DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF PACKAGING WITH AN INDEPENDENT TURNWHEEL DRIVE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for producing packaging, in particular for processing packaging sleeves, comprising: a mandrel wheel with a mandrel wheel shaft having a central axis, a plurality of mandrels fastened to the mandrel wheel shaft, wherein the mandrels form at least one mandrel group whose mandrels are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the mandrel wheel shaft, at least one first processing station arranged on the mandrel wheel with a drive, a second processing station arranged on the mandrel wheel with a drive, wherein one of the processing stations is a press and one of the processing stations is a folding device, and a mandrel wheel drive for driving the mandrel wheel shaft, wherein the mandrel wheel drive is mechanically decoupled from the two drives of the at least two processing stations.

[0002] Such devices are often used as part of a filling machine and are also referred to as a "mandrel wheel group".

[0003] Packaging can be manufactured in a variety of ways and from a wide variety of materials. A common manufacturing method involves cutting a blank from the packaging material, then folding and further processing it into a packaging sleeve and then packaging itself. This manufacturing method has the advantage, among other things, that the blanks are very flat and can therefore be stacked to save space. This allows the blanks or packaging sleeves to be produced at a different location than where the folding and filling of the packaging sleeves takes place. Composite materials are often used, for example a composite of several thin layers of paper, cardboard, plastic or metal, especially aluminum. This type of packaging is particularly widespread in the food industry.

[0004] In the field of packaging technology, numerous devices and methods are known with which flat folded packaging sleeves can be unfolded, sealed on one side, filled with contents and then completely sealed.

[0005] Closing the packaging sleeves presents a particular challenge because the process requires a reliable seal that also withstands subsequent transport and other stresses. Closing often involves several steps: First, the packaging sleeve is heated ("activated") in the area to be sealed. Then, the opposing sides of the packaging sleeve are pressed together ("compressed") in the area to be sealed. The cohesion between the pressed areas is achieved, for example, by providing an inner plastic layer that becomes viscous when heated and thus forms an adhesive during the subsequent pressing. This process is also referred to as "sealing."

[0006] For processing, especially for sealing the underside of the pack sleeves, so-called "mandrel wheels" are often used. The still-empty pack sleeves are pushed onto their radially projecting mandrels. The cross-section of the mandrels roughly corresponds to the cross-section of the packaging to be produced, so that the pack sleeves already assume the desired cross-sectional shape when pushed onto the mandrels.

[0007] While the pack sleeve is on the mandrel, the processing of the pack sleeve takes place in cycles in the area of ​​the protruding end of the mandrel. This has the advantage that the pack sleeves can be processed one after the other by different tools at different processing stations by rotating the mandrel wheel. For example, heating can take place in a first mandrel wheel position and then pressing can take place in a second mandrel wheel position. A further advantage of processing the pack sleeves on a mandrel wheel is that the shape of the protruding ends of the mandrels can be adapted to the shape of the underside of the packaging to be produced, so that the ends of the mandrels can serve as abutments during pressing.

[0008] One challenge with the use of mandrel wheels lies in the drive of the mandrel wheel and the drive of the processing stations arranged on the mandrel wheel. One difficulty lies in the fact that the processing of the packing sleeves at the various processing stations must be precisely coordinated with the cyclical movement of the mandrel wheel.

[0009] To achieve the required synchronization, it has already been proposed to use the same drive for the mandrel wheel and the machining stations located on it. In this case, the drive power is distributed, for example, via a toothed belt to different pulleys and from there forwarded to the respective machining station.

[0010] This principle is comparable to the function of a timing belt or timing chain in an internal combustion engine with multiple camshafts, since the rotational position of the camshafts—and thus the position of the intake and exhaust valves—must be precisely coordinated with the position of the crankshaft—and thus the position of the pistons. To ensure precise timing, the angular position of the camshaft and crankshaft must not change. This is achieved by positively connecting the crankshaft and all camshafts via a timing belt.

[0011] In addition to synchronization, a common drive is also used for reasons of compactness and cost. An example of this can be found in the field of internal combustion engines, where several consumers are driven by the crankshaft via the same V-belt and thus share the same drive. These consumers can be, for example, a generator ("alternator"), a water pump, a hydraulic pump, or the like.

