Method and device for forming packaging jackets open on one side from packaging jackets open on both sides

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for forming packaging sleeves for the production of filled packages. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for forming packaging sleeves for the production of filled packages, preferably according to a corresponding method, comprising a forming station for unfolding and forming flat-folded packaging sleeves, a feeding device for feeding flat-folded packaging sleeves to the forming station, and a discharge device for removing the unfolded and formed packaging sleeves from the forming station, wherein the forming station has at least three forming parts, the forming parts being adjustable from an open position of the forming station for transferring flat-folded packaging sleeves to the forming station to a closed position of the forming station for unfolding and forming the packaging sleeves and back.

[0002] Methods and devices for forming packaging bodies open at one end from packaging shells open at both ends have been known for some time. These methods are particularly useful for producing filled packages, and methods and devices for filling packages with products in various configurations are also known.

[0003] In this context, packaging refers to containers such as cardboard composite packaging, which are at least partially formed from a laminated packaging material comprising a cardboard layer and outer, particularly thermoplastic, plastic layers, such as polyethylene (PE). The cardboard provides the packaging with sufficient stability to allow for easy handling and stacking. The plastic layers protect the cardboard from moisture and the food from absorbing unwanted substances from the packaging. Additional layers, such as an aluminum layer, may also be included to prevent the diffusion of oxygen and other gases through the packaging material.

[0004] These packaging units are typically filled with food products, especially beverages, predominantly free-flowing products. The filling process takes place in a sterile or aseptic environment within a filling machine, as the food products are intended to have a long shelf life after filling. For this purpose, the filling machines have sterilization chambers or aseptic rooms where the packaging units are sterilized and then filled and sealed under the most sterile conditions possible. After filling, the packaging units are typically sealed within the filling machine. When using appropriate packaging materials, the open end of the package is sealed.

[0005] The packaging components are preferably formed on the filling machine from packaging shells, which in turn are produced from packaging material blanks, particularly by sealing the longitudinal edges of the packaging material blanks together. This produces packaging shells made from a single packaging material, open at opposite longitudinal ends. The packaging shells are pre-folded along fold lines, creating fold edges that form the later edges of the package, which typically has a square or rectangular cross-section. First, however, the packaging shells are folded flat around two opposite fold edges. The packaging shell then essentially forms two parallel and overlapping sections. The flattened packaging shells are transferred as a stack to a magazine of the filling machine.The front section of the packaging sleeve at the front end of the stack is gripped by suction cups and pulled away from the stack, causing the sleeve to unfold, typically until it forms a cross-section that is at least substantially square or rectangular. The unfolded sleeve is then wound onto a mandrel of a mandrel wheel, the cross-section of which matches that of the sleeve. The sleeve initially protrudes beyond the mandrel, allowing the protruding portion to be folded against the mandrel's face, where it is compressed and sealed. The corresponding longitudinal end of the sleeve is thus closed, typically forming the bottom of the filled package. Alternatively, the closed end of the sleeve could form the top of the package if, for example, it is filled through the open bottom.

[0006] The open-ended packaging units are fed into a sterilization zone of the filling machine. This is usually done by transferring the packaging units one after the other to the receiving cells of a transport unit. The transport unit then ensures that the packaging units are transported through the sterilization zone of the filling machine at a defined speed and at a defined distance from each other. In the sterilization zone, the packaging units are preheated with hot sterile air and then sterilized, typically with hydrogen peroxide, and dried with sterile air. The sterile packaging units are then transferred to the filling and sealing zone and filled. The opening of the filled packaging units is then sealed before the sealed package is transported out of the filling and sealing zone via the transport unit and subsequently removed from the corresponding cells of the transport unit.

[0007] In some filling machines, the packaging components are transported by the conveying device in a straight line through the filling machine. Such filling machines are also referred to as linear filling machines. In other filling devices, the so-called rotary filling machines, the packaging components describe a more or less arc-shaped movement, which may include one or more arc segments. The present invention relates in principle to these and other types of filling machines.

[0008] Corresponding methods and devices for forming one-sided open packaging bodies are known, for example, from DE 10 2016 109 996 A1. Forming one-sided open packaging bodies from stacks of flat-folded packaging sleeves requires considerable space and a complex forming station in the filling machine due to the necessary handling of the packaging sleeves.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention is based on the objective of designing and further developing the method and the apparatus of the type mentioned above in such a way that packaging jackets can be unfolded and shaped simply and in a space-saving manner.

