PACKAGING LINE OF A PACKAGING PLANT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A PACKAGING LINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to packaging lines of a packaging plant and to methods for operating such packaging lines.

[0002] The term "packaging line" used herein generally refers to packaging machines connected in series and working together. These packaging machines perform tasks such as folding and erecting cartons, filling them, and finishing them.

[0003] Packaging lines of the type considered herein generally have various packaging units or packaging machines, such as those that further process already filled packages (hereinafter also generally referred to as "products") by, for example, joining the filled packages / products into units or providing them with straws, labels or the like.

[0004] Since the individual packaging machines within a packaging line are usually arranged sequentially one after the other, and the individual processing steps generally differ in their processing time, coordination of the processing steps of the individual packaging machines is essential for a smooth running of a packaging process.

[0005] In particular, for trouble-free operation, it is necessary to prevent products / packaging from backing up on the individual transport or conveyor belts of the packaging line, as this can lead to damage to the packaging / products, especially in the case of soft packaging.

[0006] To ensure a completely smooth and packaging-friendly packaging process, it is not only necessary that the processes of the packaging machines are coordinated with each other, but also that the process within the individual packaging machines is coordinated accordingly.

[0007] The publication EP 3 313 737 B1 relates to a method for operating a packaging line of a packaging plant with the features of the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0008] For this purpose, a packaging system is proposed in publication EP 3 313 737 B1, which comprises at least two packaging units or packaging machines, each having an infeed conveyor and an outfeed conveyor, and wherein the infeed conveyor feeds packaging or products to the packaging unit / packaging system and the outfeed conveyor receives products processed by the packaging system. A conveyor belt is arranged between the outfeed conveyor of a first packaging unit and the infeed conveyor of a second packaging unit.

[0009] To enable gentle, precise and flexible packaging of filled packages / products, the document EP 3 313 737 B1 proposes in particular to provide a central control system that determines the actual speed of the infeed and outfeed conveyors of the packaging machines and the transport belt, and which furthermore determines the actual packing density of the infeed and outfeed conveyors of the packaging machines and the transport belt, wherein the central control system determines the target speeds for the infeed and outfeed conveyors of the packaging machines and the transport belt depending on the actual packing density and the actual speeds.

[0010] Although the central control system proposed in EP 3 313 737 B1 enables the coordination of individual packaging machines, this prior art solution nevertheless has certain disadvantages. In particular, the packaging system or packaging line known from this prior art cannot be adapted quickly, or only with considerable effort, to changes that may occur during the work process. Furthermore, the central control system necessitates a relatively complex communication network between the individual units of the packaging line.

[0011] On the other hand, a packaging system, particularly for packaging food, is known from publication EP 2 075 660 A1 (TETRA LAVAL Holdings & Finance SA). This packaging system, known from this prior art, comprises a packaging line including several packaging stations / machines, such as a filling unit, a straw applicator unit, a cartoning unit, and the like.

[0012] In addition, a packaging line monitoring system is used to control the packaging plant centrally and as stably as possible, while the packaging plant should also be flexibly configurable without requiring specific software to operate the packaging plant or the packaging system.

[0013] The packaging system known from this prior art has the same disadvantages that were previously described in connection with EP 3 313 737 B1.

[0014] Furthermore, EP 2 075 660 A1 did not take into account the problem of damage to individual products / packaging, particularly due to inadequate coordination of individual packaging machines.

[0015] The present invention therefore aims to provide a packaging line for a packaging plant and a corresponding method for operating such a packaging line, which enables the gentle packaging of products, such as filled packages, with minimal effort, and which, in addition, should be quickly adaptable to changes that may occur during the work process. In particular, the aim is to minimize resource waste, increase the productivity of the packaging line, and improve overall flow efficiency.

[0016] This problem is solved with regard to the operating method by the subject matter of independent claim 1, with advantageous further developments of the operating method being specified in dependent claims 2 to 8. The problem underlying the invention is further solved by the subject matter of dependent claim 9, which relates to a corresponding packaging line of a packaging plant.