[0012] There are numerous reasons why the machining stations and the mandrel wheel share the same drive in many mandrel wheels used in practice. Such a drive concept, known from the state of the art, is used in Fig. 1 shown in a schematic representation.

[0013] In addition to the advantages mentioned, such a drive concept also has disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that the mechanical connection of all processing stations to the same drive is structurally complex and requires a large number of transmission elements (timing belts, pulleys, drive shafts, cams, etc.). A further disadvantage is the difficulty of maintenance. If a defect occurs at a processing station and this processing station has to be decoupled from the drive (e.g. by removing the timing belt), the rotational position of all coupled processing stations must be precisely coordinated with one another when reconnecting them (e.g. by fitting the timing belt). In short, interfering with the drive of a processing station means that the entire drive system has to be readjusted.In addition, every small change in the packaging size or packaging geometry requires a new cam disk to be calculated, manufactured, assembled and adjusted to drive the individual components.

[0014] DE 697 38 295 T2 is known from the prior art and shows a generic device for producing packaging.

[0015] This discloses an opening arrangement on a container with a flat top wall and a device for forming, filling and sealing the container.

[0016] The invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing the device described at the outset in such a way that the mechanical complexity of the device is reduced and that the device can be easily maintained.

[0017] This object is achieved in a device according to the preamble of patent claim 1 in that a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a gear is used as the drive for at least one processing station, or a direct drive, i.e. an electric motor without a separate gear, is used as the drive for at least one processing station, that a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a gear is used as the mandrel wheel drive, or a direct drive, i.e. an electric motor without a separate gear, is used as the mandrel wheel drive, and that the drive of the device has a control system in which at least one time profile of a mass moment of inertia is stored for the position control of the electric motor of the mandrel wheel drive by means of a torque pre-control.

[0018] This is a device for producing packaging, in particular for processing packaging sleeves. In particular, this can be packaging or packaging sleeves for foodstuffs, whereby the packaging or packaging sleeves are preferably made of a composite material comprising several thin layers of paper, cardboard, plastic or metal, in particular aluminum. The device firstly comprises a mandrel wheel with a mandrel wheel shaft having a central axis. The mandrel wheel shaft is preferably cylindrical in shape and the central axis runs centrally through the mandrel wheel shaft in the longitudinal direction - i.e. in the axial direction. The mandrel wheel shaft can be made of metal, for example. The mandrel wheel also comprises several mandrels fastened to the mandrel wheel shaft. The fastening serves the purpose of ensuring that the mandrels also rotate about the central axis of the mandrel wheel shaft when the mandrel wheel shaft rotates about its central axis.Nevertheless, it can be a detachable fastening in order to be able to replace the mandrels. The cross-sectional area of ​​the mandrels can be rectangular, in particular square. The mandrels form at least one mandrel group, the mandrels of which are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the mandrel wheel shaft. The arrangement in a plane serves the purpose of allowing the mandrels of the same mandrel group to be brought into the same positions one after the other by rotating the mandrel wheel shaft, in order to enable the packaging sleeves to be processed there by different stationary tools. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one first processing station arranged on the mandrel wheel with a drive, and a mandrel wheel drive for driving the mandrel wheel shaft. The drive can be, for example, an electric motor. The processing station can, for example, be a pusher, a heating unit, a folding unit (e.g.longitudinal folder, cross folder), a press or a puller.

[0019] According to the invention, the mandrel wheel drive is mechanically decoupled from the drive of the at least one processing station. Mechanical decoupling is understood to mean, in particular, that the two drives are not mechanically connected to one another. The aim of mechanical decoupling is, for example, to be able to operate the two drives individually with regard to all drive parameters (speed, direction of rotation, etc.). One effect of mechanical decoupling is that a defective drive on the mandrel wheel can be replaced without affecting the drive of the processing station. The processing station can be a pusher, a heating unit, a folding unit (e.g., longitudinal folder, cross folder), a press, or a puller. Practical tests have shown, however, that mechanically decoupling the mandrel wheel drive from the press ("bottom press") and from the folding unit (in particularThe longitudinal folder) offers particular advantages. This is primarily due to the fact that these processing stations require particularly high dynamic forces (press / longitudinal folder) and that these processing stations require particularly complex movements that are precisely timed (longitudinal folder). Both can be easily achieved with separate drives tailored to the respective requirements.