[0010] This problem is solved according to claim 1 by a method for forming packaging shells for the production of filled packages, in which packaging jackets folded flat by at least two longitudinal fold edges are transferred from a feeding device to a forming station comprising at least three forming parts, in which the transferred packaging jackets are held in an open position of the forming station between at least two forming parts, in which packaging jackets held between the at least two forming parts are unfolded and formed by adjusting the at least three forming parts into a closed position of the forming station, in which the unfolded and formed packaging jackets are successively discharged from the forming station by a discharge device, and in which the feeding device and / or the discharge device forms a forming part of the forming station for forming the packaging jackets.

[0011] The aforementioned problem is also solved in a device according to the preamble of claim 12 by the fact that the feeding device and / or the discharge device forms a molding part of the molding station for forming the packaging jackets.

[0012] In order to be able to easily unfold and shape the packaging sleeves, at least two folding edges are required, around which the packaging sleeves can be held flat and transferred to a forming station via a feeding device. In At the forming station, the packaging sleeves can be shaped as desired, with the edges of the sleeves having a large radius if required, and individual sides easily being curved. For simplicity, the packaging sleeves are open on both sides and are unfolded in the forming station into a packaging body that is also open on both sides, which can then be filled and sealed to form a package.

[0013] The packaging sleeves, folded flat along two fold lines, are transferred by a feeding device to the forming station, which has at least three forming parts for unfolding and shaping the packaging sleeves. The forming parts can be adjusted relative to each other to form a mold in which the packaging sleeves are mechanically forced into the desired shape. The packaging sleeves are initially transferred from the feeding device to the forming station in an open position, so that the forming station initially holds the packaging sleeves. The forming parts are preferably positioned far enough apart to allow the packaging sleeves, in their at least substantially flattened state, to be received in the forming station, preferably between two forming parts of the forming station. In principle, the forming station can be adjusted to different open positions as required.At least one open position of the forming station is suitable for receiving the flattened packaging sleeves. If necessary, the forming station can be adjusted from an open position in which a packaging sleeve can be positioned between at least two forming parts to another open position in which the at least two forming parts hold the packaging sleeve. For this purpose, the at least two forming parts can be moved relative to each other without being stopped in this open position.

[0014] The molded parts are then moved further together, causing the molding station to move into the closed position. The packaging sleeve is then unfolded and formed between the molded parts within the molding station. The formed packaging sleeve is then removed from the molding station by a discharge device, for which the molding station can be moved back to an open position. This also creates space in the molding station to receive the next packaging sleeve.

[0015] The invention, in connection with the forming station, recognizes the advantage of using at least three forming parts, although in the prior art typically only two forming parts, in particular mold halves, are used to unfold and form the packaging sleeves between them. The forming parts together constitute the mold of the forming station. Each forming part has a surface adjacent to the formed part, facing it. These surfaces thus form the mold surfaces or inner surfaces of the mold. The packaging sleeve can preferably be folded against these respective surfaces during unfolding and / or forming. By folding the packaging sleeve against the forming parts, it is mechanically brought into the desired shape.

[0016] While using multiple molds is more complex, it allows for very space-saving handling of the packaging sleeves. In particular, it is possible to transfer the packaging sleeves from the feeder to the forming station in approximately the same direction as they are discharged from the forming station. This allows for a space-saving arrangement of the necessary components. For example, unlike conventional filling machines, it is not necessary to feed the packaging sleeves to the forming station from above or below. Furthermore, the feeder and / or discharge device can transport the packaging sleeves over a very short distance, which can contribute to further space savings in a filling machine.

