In particular, it is conceivable that the control unit could prioritize the machine sequence decisive for the early start function, based on the remaining runtime of which the early start is triggered. For example, the closing of the sealing tool's lower section of the sealing station could be entered into the control unit as the decisive machine sequence for the early start, in order to prioritize the early start accordingly. With a less sensitive film, a different machine sequence, particularly one preceding the closing of the sealing tool's lower section, could be prioritized for the early start function. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit controls the film feed of the top film based on machine processes occurring at the packaging machine, on machine processes preceding the packaging machine in the production direction, and / or on machine processes following the packaging machine in the production direction. This makes it possible to take into account operating fluctuations detected upstream and / or downstream of the sealing station when controlling the film feed. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Figure 1 shows a packaging machine configured as a tray sealing machine in perspective view, and Figure 2 shows a tray sealing machine in schematic side view. Identical components are consistently labelled with the same reference symbols in the figures. Fig. 1 shows a packaging machine 1 in a schematic, perspective view. The packaging machine 1 is configured as a tray sealing machine 2. The tray sealing machine 2 from Fig. 1 has a top film transport device 3 for transporting a top film 4. The top film 4 is unwound from a film holder 5 and guided into a tool area 6 of a sealing station 7 to be positioned at a predetermined position between a lower sealing tool part 8 and a higher sealing tool part 9 positioned above it. Trays T are received in the lower sealing tool part 8 to be sealed with the upper film 4 positioned above them. For this purpose, the lower sealing tool part 8 and the higher sealing tool part 9 are brought together. For the tray closing process, the trays T are picked up from a feed conveyor 11 by a gripper device 10 and transferred to the sealing tool lower section 8. Simultaneously, the sealed trays T are removed from the sealing tool lower section 8 and transferred as finished packages V to a discharge conveyor 12. The packages V sealed within the tool area 6 are separated by cutting. A film remnant grid 13 created in the top film 4 is wound onto a film remnant winder 14. Furthermore, the tray sealing machine 2 has a control unit 15. The control unit 15 is responsible for controlling and monitoring the processes taking place on the tray sealing machine 2. In particular, the control unit 15 controls an intermittent film feed 16 to transport the top film 4 at a film feed speed v with a predetermined feed length L into the tool area 6 of the sealing station 7 for the tray sealing process. A machine work cycle M of the tray sealing machine 2 shown in Fig. 1 comprises, in particular, the following machine sequences, which may be partially superimposed: - Lowering A of the sealing tool lower part 8 to open the sealing station 7, - Closing B of the gripper device 10, whereby the gripper device 10 picks up trays T provided on the feed conveyor 11 in front of the sealing station 7 and packages V produced within the sealing station 7, i.e., closed trays T, - Movement C of the gripper device 10 in the production direction R to introduce the picked-up trays T into the sealing station 7 and to discharge the finished packages V from the sealing station 7 in the sealing tool lower part 8, - Opening D of the gripper device 10 to transfer the trays T fed to the sealing station 7 in the tool area 6 to the sealing tool lower part 8, in particular to the support plates provided thereon, and to discharge the produced packages V onto the discharge conveyor 12 to stop- Lifting E of the lower sealing tool part 8 to lift the trays T, in particular to transfer the trays T from the support plates, and simultaneously controlling the film feed 16 of the upper film 4 to position a section of the upper film 4 in the tool area 6 of the sealing station 7 over the lifted trays T, - Closing F of the sealing station 7 by joining the lower sealing tool part 8 with the upper sealing tool part 9, - Performing an evacuation process G of the interior of the trays T, in particular performing a subsequent gassing process to create a desired atmosphere inside the trays T, - Sealing H of the provided upper film 4 onto the trays T, - Cutting I of the upper film 4 to produce individual packages V, - Lowering J of the lower sealing tool part 8 to open the sealing station 7, thereby releasing the finished packages V for collection. The machine sequences A-J described above can have varying runtimes t due to mutual interactions, especially if these runtimes are not preset but sensor-controlled. For example, a specific machine sequence starts when a preceding sequence can be detected as completed, or even earlier to avoid switching times (also known as dead times), i.e., before the preceding sequence is finished. This allows the respective machine sequences to be coordinated to optimize the