[0020] A device according to the invention is characterized by a second processing station arranged on the mandrel wheel with a drive. In this case, the mandrel wheel drive is mechanically decoupled from the two drives of the at least two processing stations. The second processing station can be a pusher, a heating unit, a folding unit (e.g., longitudinal folder, transverse folder), a press, or a puller, provided these are not already provided as the first processing station. The terms "first" and "second" processing station serve merely to distinguish them and do not indicate the sequence of processing. The idea is therefore not only to decouple the mandrel wheel drive from the drive of one processing station, but also to decouple the mandrel wheel drive from the drive of a second processing station, provided at least two processing stations are provided.Preferably, the drive of the first processing station and the drive of the second processing station are also mechanically decoupled from each other.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the device can be supplemented by a third processing station arranged on the mandrel wheel and provided with a drive. In this case, the mandrel wheel drive can be mechanically decoupled from the three drives of the at least three processing stations. The third processing station can also be a pusher, a heating unit, a folding unit (e.g., longitudinal folder, cross folder), a press, or a puller, provided these are not already provided as the first or second processing station. The terms "first," "second," and "third" processing station serve merely to distinguish between the two and do not indicate the sequence of processing.

[0022] The idea is therefore to decouple the mandrel wheel drive not only from the drive of the first two processing stations, but also from the drive of a third processing station, provided at least three processing stations are provided. Preferably, the drive of the first processing station, the drive of the second processing station, and the drive of the third processing station are also mechanically decoupled from each other.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the device, the mandrel wheel drive is mechanically decoupled from the drives of all processing stations. This design is based on the idea of ​​decoupling the mandrel wheel drive from the drives of all processing stations – regardless of the number of processing stations. Preferably, the drives of all processing stations are also mechanically decoupled from each other.

[0024] A device according to the invention provides that one of the processing stations is a press, in particular a base press for pressing the base surfaces of the pack sleeves. The end regions of the pack sleeves are pressed together at the base press to form a base. This processing step requires high forces and determines whether the packaging is leak-tight in the area of ​​its base. Against this background, the mechanical decoupling of the press drive from the mandrel wheel drive has the advantage that the press drive can be specifically selected and adjusted with regard to the aforementioned requirements. In addition, separate drives allow for a better response to the fact that the press is pressed onto the pack base at a time when the mandrel wheel is stationary. This can only be implemented with complex effort using mechanically coupled drives. Mechanical decoupling makes it possible to avoid additional mechanical components (e.g.A toothed belt or cam disc can be omitted, resulting in less wear, friction, play, and elasticity. This increases the positioning accuracy of the base press relative to the mandrel (currently) assigned to it. Positioning accuracy is crucial for the tightness of the base and thus for the quality of the packaging.

[0025] In a device according to the invention, one of the processing stations is a folding device, in particular a longitudinal folder or a transverse folder for folding the bottom surfaces of the pack sleeves. The end regions of the pack sleeves are folded at the folding device. In particular, it can be a longitudinal folder (folding movement in the circumferential direction of the mandrel wheel) or a transverse folder (folding movement in the direction of the central axis of the mandrel wheel). When folding the pack sleeve, particularly complex movements must be carried out with precise timing. The mechanical decoupling of the drive of the folding device from the mandrel wheel drive has the advantage that the drive of the folding device can be specifically selected and adjusted with regard to the aforementioned requirements. In addition, separate drives allow for a better response to the fact that folding takes place at a time when the mandrel wheel is stationary.This is difficult to achieve with mechanically coupled drives. Here, too, mechanical decoupling eliminates the need for additional mechanical components (e.g., a toothed belt), resulting in less wear, friction, play, and increased elasticity. This increases the positioning accuracy of the folding device relative to its (currently) assigned mandrel. Positioning accuracy is crucial for the tightness of the base and thus for the quality of the packaging. Furthermore, if the packaging size or geometry changes, the movement of the longitudinal folder can be easily adjusted via the control system, particularly the motor control; however, changing the cam disk is not necessary.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the device, one of the processing stations is a pusher for pushing the pack sleeves onto one of the mandrels. Alternatively or additionally, one of the processing stations can be a puller for pulling the pack sleeves off one of the mandrels. The pushing and pulling of the pack sleeves can also only take place when the mandrel wheel is stationary. Such an - asynchronous - movement is difficult to implement with mechanically coupled drives. A further advantage of a mechanically decoupled drive is that the pusher / puller is easier to reach because some mechanical components are no longer required. This is particularly helpful during servicing or when checking the activation image or when removing faulty or jammed packaging. Better accessibility makes it possible to...Accessibility also reduces the risk of injury, for example due to proximity to hot components (e.g. underfloor heating).