[0017] Such packaging lines are characterized in particular by a large number of packaging machines (packaging stations / packaging equipment) that process the packaging or products in various steps. For example, in filling lines for beverage cartons, a straw applicator is used first after a filling machine, followed by a shrink film applicator. The shrink film applicator combines several packages / products into a single unit.

[0018] When designing a packaging line or packaging system, the processing rate is increasingly becoming the primary focus, i.e., the number of packages or products per unit of time. The higher the processing rate of a packaging line, the more efficiently it operates.

[0019] Therefore, there is a fundamental need to optimize the processing rate of an individual packaging machine within the packaging line in order to increase the processing rate of the entire packaging line. When operating a packaging line, the goal is to operate the slowest packaging machine at its maximum processing rate to maximize the throughput of products on the line.

[0020] On the other hand, it is generally unavoidable in the operation of a packaging line that malfunctions can occur during the processing of products at individual packaging machines. To maintain a production process that is as smooth as possible and / or to compensate for fluctuations in the processing rate of the packaging machines on the line, it is common practice to arrange a storage device, for example in the form of a storage table or an (additional) conveyor belt, between two packaging machines. In the case of an (additional) conveyor belt, the corresponding filling rate of the (additional) conveyor belt is variably adjustable so that this (additional) conveyor belt can serve as a buffer storage device.

[0021] The (additional) conveyor belt picks up packaging if a fault occurs downstream in the packaging line and the products / packaging can no longer be processed further downstream. As soon as the downstream fault is resolved, the products temporarily stored on the (additional) conveyor belt can be retrieved and processed further.

[0022] Accordingly, the (additional) conveyor belt makes it possible to continue operating the packaging machines or other machines upstream of the conveyor belt for a certain period of time, at least until the filling rate of the additional conveyor belt is reached, i.e., the intake capacity of the additional conveyor belt is exhausted.

[0023] In order to improve the flow efficiency of the packaging line according to the invention and, in particular, to quickly adapt the packaging line to changes that may occur in the work process, it is proposed according to the invention that the packaging line has a belt control system ("line controller") based on the principle of a pull system, which is designed to communicate, in particular as required, performance requirements and / or information or line-relevant data of the packaging line from the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine to the at least one conveyor belt and from the at least one conveyor belt to the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine, in the opposite direction of transport of the packaging line.

[0024] Communication using the decentralized belt control system, which is based on the principle of a pull system, takes place via a suitable bus system, in particular a Profibus system.

[0025] By providing such a decentralized belt control system, which is designed to communicate performance requirements and / or information against the direction of transport of the packaging line as needed, a lean packaging principle can be implemented. This principle creates a process in which the individual transport and / or conveyor belts of the packaging line are only activated when there is actual demand. In particular, the implementation of the belt control system according to the invention serves to activate the products of upstream packaging machines or components of the packaging system based on actual demand from a downstream packaging system.

[0026] In this way, each packaging machine or conveyor belt in the packaging line focuses on a component immediately downstream of it in the direction of transport. This approach allows each component of the packaging line to quickly adapt to changes that may occur in the work process, minimizing resource waste, increasing productivity, and improving overall flow efficiency.

[0027] With regard to the inventive operating method of the packaging line of a packaging plant, it is provided that a current machine output of the downstream packaging machine of the packaging line is determined and / or ascertained, wherein the current machine output defines the number of products to be processed by the downstream packaging machine per unit of time.

[0028] Furthermore, the operating method according to the invention provides for the determination of a performance requirement for the at least one conveyor belt of the packaging line, which is arranged in series with the packaging machines of the packaging line. The performance requirement for the at least one conveyor belt defines the number of products to be fed per unit of time by means of the at least one conveyor belt to the infeed conveyor of the packaging machine downstream – viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line.