[0017] The corresponding advantages are particularly pronounced when not only the feed device or the discharge device forms a component of the forming station. It is therefore especially preferred if both the feed device and the discharge device form a component of the forming station. To enable the packaging sleeves to be unfolded and formed quickly, easily, and reliably, it is further advantageous to have two components of the forming station for receiving the flattened packaging sleeves, which are not the feed device or the discharge device. The feed device can then transfer the flattened packaging sleeves to the forming station independently of the discharge device. In addition, the two components can be positioned laterally and hold the packaging sleeves, particularly by frictional engagement, at the folded edges.This also allows the packaging sleeves to be reliably unfolded by the two side forming parts when the forming station is moved into the closed position.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the lateral molded parts do not require a particularly complex movement. It is sufficient if the lateral molded parts can be moved towards and away from each other, as needed. A linear adjustment of the lateral molded parts can therefore suffice. Furthermore, it can alternatively or additionally suffice if at least one further molded part is moved at least partially and / or section by section at least substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lateral molded parts. This direction preferably corresponds at least substantially to the transport direction of the packaging sleeves between being received by the feeding device and being discharged by the discharge device.

[0019] For the sake of clarity and to avoid unnecessary repetition, the method and the apparatus are described together below, without differentiating between the method and the apparatus in detail. However, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art from the context which features are preferred for the method and the apparatus.

[0020] In a first particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the flat-folded packaging sleeves are grasped by a gripping unit of the feeding device and transferred from the gripping unit to the forming station. This is advantageous for the reliable transport of the flat-folded packaging sleeves through the feeding device. The gripping unit can grasp the packaging sleeves at a suitable point and hold them securely until transfer. Alternatively or additionally, it is particularly efficient and space-saving if the flat-folded packaging sleeves are held in a stack. The flat-folded packaging sleeves can then be reliably and precisely removed from the stack by the feeding device. This is even more effective if the feeding device grips the flat-folded packaging sleeves with the gripping unit on the side of the packaging sleeves facing away from the stack and removes them from the stack.

[0021] The gripping unit can efficiently perform several functions when it forms a mold component of the molding station for forming the packaging shells. In addition to transporting and transferring the packaging shells to the molding station, the gripping unit then provides a molding surface that, when the molding station is closed, faces the mold of the molding station and the molded packaging shell. It is particularly advantageous for the molding of the packaging shells if the molding surface of the gripping unit is in contact with the molded packaging shell. The gripping unit can be used particularly efficiently and in a space-saving manner if the molding surface is formed on the side of the gripping unit facing away from the packaging shell being gripped. In When the forming station is in the closed position, this forming surface faces the formed packaging sleeve within the station. The gripping unit can then be designed and configured on one side to grip the packaging sleeves and on the other side as a forming surface for closing the at least three-part mold of the forming station. The packaging sleeves can be easily and reliably gripped by the gripping unit from either side facing away from the stack and / or facing the forming station. This simplifies the process and saves space in the filling machine.

[0022] The gripping unit can, alternatively or additionally, be moved at least partially and / or in sections from the stack to the forming station, transferring the gripped packaging sleeve to the forming station. The transport path can then be short and space-saving. Independently of this, or also in addition, the gripping unit can be rotated and / or swiveled, at least partially and / or in sections, with the gripped packaging sleeve to the forming station. This allows the gripping unit to transfer the packaging sleeves to the forming station and subsequently contribute to the formation of the mold. This applies particularly when one side of the gripping unit is designed to grip the packaging sleeves and the opposite side is designed to provide a forming surface.Rotating the packaging sleeves is generally more space-saving than swiveling them, although swiveling may still be preferred for the sake of simplicity depending on the filling machine. However, for space reasons, it is generally preferable if the lever arm(s) for swiveling the packaging sleeves are quite short.

[0023] If the packaging jackets are transferred to the forming station in an orientation rotated at least substantially by 180° compared to the orientation of the packaging jackets in the stack, the gripping unit can be moved very easily and effectively at least substantially back and forth between the stack of packaging jackets and the forming station, whereby the gripping unit can then form a forming part of the forming station facing the stack.

[0024] To achieve rotation of the packaging sleeves in confined spaces, it is advantageous for the gripping unit to rotate and / or pivot the sleeves around an axis at least substantially perpendicular to the direction of their translational transport. This allows for the simple superimposition of a movement that is at least substantially linear with the rotation and / or pivoting. However, superimposing a translational movement of the packaging sleeves with a rotation and / or pivoting movement is generally preferred for efficient handling of the packaging sleeves in very confined spaces. This is especially true if the movements of the packaging sleeves are initiated by the gripping unit before transfer to the forming station. However, the movements of the packaging sleeves do not need to be continuously superimposed from the moment they are picked up from the feeding device until they are transferred to the forming station.It may be sufficient if this is done partially and / or in sections.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally, the packaging sleeves can be rotated and / or swiveled by the gripping unit around an axis that is at least substantially parallel to the packaging sleeves. This allows the rotation or swiveling to take place in a very confined space. This is particularly true if the axis is aligned parallel to a central axis of the packaging sleeves or, more specifically, corresponds to the central axis of the packaging sleeves.