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the device, the mandrel wheel comprises at least two, in particular at least four, mandrel groups. According to a further embodiment of the device, each mandrel group comprises at least four mandrels, in particular at least six mandrels. A larger number of mandrel groups allows multiple lines of packing sleeves to be processed simultaneously. A larger number of mandrels per mandrel group allows a greater number of processing steps to be performed on the packing sleeves.

[0028] A device according to the invention provides that a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a gear is used as the mandrel wheel drive. Alternatively, the invention provides that a direct drive is used as the mandrel wheel drive. The invention also provides that a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a gear is used as the drive for at least one processing station. Alternatively, the invention provides that a direct drive is used as the drive for at least one processing station.

[0029] High demands are placed on the drives used. In particular, the drives must be capable of assuming a specific rotational position at a predetermined time and maintaining this rotational position very precisely, even under load. In mechanically coupled drives, certain angular positions are maintained, for example, by a toothed belt. Tests have shown that drives with low backlash and high torsional rigidity are particularly suitable.

[0030] Preferably, the drive unit or the direct drive, together with the mandrel wheel driven by it or together with the machining station driven by it, has a torsional rigidity of ≥ 450 Nm / arcmin, ≥ 500 Nm / arcmin, ≥ 550 Nm / arcmin, ≥ 600 Nm / arcmin, or ≥ 650 Nm / arcmin. The torsional rigidity therefore does not refer to the drive unit or the direct drive alone; instead, it refers to the respective system comprising the drive unit or direct drive and the component driven by it.

[0031] Preferably, the drive unit or the direct drive, together with the mandrel wheel driven by it or together with the machining station driven by it, has a torsional backlash of ≤ 5 arcmin, ≤ 3 arcmin, or ≤ 1 arcmin. A torsional backlash of 0 arcmin (backlash-free) is particularly preferred. The torsional rigidity therefore does not refer to the drive unit or the direct drive alone; instead, it refers to the respective system comprising the drive unit or direct drive and the component driven by it.

[0032] Preferably, the drive unit or the direct drive, together with the mandrel wheel driven by it or together with the machining station driven by it, has a tilting stiffness of ≥ 850 Nm / arcmin, ≥ 1000 Nm / arcmin, ≥ 1200 Nm / arcmin, or ≥ 1300 Nm / arcmin. The tilting stiffness therefore does not refer to the drive unit or the direct drive alone; instead, it refers to the respective system comprising the drive unit or direct drive and the component driven by it. A sufficiently high tilting stiffness between the motor and the connected component prevents wobbling.

[0033] Instead of a unit consisting of an electric motor and a (preferably backlash-free) gearbox, a direct drive—that is, an electric motor without a separate gearbox—can be used, for example, a hollow-shaft direct drive. Alternatively, a torque motor without a gearbox can be used as a direct drive. Direct drives are characterized by the ability to be mounted directly—that is, without an intermediate gearbox—on the shaft of the driven component. Eliminating a gearbox offers the advantage of a compact, particularly low-backlash or even backlash-free design.

[0034] With the mechanically coupled design known from the state of the art, position control of the electric motor is difficult because the moment of inertia of the system being driven is not constant but varies over time. This is due, for example, to the superposition of several complex dynamic processes with non-uniformly geared mechanisms.

[0035] In a mechanically decoupled design proposed here, the position control of the electric motor is achieved by torque feedforward control, i.e., by specifying the mass moments of inertia resulting from the calculation. Specifically, it is proposed that the device or its drive have a controller in which at least one temporal profile of a mass moment of inertia is stored. Each drive can have its own controller; however, a common controller can also be provided for several drives.

[0036] Previously, so-called tracking errors were feared, which cause a deterioration in synchronization over the course of production. To avoid this, the moving masses can be arranged to pass through a reference point—preferably on their return movement from the working position. In this way, any deviations that occur can be compensated for. Such tracking errors can also be avoided by pre-controlling the speed and / or torque.