[0029] The operating method according to the invention is also characterized in that a transport speed of the at least one conveyor belt is automatically determined and set, wherein the transport speed is determined depending on the determined performance requirement.

[0030] The method is further intended to include the process step of determining the current fill level of the infeed conveyor of the at least one packaging machine, whereby the transport speed of the at least one conveyor is determined depending on the determined fill level of the infeed conveyor.

[0031] With regard to the transport speed of the at least one conveyor belt, it is intended that this will be calculated according to the following formula: V = R ne ⋅ l Fl next with: V = Transport speed R ne = Performance requirement of the infeed conveyor belt of at least one packaging machine FI next = Fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of at least one packaging machine with 0 ≤ Fl next ≤ 1 l = Product length

[0032] In particular, the transport speed of the at least one conveyor belt is set in such a way that, when transferring products from the at least one conveyor belt to the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine, the products are prevented from being pushed onto the infeed conveyor belt.

[0033] In principle, with regard to the method according to the invention, it is conceivable that when determining the performance requirement for the at least one conveyor belt of the packaging line, the specified and / or determined current machine performance of the downstream packaging machine and a current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine are taken into account.

[0034] The current machine output of the packaging machine defines the number of products processed by the packaging machine per unit of time. The current machine output is generally lower than the so-called potential machine output of the packaging machine, which is the number of products that the packaging machine could theoretically process per unit of time.

[0035] The current machine output of the packaging machine in the packaging line is calculated / determined based on the potential machine output of all packaging machines in the line, as well as the current throughput of the conveyor belts between the packaging machines. To do this, the potential machine outputs of all packaging machines in the line are queried, and then the current machine output of the packaging machine is set to the lowest value obtained from these queried values.

[0036] In particular, the current machine output determined by the belt control system serves as a performance target for all packaging machines in the packaging line. Specifically, the downstream packaging machine in the packaging line is designed to request a calculated output from the at least one upstream conveyor belt based on this performance target. This output requirement for the upstream conveyor belt is comprised of the performance target of the downstream packaging machine and the fill level of the packaging machine's infeed conveyor belt.

[0037] The performance requirement for the at least one conveyor belt is determined in particular in such a way that the number of products to be supplied per unit of time to the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine by means of the at least one conveyor belt corresponds to the number of products to be supplied per unit of time which is to be processed by the downstream packaging machine according to the current machine output, and which is necessary to achieve a predefined or definable fill level of the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine.

[0038] According to further developments of the operating method according to the invention, this method includes the process step of determining a performance requirement for the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine, wherein the performance requirement defines a number of products to be supplied to the at least one conveyor belt per unit of time by means of the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine.

[0039] When determining the performance requirement for the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine, particular consideration is given to the specified and / or determined current machine performance of the downstream packaging machine, a current fill level of the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine, and a current fill level of at least one conveyor belt.

[0040] In this context, it is particularly conceivable that the performance requirement for the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine is determined in such a way that the number of products to be supplied to the at least one conveyor belt per unit of time by means of the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine corresponds to the number of products to be supplied per unit of time which is to be processed by the downstream packaging machine according to the current machine output, and which is necessary to achieve a predetermined or definable fill level of the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine as well as a predetermined or definable fill level of the at least one conveyor belt.

[0041] According to embodiments of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the process step of determining the current fill level of the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine and the current fill level of the at least one conveyor belt. The method further comprises determining the current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine.

[0042] According to preferred implementations of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that a transport speed of at least one conveyor belt, in particular the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine, is set when products are to be fed from the at least one conveyor belt to the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine or to another conveyor belt immediately downstream, wherein the transport speed is calculated as a function of the fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine or as a function of the fill level of the conveyor belt immediately downstream.