[0026] To provide a space-saving and efficient gripping unit, it is advantageous for the gripping unit to have multiple suction grippers for grasping the packaging sleeves. These can then be distributed along the longitudinal extension of a strut, enabling a slim gripping unit. Alternatively or additionally, the gripping unit can have a strut that serves as a forming component of the forming station. This is also space-saving, even more so if it is the same strut as the suction grippers. Regardless of the configuration, the strut can be positioned with one side extending along its length so that, when the forming station is closed, this side acts as a forming surface, facing the packaging sleeve being formed in the forming station. This forming surface can then be used to shape the packaging sleeves and, if necessary, rest against them.

[0027] After forming, the shaped packaging sleeves can be removed from the forming station by a holding unit of the discharge device. This holding unit grips the shaped packaging sleeve on at least two opposite sides. The holding unit then preferably holds the packaging sleeves independently, without the need for any other means. This is simple and reliable, especially when the packaging sleeves, upon moving the forming station from the closed to the open position, automatically engage the holding unit with friction due to their restoring forces. The unfolded and formed packaging sleeves always spring back slightly when the forming station is moved from the closed to the open position, a phenomenon caused by the restoring forces within the packaging sleeves.This can be used to ensure that the packaging sleeves preferably adhere to opposite sections of the holding unit in a frictional manner. Since the packaging sleeves are lightweight, this is sufficient to hold them securely without additional measures.

[0028] To utilize the holding unit particularly efficiently and functionally, it can form at least a portion of the forming station's forming surface. In the closed position of the forming station, the holding unit can therefore have a corresponding side facing the packaging shell within the forming station, which can, if necessary, come into contact with the formed packaging shell.

[0029] The holding unit can be used very effectively if holding sections partially engage in a recess of an adjacent molded part or a gap between two adjacent molded parts when the molding station is in the closed position. This ensures that when the molding station is moved to the open position, the previously formed packaging shell rests against the sections of the holding unit that engage in the recesses and / or gaps. In the closed position of the molding station, the holding unit can therefore engage at least one recess of at least one molded part on each of two sides opposite the packaging shell in the closed molding station.Alternatively or additionally, the holding unit can, in the closed position of the forming station, engage on two sides opposite the packaging jacket in the closed forming station in at least one gap between at least two forming parts provided on the respective side.

[0030] To enable simple and reliable adjustment of the forming station to the closed and open positions, and to utilize the discharge unit, particularly the holding unit, as a forming component, it is advantageous if the forming components adjacent to the discharge unit can be adjusted independently of the discharge unit itself. This allows the forming station to be moved between the closed and open positions. The individual forming components thus do not interfere with each other, even though they can partially interlock. The at least two forming components on the sides opposite the flattened packaging shell can therefore be adjusted, at least partially, relative to the section of the holding unit that engages in the at least one recess and / or the at least one gap, into the closed position of the forming station.Alternatively, the at least two molded parts on the sides opposite the flattened packaging shell can be adjusted, at least section by section, relative to the section of the holding unit engaging in the at least one recess and / or the at least one gap into the open position of the molding station.

[0031] The discharge device, in particular the holding unit, can be used in a space-saving manner if it is adjusted at least substantially linearly. When the forming station is moved to the open position, it can be moved, preferably exclusively, translationally away from the position of the discharge device, in particular the holding unit, in the closed position of the forming station, along with the formed packaging sleeve. Alternatively or additionally, the discharge device, in particular the holding unit, can be moved exclusively translationally away from the stack of flattened packaging sleeves. A ram can be used to discharge the formed packaging sleeves in the open position of the forming station, ejecting the packaging sleeves upwards or downwards from the discharge device, in particular the holding unit.