[0037] The invention is explained below with reference to a drawing that represents only a preferred embodiment. The drawing shows: Fig. 1: a device known from the prior art for producing packaging with a mandrel wheel in a schematic representation, and Fig. 2: a device according to the invention for producing packaging with a mandrel wheel in a schematic representation.

[0038] Fig. 1shows a schematic representation of a device 1 known from the prior art for producing packaging with a mandrel wheel 2. First, flat blanks 3 are inserted into a magazine 4 and then unfolded in a unfolding device 5 to form packaging sleeves 6. The device 1 comprises a mandrel wheel 2 with a mandrel wheel shaft 7 with a central axis 8. Six mandrels 9 are attached to the mandrel wheel shaft 7. The six in Fig. 1The mandrels 9 shown form a mandrel group, whose mandrels 9 are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the central axis 8 of the mandrel wheel shaft 7. The mandrel wheel 2 can be moved counterclockwise (indicated by an arrow) intermittently and can be stopped in six different mandrel wheel positions I-VI. In the mandrel wheel positions I-V, a processing station B1-B5 is arranged in front of the end of the mandrels 9, at which the packing sleeves 6 are to be processed in their end regions 10—for example, in their base regions.

[0039] The Fig. 1The device 1 shown also has a mandrel wheel drive 11 for driving the mandrel wheel shaft 7. The mandrel wheel drive 11 is mechanically coupled to the mandrel wheel shaft 7, for example via a toothed belt 12. The mandrel wheel drive 11 not only drives the mandrel wheel shaft 7, but also drives the processing stations B1-B5. For this purpose, the mandrel wheel drive 11 is mechanically coupled to each of the processing stations B1-B5, for example via (in Fig. 1 only schematically shown) toothed belt 12 and / or other suitable coupling elements such as shafts, gears and the like.

[0040] In Fig. 2 A device 1' according to the invention for producing packaging with a mandrel wheel 2 is shown in a schematic representation. Those areas of the device 1' which have already been described in connection with Fig. 1 described are in Fig. 2with corresponding reference numerals. A significant difference to the device 1 known from the prior art ( Fig. 1 ) is that the device 1' according to the invention has a different drive concept. In particular, in the Fig. 2 shown device provides that each processing station B1-B1 has its own drive A1 to A5 and that the mandrel wheel drive 11 is mechanically decoupled from the drives A1-A5 of all processing stations B1-B5.

[0041] Based on the Fig. 2The device 1 shown is intended to illustrate, by way of example, the production of a (one-sidedly open) package. First, the already unfolded package sleeves 6 are removed from the unfolding device 5 by the first processing station, which is a pusher B1, and pushed onto the mandrel 9 located in the mandrel wheel position I. For this purpose, the pusher B1 is driven by its own drive A1, which is mechanically decoupled from the mandrel wheel drive 11 (and the other drives A2, A3, A4, A5).

[0042] Subsequently, the mandrel wheel 2 is rotated from the mandrel wheel position I to the mandrel wheel position II. For this purpose, the mandrel wheel shaft 7 of the mandrel wheel 2 is driven by the mandrel wheel drive 11, which is mechanically decoupled from the drives A1-A5 of all processing stations B1-B5.

[0043] In the second mandrel wheel position II, the packing sleeves 6 are heated in their end regions 10 by the second processing station, which is a heating unit B2. For this purpose, the heating unit B2 is moved by its own drive A2, which is mechanically decoupled from the mandrel wheel drive 11 (and the other drives A1, A3, A4, A5).

[0044] The mandrel wheel 2 is then rotated from mandrel wheel position II to mandrel wheel position III. The mandrel wheel shaft 7 of the mandrel wheel 2 is in turn driven by the mandrel wheel drive 11, which is mechanically decoupled from the drives A1-A5 of all processing stations B1-B5.

[0045] In the third mandrel wheel position III, the end regions 10 of the pack sleeves 6 are folded by the third processing station, which is a folding unit B3. In particular, this can be a longitudinal folder (folding movement in the circumferential direction of the mandrel wheel 2) or a transverse folder (folding movement in the direction of the central axis 8 of the mandrel wheel 2). For this purpose, the folding unit B3 is moved by its own drive A3, which is mechanically decoupled from the mandrel wheel drive 11 (and the other drives A1, A2, A4, A5).