[0043] The transport speed of the conveyor belt is calculated according to the following formula: V = R ne ⋅ l Fl next with: V = Transport speed R ne = Power requirement from the downstream transport or conveyor belt Fl next = Fill level of the downstream transport or conveyor belt l = Product length

[0044] With regard to the packaging line according to the invention, the aforementioned belt control system is provided for implementing the operating method according to the invention. The belt control system is based on the principle of a pull system and is designed to communicate, in particular as needed, performance requirements and / or information or line-relevant data from the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine to the at least one conveyor belt and from the at least one conveyor belt to the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine via a bus system, in particular a Profibus system, in the opposite direction of the transport direction of the packaging line.

[0045] According to implementations of the belt control, it is designed to send a first power request from the downstream packaging machine to the infeed conveyor assigned to the downstream packaging machine, wherein the first power request defines a number of products to be supplied to the downstream packaging machine per unit of time by means of the infeed conveyor.

[0046] The belt control is further configured to send a second power request from the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine to the conveyor belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor, wherein the second power request defines a number of products to be supplied to the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine per unit of time by means of the immediately upstream conveyor belt.

[0047] In particular, the belt control is further designed to issue a third power request from the conveyor belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor to a further conveyor belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor or to the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine, wherein the third power request defines a number of products to be supplied per unit of time to the conveyor belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor by means of the further conveyor belt or by means of the outfeed conveyor of the upstream packaging machine.

[0048] Preferably, the first performance requirement is determined by the current machine output of the downstream packaging machine, wherein - as already mentioned - the current machine output defines the number of products to be processed by the downstream packaging machine per unit of time.

[0049] The second performance requirement is preferably determined by the current machine output of the downstream packaging machine and by the current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt assigned to the downstream packaging machine.

[0050] The third performance requirement is preferably determined by the current machine output of the downstream packaging machine, by the current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt assigned to the downstream packaging machine, and by the current fill level of the transport belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor belt.

[0051] It is planned that each of the infeed conveyor belts of the upstream packaging machine, the at least one transport belt and the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine will be assigned a system for recording the current fill level of the respective conveyor belt or transport belt.

[0052] The belt control system is designed to adjust the transport speed of at least one conveyor belt based on the current fill level of a conveyor belt immediately downstream of that conveyor belt (in the direction of travel of the packaging line). The downstream conveyor belt is, in particular, the infeed conveyor of the downstream packaging machine. The current fill level of the downstream conveyor belt is, in particular, the fill level of the downstream conveyor belt at the time a performance request is made from that downstream conveyor belt.

[0053] The systems for detecting the current fill level of the corresponding conveyor belt or transport belt each have a light barrier system with a light barrier at the beginning of the belt and a light barrier at the end of the belt.

[0054] The light barriers at the respective beginnings of the conveyor belt are preferably positioned or designed in such a way that, if blocked by a product, they are cleared again when the corresponding conveyor belt is running. Conversely, the light barriers at the respective ends of the conveyor belt are preferably positioned or designed in such a way that, if blocked by a product, they are not cleared again when a downstream conveyor belt is running.

[0055] According to preferred embodiments, the belt control is designed to adjust the transport speed of the at least one conveyor belt also depending on a performance requirement of the transport and / or conveyor belt immediately downstream of the at least one conveyor belt - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - wherein the transport speed is particularly higher the greater the number of products to be supplied per unit of time as defined by the performance requirement and the smaller the fill level of the transport or conveyor belt immediately downstream of the at least one conveyor belt - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line.

[0056] According to embodiments of the packaging line according to the invention, a plurality of cooperating conveyor belts are arranged in series between the at least two packaging machines connected in series and working together.

[0057] The following section describes in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the operating principle of the packaging line according to the invention or of the method according to the invention for operating a packaging line, using schematic embodiments.

[0058] They show: FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention in an overall view; FIG. 2 schematically shows three conveyor belts connected in series and working together in an exemplary embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention; and FIG. 3 schematically shows three conveyor belts connected in series and working together in an exemplary embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention to illustrate the fill level detection.