[0032] The ejected packaging sleeves can then be processed in a processing station, in particular joined with a spout, and subsequently picked up by a holding element that is stationary and connected to the holding unit. This allows the discharge device to perform an additional function. The picked-up, processed packaging sleeves are also removed by the holding element of the discharge device. This can preferably be done without any additional movement of the holding element, but rather by utilizing the discharge device's inherent movement profile. It is simple and space-saving if the packaging sleeves are held at least substantially parallel to each other in the holding unit and the holding element.Alternatively or additionally, the packaging sleeves can be moved away from the forming station and, if necessary, away from the stack of flattened packaging sleeves using the holding element when the forming station is moved into the open position, and then dispensed. This allows the movement profile of the dispensing device to be kept simple.

[0033] In a first particularly preferred embodiment of the device, the feeding device includes a gripping unit for grasping flat-folded packaging sleeves and transferring them to the forming station. This enables simple and reliable transport of the packaging sleeves to the forming station. Alternatively or additionally, a stack of flat-folded packaging sleeves can be provided, so that the feeding device, in particular the gripping unit, can successively grasp packaging sleeves from the stack and remove them from the stack. For the sake of simplicity, the stack of packaging sleeves can be kept in a magazine, such as a filling machine.

[0034] In the case of a gripping unit, this unit can have a strut with a plurality of suction grippers extending along its length for gripping the packaging shells. The gripper is then designed to save space. The gripping unit, in particular the side of the strut opposite the suction grippers, can alternatively or additionally form a molding component of the molding station. When the molding station is closed, the corresponding molding surface of the strut can point towards the molded packaging shell and, if necessary, rest against it to form the packaging shells.

[0035] For easy and space-saving adjustment of the gripping unit, the gripping unit can be connected to a drive for transporting the flat-folded packaging sleeves to the forming station in a translational movement, at least partially superimposed, on the one hand, and a rotary and / or swiveling movement on the other. When moving the packaging sleeves to the forming station, they can also be simultaneously rotated and / or swiveled. This is particularly practical and space-saving when the gripping unit grasps the packaging sleeves in a stack and then removes them from the stack.

[0036] If a holding unit of the discharge device is provided for holding and discharging the formed packaging jackets, the formed packaging jackets can be easily and quickly removed from the forming station. This applies in particular if, in the closed position of the forming station, the holding unit engages on two sides opposite the packaging jacket in at least one recess of at least one molded part provided on each side. Alternatively or additionally, in the closed position of the forming station, the holding unit can engage on two sides opposite the packaging jacket in at least one gap between at least two molded parts provided on each side.When the mold components forming the recess and / or gap are moved outwards and away from the formed packaging shell during adjustment of the molding station from the closed to the open position, the formed packaging shell can expand slightly in this direction and thus come into contact with the holding unit, which has not yet moved outwards, or at least not completely. The holding unit then holds the packaging shell in place, if necessary, purely by friction. The holding unit can then also be moved outwards to remove the formed packaging shell.

[0037] The discharge device can be used even more effectively if a holding element is provided, permanently connected to the holding unit and adjustable along with the holding unit when the forming station is moved from the open to the closed position and back again, for receiving, holding, and dispensing processed packaging sleeves after they have been discharged from the holding unit. The holding unit is moved back and forth anyway to open and close the forming station. If, for example, the holding element receives processed, previously formed packaging sleeves at least substantially while the forming station is in the closed position, the holding element can dispense these packaging sleeves by moving the forming station to the open position.

[0038] The inventions disclosed herein are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely illustrates one embodiment. In the drawing shows Fig. 1A - Legs: Cut-out of a packaging material and a packaging jacket formed from the cut-out according to the prior art, each in top view; Fig. 2 - a packaging jacket formed from the packaging jacket according to Fig. 1B A prior art packing in a perspective view, Fig. 3 a device for producing the packing according to Fig. 2 from a packaging sleeve according to Fig. 1B from the prior art in a schematic representation, Fig. 4A-legs device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention when grasping a packaging jacket, Fig. 5 the device made of Fig. 4 when transferring the packaging jacket to a forming station, Fig. 6 the device made of Fig. 4 when holding and unfolding the packaging sleeve in the forming station, Fig. 7 the device made of Fig. 4 During the forming of the packaging jacket in the forming station, Fig. 8, the device is made of Fig. 4 during the removal of the shaped packaging jacket, Fig. 9, the device from Fig. 4 when picking up a machined, previously shaped packaging jacket in a holding element, Fig. 10, the device made of Fig. 4 when passing on the recorded, processed packaging shell, Fig. 11, an alternative device, for example, for producing the packaging according to Fig. 2 from a packaging sleeve according to Fig. 1B In a schematic representation, Fig. 12 shows a sequence of process steps using the device according to Fig. 11 , Fig. 13A-G Movement sequences within a walking mechanism of the device according to Fig. 11 in a schematic view and Fig. 14 another alternative device, for example for manufacturing the package according to Fig. 2 from a packaging sleeve according to Fig. 1B in a schematic representation.