overall machine cycle time. Consequently, interactions exist between the machine sequences that influence when the respective sequences can be initiated. The film feed 16 of the top film 4 also depends on these interactions. For optimal film feed 16, the control unit 15 is designed to determine a target time S at which the top film 4 should arrive within the tool area 6 for a closing operation, based on a pre-calculation c of the run times t of various machine sequences A to E, whose run times t influence each other. This target time S is determined based on a pre-calculation c of the run times t of various machine sequences A to E. Depending on the set feed rate v, the control unit 15 also starts the film feed 16 with maximum delay to ensure the top film 4 arrives within the tool area 6 at the target time S. With respect to the film feed rate v and the feed length L, a feed time t16 results. As shown in Fig. 1, the film feed 16 can be controlled such that the top film 4 arrives in the tool area 6 shortly before the sealing tool lower part 8 meets the sealing tool upper part 9 positioned above it. The arrival of the top film 4 at the target time S within the tool area 6 of the sealing station 7 is thus followed, with a slight delay, for example 10–100 ms, by the closing F of the sealing station in order to carry out the subsequent machine processes. In Fig. 1, machine sequence E represents the lifting of the lower sealing tool part 8. Simultaneously, the film feed 16 has already been started by the control unit 15, ensuring that the upper film 4 arrives precisely above the trays T within the tool area 6 at the target time S. According to the schematic representation in Fig. 1, the upper film 4 arrives above the trays T exactly when they have been raised to within a few millimeters. In other words, as shown in the schematic representation in Fig. 1, the lifting of the trays T according to machine sequence E and the film feed 16 of the upper film 4 are controlled such that the upper film 4 arrives within the tool area 6 at the target time S when the trays T are raised almost to their maximum height for the closing process. The running times of the film feed 16 and the lifting E of the trays T, respectively, are determined by the machine sequence E.The closing of F at sealing station 7 thus ends almost simultaneously. Furthermore, Fig. 1 schematically shows that when the gripper device 10 opens D, the remaining runtime 18 is calculated by the control unit 15 based on recorded process values ​​17 using extrapolated runtime t. Although this is only shown schematically for the opening of the gripper device 10 in Fig. 1, the calculation of extrapolated remaining runtimes 18 can also be performed for the other machine processes, on the basis of which the control unit 15 can dynamically adjust the target time S during the machine work cycle M. Fig. 2 shows a packaging machine 1' configured in the form of a tray sealing machine 2 in a schematic side view. The control unit 15 of the tray sealing machine 2 has a display 19. The film feed speed v and the film feed acceleration a, which refers to the controllable acceleration of the top film 4 from a standstill, can be set by an operator on the display 19 of the control unit 15. Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows a temperature sensor 20, which is assigned to the tool area 6 to measure the temperature present therein. The control unit 15 is specifically designed to adjust the film feed speed v and / or the film feed acceleration a depending on the temperature detected within the tool area 6. Most importantly, the control unit can dynamically increase the feed rate v and reduce the film feed acceleration a for the film feed 16 when the temperature within the tool area 6 increases, in order to better prevent tearing of the top film 4. With a detected decrease in temperature, the feed rate v can be reduced and the film feed acceleration a increased. A light barrier 21 is provided at the entrance to the tool area 6. This is used to check the completeness of the trays T transported into the sealing station 7. A corresponding signal from the light barrier 21 can, for example, serve as a trigger signal to activate the control unit 15 for the pre-calculation c of run times t of subsequent machine processes, at least those relevant to the film feed 16. As an alternative to or in addition to the light barrier 21, a light barrier 22 can be assigned to the lower part of the sealing tool 8 to detect its lowering. According to Fig. 1, the lowering of the lower part of the sealing tool 8 can represent the first machine sequence A of the machine cycle M, on the basis of which the runtime c of the machine sequences is calculated. Furthermore, the same light barrier 22 can optionally be used to detect the raising of the lower part of the sealing tool 8. A signal generated during lifting by the light barrier 22 can, for example, serve as a start signal for calculating the remaining running time 18 of the lifting E up to a desired target position of the sealing tool lower part 8, i.e. up to a maximum stroke, on the basis of which, in particular, a dynamic adjustment of the target time S for the film feed 16 and / or an early start F for the film feed 16 is possible.