[0059] A packaging line of the type described here comprises packaging machines connected in series and working together. These machines perform tasks such as folding and erecting cartons, filling them, and finishing them. Packaging lines can be expanded modularly, for example, with a case packer.

[0060] For example, in FIG. 1 In the schematically depicted packaging line, different packaging units or packaging machines are provided sequentially (downstream), which in particular have different nominal outputs and setpoint outputs. The nominal output determines the number of products / packages per unit of time that can be produced by the respective packaging machine and can also be referred to as rated output. The setpoint output determines the actual number of packages / products produced per unit of time and can also be referred to as current output. The number of packages / products that a packaging machine can accommodate per unit of time can also be referred to as input capacity. This is generally identical to the setpoint output, especially if, as is usually the case, the number of products fed into the packaging machine equals the number of products dispensed.

[0061] Since the packaging machines arranged one after the other in the packaging line have different nominal outputs and setting outputs, the input capacity of the different packaging machines is usually also different.

[0062] As in FIG. 1 In schematic terms, a conveyor belt is provided before and after (i.e., upstream and downstream in the direction of transport of the packaging line) each individual packaging machine, and this conveyor belt is, in particular, part of the respective packaging machine. An infeed conveyor belt is provided at the infeed of each packaging machine, and an outfeed conveyor belt is provided at the outfeed of the packaging machine.

[0063] Since the packaging machines in the packaging line are arranged sequentially one after the other, uninterrupted operation is necessary to prevent products from backing up on the respective transport or conveyor belts.

[0064] Product jams at the infeed of a packaging machine can be prevented by installing a clamp or stopper in the infeed conveyor area. This prevents products from being conveyed further to the machine's infeed. Subsequent products then run into the products stopped by the clamp or stopper, creating a jam. However, this approach is problematic with flexible packaging, as these items can damage each other upon contact.

[0065] Therefore, in the solution according to the invention shown in the drawings, a line controller is provided, which centrally manages the line-relevant data of the individual packaging machines and the other components of the packaging line, such as, in particular, the transport or conveyor belts located in the packaging line. The essential control function of the line controller is that each individual packaging machine and each individual transport or conveyor belt of the packaging line sends its possible output to the line controller.

[0066] The belt control, in turn, limits the performance of all packaging machines in the packaging line to the slowest reported machine performance and the currently possible output of the at least one conveyor belt provided between the packaging machines and serving as a "storage".

[0067] This results in a performance target for all packaging machines. Based on this performance target, each packaging machine requests a calculated output from the supplying transport or conveyor belt.

[0068] In FIG. 1 The corresponding performance requirements of the components of the packaging line are indicated by the reference sign L and the corresponding arrows in the opposite direction of transport of the packaging line.

[0069] The performance requirement for the transport or conveyor belts results from the performance requirement of the subsequent belt and the current fill level of the own transport belt.

[0070] In FIG. 3 The diagram schematically shows a corresponding fill level determination for the transport or conveyor belts of a packaging line. In the diagram shown... FIG. 3 In the schematically shown embodiment, the fill level is determined for each transport or conveyor belt using two light barriers.

[0071] In detail, as in FIG. 3 schematically indicated - a first light barrier at the beginning of the corresponding transport or conveyor belt and another light barrier at the end of the belt of the corresponding transport or conveyor belt are provided.

[0072] The light barrier at the beginning of the conveyor belt is preferably positioned so that, if it is blocked by a product, it is cleared again when the corresponding conveyor belt is running and the upstream conveyor belt (viewed in the direction of transport of the packaging line) is stationary or running at a reduced speed. Conversely, the light barrier at the end of the conveyor belt is preferably positioned so that, if it is blocked by a product, it is not cleared again when the downstream conveyor belt is running.

[0073] According to the exemplary embodiment of the packaging line shown in the drawings, each conveyor belt determines its current fill level independently. This is calculated using the light barrier at the beginning of the belt, the belt speed, and the belt length. The target fill level is an adjustable value and can be set by an operator of the packaging line via an interface (e.g., on the control panel).