[0039] In the Fig. 1A An exemplary cut 1 of a packaging material 2, as known from the prior art, is described. The packaging material 2 is designed as a laminate consisting of several superimposed layers of material. It is, in particular, a cardboard / plastic composite. The illustrated packaging material 2 has two outer layers made of a thermoplastic material, preferably polyethylene (PE), which allow the outer layers of the packaging material 2 to be sealed, i.e., welded together. A structural cardboard layer with a comparatively high flexural stiffness for the packaging material 2 is provided between these layers. In addition, at least one barrier layer can be provided, preferably made of aluminum, polyamide, and / or ethylene vinyl alcohol. Further layers are also conceivable.

[0040] The blank 1 serves to produce an exemplary packaging shell 3, which is formed by folding the outer and opposite longitudinal edges 4 of the blank 1 towards each other and joining them, in particular by sealing them together. The blank 1 has a series of fold lines 5, 6 along which it can be folded to form the desired packaging 7. The fold lines 5, 6, or optionally crease lines, simplify the folding process and also ensure reliable folding. Most of the fold lines 5, 6 are located at the upper edge 8 and the lower edge 9 of the blank 1, which are later folded to form the base and the top or gable of the packaging 7. In addition, the blank 1 has four essentially parallel fold lines 6 along which it is pre-folded before or after forming the packaging shell 3.Once the packaging material 2 has been folded over at the fold lines 5,6, further folding of the packaging material 2 at the same point will only encounter slight resistance, which is in any case significantly less than along previously unfolded fold lines 5,6.

[0041] In the Fig. 1B The packaging sleeve 3 is shown folded over each other after the longitudinal edges 4 of the blank 1 have been sealed. For optical reasons, the corresponding seal 10 is positioned near one of the fold lines 6 of the packaging sleeve 3. The packaging sleeve 3 has fold lines 6 along its longitudinal edges, around which the packaging sleeve 3 has been folded flat, so that the front section 11 and the rear section 12 of the packaging sleeve 3 lie on top of each other. The packaging sleeves 3 can be easily stored in this flat-folded state. Subsequent unfolding around the four pre-folded fold lines 6 is then still simple. A packaging sleeve 3 with a rectangular cross-section is then obtained.

[0042] The following can be done using the appropriate packaging sleeve 3, which is contained in the Fig. 2 The package 7 shown is obtained. In package 7, the four pre-folded fold lines 6 in the area of ​​the outer shell 13 of package 7 form the edges of package 7, just as the pre-folded fold lines 6 previously formed the edges of the outer shell 3. The longitudinal ends 14, 15 of the outer shell 3 have been folded and sealed to form the base 16 and the head 17 of package 7. At the head 17 of the package, so-called package ears 18 are formed, which are folded downwards and attached to the outer shell 13 of package 7 and sealed or glued there. At the base 16, the corresponding package ears are folded inwards and are therefore no longer recognizable as such after the base 16 has been formed. However, packages with shapes other than those shown are also possible. Fig. 2 It can be displayed as possible.

[0043] In the Fig. 3 A device 20 for filling packaging bodies 21, in particular with free-flowing foodstuffs, to form packages 7, i.e., a so-called filling machine, is shown, comprising a magazine 22 for holding a stack of packaging shells 3 and a device for forming packaging bodies 21 from the packaging shells 3, which are closed on one side and can thus receive, for example, a free-flowing foodstuff through the remaining opening. The illustrated and thus preferred device 20 has a series of parallel processing lines, of which in the Fig. 3 Only one processing line 23 is shown. Each processing line 23 is assigned a magazine 22 containing a stack 24 or a stack of 24 flat-folded packaging sleeves 3. The packaging sleeves 3 are formed, as described above, from blanks 1 of a packaging material 2, the longitudinal edges 4 of which are sealed together.