[0046] Subsequently, the mandrel wheel 2 is rotated from mandrel wheel position III to mandrel wheel position IV. The mandrel wheel shaft 7 of the mandrel wheel 2 is in turn driven by the mandrel wheel drive 11, which is mechanically decoupled from the drives A1-A5 of all processing stations B1-B5.

[0047] In the fourth mandrel wheel position IV, the end sections 10 of the packing sleeves 6 are pressed together by the fourth processing station, which is a press B4, also referred to as a "bottom press." For this purpose, the press B4 is moved by its own drive A4, which is mechanically decoupled from the mandrel wheel drive 11 (and the other drives A1, A2, A3, A5).

[0048] Subsequently, the mandrel wheel 2 is rotated from the mandrel wheel position IV to the mandrel wheel position V. For this purpose, the mandrel wheel shaft 7 of the mandrel wheel 2 is in turn driven by the mandrel wheel drive 11, which is mechanically decoupled from the drives A1-A5 of all processing stations B1-B5.

[0049] In the fifth mandrel wheel position V, the packing sleeves 6 are removed from the mandrel 9 by the fifth processing station, which is a puller B5, so that they can be fed to further processing steps that no longer take place on the device 1'. For this purpose, the puller B5 is moved by its own drive A5, which is mechanically decoupled from the mandrel wheel drive 11 (and the other drives A1, A2, A3, A4).

[0050] After the packing sleeves 6 have passed through the processing stations B1 to B6, the packing sleeves 6 are closed on one side (e.g. in the area of ​​the bottom) and can be filled in subsequent work steps and closed from the other side (e.g. in the area of ​​the gable). List of reference symbols:

[0051] 1, 1':Device 2:Mandrel wheel 3:Blank 4:Magazine 5:Unfolding device 6:Packing sleeve 7:Mandrel wheel shaft 8:Central axis 9:Mandrel 10:End area (of the packing sleeve 6) 11:Mandrel wheel drive 12:Timing belt A1-A5:Drive (of a processing station B1-B1) B1-B5:Processing station B1:Pusher B2:Heating unit B3:Folding unit B4:Press B5:Puller I-VI:Mandrel wheel position

Claims

1. Device (1') for producing packaging, in particular for processing package sleeves (6), comprising: - a mandrel wheel (2) with a mandrel wheel shaft (7) with a central axis (8), - a plurality of mandrels (9) fastened to the mandrel wheel shaft (7), - wherein the mandrels (9) form at least one mandrel group, whose mandrels (9) are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the central axis (8) of the mandrel wheel shaft (7), - a first processing station (B1-B5) which is arranged on the mandrel wheel (2) and comprises a drive (A1-A5), - a second processing station (B1-B5) which is arranged on the mandrel wheel (2) and comprises a drive (A1-A5) - wherein one of the processing stations (B1-B5) is a press and one of the processing stations is a folding device (B3), and - a mandrel wheel drive (11) to drive the mandrel wheel shaft (7), - wherein the mandrel wheel drive (11) is mechanically uncoupled from both drives (A1-A5) of the at least two processing stations (B1-B5), characterised in that - a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a gearbox is used to drive at least one processing station (B1-B5), or a direct drive, i.e. an electric motor without a separate transmission, is used to drive at least one processing station (B1-B5), that - a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a transmission is used as the mandrel wheel drive (11), or a direct drive, i.e. an electric motor without a separate transmission, is used as the mandrel wheel drive (11), and that - the drive of the device has a control unit in which at least one time characteristic of a mass moment of inertia is stored for position control of the electric motor of the mandrel wheel drive (11) by means of torque pre-control.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised by a third processing station (B1-B5) which is arranged on the mandrel wheel (2) and comprises a drive (A1-A5).

3. Device according claim 2, characterised in that the mandrel wheel drive (11) is mechanically uncoupled from the three drives (A1-A5) of the at least three processing stations (B1-B5).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the mandrel wheel drive (11) is mechanically uncoupled from the drives (A1-A5) of all processing stations (B1-B5).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that one of the processing stations is a push-on device (B1) to push the package sleeves (6) onto one of the mandrels (9).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that one of the processing stations is a pull-off device (B5) to pull off the package sleeves (6) from one of the mandrels (9).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the mandrel wheel (2) comprises at least two, in particular at least four mandrel groups.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each mandrel group comprises at least four mandrels (9), in particular at least six mandrels (9).