[0074] The conveyor belt control system is based on a pull system. This results in an information flow that runs counter to the transport direction of the packaging line. Consequently, a performance request (number of products per unit of time) must always be transmitted from a subsequent conveyor belt or packaging machine. Conversely, this performance request must also be passed on to the upstream conveyor belt.

[0075] For example, it demands in the schematically in FIG. 2 If the downstream conveyor belt in the system shown is supplied with 120 products per minute and the current fill level of the downstream belt corresponds to the predefined or definable target fill level, then a request for 120 products per minute is also transmitted to the upstream conveyor belt.

[0076] If, however, the downstream conveyor requests 0 products per minute and the current fill level corresponds to the predefined or definable target fill level (i.e., the fill level has been reached), then a request of 0 products per minute is also transmitted to the upstream conveyor and the upstream conveyor stops immediately.

[0077] If, however, the downstream conveyor requests 0 products per minute and the current fill level of the downstream conveyor does not correspond to the target fill level (i.e., the fill level of the downstream conveyor has not been reached), a request will continue to be transmitted to the upstream conveyor until the current fill level of the downstream conveyor corresponds to the predefined or definable target fill level. Then the upstream conveyor stops.

[0078] According to this, for example in FIG. 1 In the exemplary embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention shown, each packaging machine is capable of communicating the required quantity of products to the upstream transport or conveyor belt. This product requirement or performance requirement consists of the current cycle rate (i.e., the current machine output) of the packaging machine plus an offset. The offset can be positive or negative and guides the packaging machine towards its respective performance target.

[0079] The packaging machine should detect the fill level in the infeed area (i.e., the fill level of the infeed conveyor). As already mentioned, this can be achieved by detecting the fill level on the infeed conveyor itself or by evaluating a buffer behind the divider. The maximum cycle time of the packaging machine is limited by the performance target determined by the conveyor control system.

[0080] To ensure that products are transported quickly to the next packaging machine when conveyor belts are empty, the speed of the conveyor belts in the embodiment of the packaging line according to the invention, schematically depicted in the drawings, is calculated as a function of the fill level of the downstream conveyor belt. The transport speed is calculated in particular to prevent products from being pushed back at the transfer points.

[0081] For example, the in FIG. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the downstream conveyor belt receives the required number of products from the upstream conveyor belt. From this requirement and the fill level of the downstream conveyor belt, the transport speed is calculated as shown in the following equation: V = R ne ⋅ l Fl next with: V = Transport speed R ne = Power requirement from the downstream transport or conveyor belt Fl next= Fill level of the downstream transport or conveyor belt l = Product length

[0082] The packaging line is preferably networked using Profibus-DP. This means that all production-relevant data is transmitted between the conveyor control and the multi-track packaging units via Profibus-DP.

Claims

1. A method for operating a packaging line of a packaging installation, wherein the packaging line comprises at least one packaging machine having an infeed conveyor belt, wherein the packaging line further comprises at least one transport belt which - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - is disposed upstream of the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine and in series with the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: i) defining and / or determining a current machine performance of the at least one packaging machine, wherein the current machine performance defines the number of products to be processed by the at least one packaging machine per unit of time; ii) determining an output request for the at least one transport belt, wherein the output request defines a number of products to be delivered to the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine by means of the at least one transport belt per unit of time, the method characterized by the following steps: iii) determining a current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt using two light barriers or using a light barrier at the beginning of the belt, a transport belt speed, and a transport belt length. iv) automatically defining and setting a transport speed of the at least one transport belt, wherein the transport speed is determined as a function of the determined output request, wherein the packaging line comprises a belt control system which is constructed according to the principle of a pull system, which communicates output requests via a Bus System against the transport direction of the packaging line from the infeed conveyor belt of the packaging machine to the at least one transport belt and from the at least one transport belt to an outfeed conveyor belt of an upstream packaging machine, wherein the belt controller is configured to deliver an output request Rne from the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine to the transport belt immediately upstream of the infeed conveyor belt, wherein the output request defines a number of products to be supplied per unit of time to the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine by means of the immediately upstream conveyor belt, wherein the transport speed of the conveyor belt is calculated according to the formula: V = R ne ⋅ l Fl next V =transport speed Rne = output request from the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine Flnext = fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine with 0 < Flnext ≤1 l = product length wherein, if the downstream belt requests 0 products per minute and the current fill level of the downstream belt does not correspond to a target fill level, i.e., the fill level of the downstream belt has not been reached, a request is submitted to the upstream transport belt until the current fill level of the downstream belt corresponds to the previously defined or definable target fill level, wherein the upstream belt then stops.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the transport speed of the at least one transport belt is defined such that, when products are transferred from the at least one transport belt to the infeed conveyor belt of the at least one packaging machine, pushing of the products on the infeed conveyor belt is prevented.