Claims

Packaging machine (1), comprising a sealing station (7), a top film transport device (3) for a top film (4) and a control device (15) for controlling the top film transport device (3) for a controlled transport of the top film (4) into a tool area (6) of the sealing station (7), characterized in that the control device (15) is designed to determine, as a function of a pre-calculation (c) of run times (t) of various machine sequences (AE) whose run times (t) influence each other, a target time (S) at which the top film (4) should have arrived within the tool area (6) for a closing operation, and, as a function of a set feed rate (v), to start a film feed (16) with maximum delay for the top film (4) to arrive within the tool area (6) at the target time (S). Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the film feed speed (v) can be adjusted by an operator on a display (19) of the control device (15). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (15) is designed to adjust the film feed speed (v) as a function of a temperature detected within the tool area (6). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (15) is designed to dynamically adjust the target time (S) on the basis of extrapolated run times (t) of the machine processes (AE) on the basis of recorded process values ​​(17). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (15) is designed to control a premature start (F) with respect to an extrapolated remaining runtime (18) of a machine sequence (AE) decisive for the premature start, up to the target time (S), if the remaining runtime (18) is less than or equal to a feed time (t16) required by means of the set film feed speed (v). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (15) is configured to start the pre-calculation (c), in particular the extrapolation, of the running times (t) per machine work cycle (M) when all trays (T) intended for the closing process have arrived in the tool area (6). Packaging machine according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one light barrier (21) is provided for checking the trays (T) for completeness and / or at least one light barrier (22) is provided for detecting a movement of a sealing tool lower part (8) for determining and / or adjusting the target time (S). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine sequences (AE) are machine sequences (AE) taking place at the packaging machine (1), machine sequences (AE) preceding the packaging machine (1) in the production direction (R), and / or machine sequences following the packaging machine (1) in the production direction. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging machine (1) is configured in the form of a tray sealing machine (2) or in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine. Method for just-in-time (JIT) provision of a top film (4) within a tool area (6) of a sealing station (7) of a packaging machine (1), characterized in that a control device (15) determines a target time (S) at which the top film (4) should have arrived within the tool area (6) for a closing operation, depending on a pre-calculation (c) of run times (t) of various machine sequences (AE) whose run times (t) influence each other, as a function of a set feed rate (v), and starts a film feed (16) with maximum delay so that the top film (4) arrives within the tool area at the target time (S). Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the control device (15) dynamically adjusts the film feed rate (v) and / or a film feed acceleration (a) as a function of a temperature detected within the tool area (6) per machine cycle (M), in particular increasing the film feed rate (v) when a temperature increase is detected. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one product-related parameter (n), in particular its temperature sensitivity, is taken into account when adjusting the film feed rate (v). Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the control device (15) predetermines the run times (t) of the machine sequences (AE) by extrapolation and dynamically adjusts the target time (S) based on this. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the control device (15) controls an early start (F) with respect to an extrapolated remaining runtime (18) of a machine sequence (AE) decisive for the early start (F) until the target time (S), if the remaining runtime (18) is less than or equal to a feed time (t16) required by means of the set film feed rate (v). Method according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the control device (15) controls the film feed (16) of the top film (4) on the basis of machine sequences (AE) taking place at the packaging machine (1), on the basis of machine sequences preceding the packaging machine (1) in the production direction (R), and / or on the basis of machine sequences following the packaging machine (1) in the production direction (R).

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