3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the packaging line comprises a total of n packaging machines connected in series, wherein n is a natural number greater than zero, and wherein a current machine performance of the at least one packaging machine is defined and / or determined as a function of a possible machine performance of each one of the total of n packaging machines.

4. The method according to Claim 3, wherein the current machine performance of the at least one packaging machine is furthermore defined and / or determined as a function of a currently possible output of the at least one transport belt.

5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the packaging line comprises at least two packaging machines, which are connected in series and work together and preferably each comprise an infeed conveyor belt and an outfeed conveyor belt, wherein the at least one transport belt is disposed between the outfeed conveyor belt of a - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - upstream packaging machine and the infeed conveyor belt of a - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - downstream packaging machine in series with the packaging machines, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: i) defining and / or determining a current machine performance of the downstream packaging machine, wherein the current machine performance defines the number of products to be processed by the downstream packaging machine per unit of time; and ii) determining an output request for the at least one transport belt, wherein the output request defines a number of products to be delivered to the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine by means of the at least one transport belt per unit of time, wherein the defined and / or determined current machine performance of the downstream packaging machine and optionally a current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine are taken into consideration when determining the output request for the at least one transport belt.

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the output request for the at least one transport belt is preferably determined such that the number of products to be delivered to the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine per unit of time by means of the at least one transport belt corresponds to the number of products to be delivered per unit of time which are to be processed by the downstream packaging machine in accordance with the current machine performance and which is necessary to achieve a previously defined or definable filling level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine.

7. The method according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the method further comprises the following optional method step: iii) determining an output request for the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine, wherein the output request defines a number of products to be delivered to the at least one transport belt per unit of time by means of the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine, wherein, the defined and / or determined current machine performance of the downstream packaging machine, a current fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine, and optionally a current fill level of the at least one transport belt, are taken into consideration when determining the output request for the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the output request for the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine is determined such that the number of products to be delivered to the at least one transport belt per unit of time by means of the outfeed conveyor belt of the upstream packaging machine corresponds to the number of products to be delivered per unit of time which are to be processed by the downstream packaging machine in accordance with the current machine performance and which is necessary to achieve a previously defined or definable fill level of the infeed conveyor belt of the downstream packaging machine and a previously defined or definable fill level of the at least one transport belt.

9. A packaging line of a packaging installation, wherein the packaging line comprises at least one packaging machine having an infeed conveyor belt or at least two packaging machines, which are connected in series and work together and preferably each comprise an infeed conveyor belt and an outfeed conveyor belt, wherein the packaging line further comprises at least one transport belt which - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - is disposed upstream of packaging machine and the infeed conveyor belt of a - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - downstream packaging machine in series with the packaging machines, or which is disposed between the outfeed conveyor belt of a - viewed in the transport direction of the packaging line - downstream packaging machine in series with the packaging machines, wherein the packaging line further comprises a belt control system which is constructed according to the principle of a pull system, which is configured to perform the method according to one of the claims 1 to 8.