[0044] A feeding device 25 unfolds the packaging sleeves 3. The unfolding of the packaging sleeves 3 occurs by pulling away a future side surface of the corresponding packaging sleeve 3 from the stack 24 without any further intervention along the pre-folded fold lines 6, which form the edges of the packaging sleeve 3 and the future package 7. Alternatively, the packaging sleeves 3 can be transferred to a forming station (not shown), where they are unfolded and formed between two adjustable forming parts. If required, an application device for applying spouts (not shown) to the packaging sleeves 3 could also be provided.

[0045] A subsequent device 26 for closing the open-ended packaging shells 3 on one side has a mandrel wheel 27, which, in the illustrated and thus preferred case, comprises six mandrels 28 and rotates cyclically, i.e., stepwise, counterclockwise. Devices of the described type are also known in which the mandrel wheel has only four mandrels and / or four different mandrel wheel positions. The corresponding machining devices and machining steps can then be provided in a correspondingly compact form.

[0046] In the illustrated device 26, a packing sleeve 3 is pushed onto the mandrel 28 in the first mandrel position I. The mandrel 27 is then rotated to the next mandrel position II, in which the longitudinal end 15 of the packing sleeve 3 projecting from the mandrel 28 is heated with hot air via a heating unit 29. In the next mandrel position III, the heated longitudinal end 15 of the packing sleeve 3 is pre-folded by a press 30 and, in the subsequent mandrel position IV, is tightly closed in the folded position by a sealing device 31, in particular sealed to form a base 16. In this way, a packing body 21, closed on one side, is obtained, which is removed from the mandrel 28 in the subsequent mandrel position V and transferred to a cell 32 of a continuously circulating transport device 33. In the next mandrel position VI, no operation is assigned to the mandrel 28. The number of mandrel positions, orThorns 28 and the processing steps provided therein can be modified as required from the representation according to . Fig. 3 and the associated description. Furthermore, a spout can be connected to the packaging material in at least one additional mandrel position, if required. In this case, the longitudinal end of the packaging shell, closed on the mandrel, preferably forms the head of the final package. Whether the package body is filled through the head or the bottom is of secondary importance here.

[0047] The packaging body 21, taken from the mandrel wheel, is transported with its open longitudinal end pointing upwards in the associated cell 32, in particular a cell chain, through a filling machine 34. The packaging body then enters an aseptic chamber 35, which comprises a sterilization zone 36 and a filling and sealing zone 37. The packaging bodies 21 are transported through this chamber from left to right in the direction symbolized by the arrows. The transport of the packaging bodies 21 need not be in a straight line, but can also occur in at least one arc or even in a circle.

[0048] Sterile air is supplied to the aseptic chamber 35 via corresponding sterile air connections 38. The packaging bodies 21 are preheated one after the other by a preheating device 39 by blowing hot sterile air onto them. Subsequently, the packaging bodies 21 are sterilized by a sterilizing device 40, preferably using hydrogen peroxide, after which the packaging bodies 21 are dried by a drying device 41 by being exposed to sterile air and, after passing from the sterilization zone 36 to the filling and sealing zone 37, are moved to a filling position 42 below a filling outlet 43. There, the packaging bodies 21 are filled one after the other with foodstuffs 44. The filled packaging bodies 21 are then sealed by a sealing device 45 by folding the upper part of the packaging body 21 and sealing it. The filled and sealed packages 7 are then removed from the cells 32 of the transport device 33.The now empty cells 32 are moved further towards the mandrel wheel 27 by the transport device 33 in order to receive further packing bodies there.

[0049] In the Fig. 4A-B A device 50 for forming one-sided open packaging bodies from two-sided open packaging shells 51 for the production of filled packages is shown. Fig. 4A This represents a schematic sectional view along a vertical section plane according to section IVA-IVA in the Fig. 4B that, while the Fig. 4B a top view of the device 50 according to Fig. 4A The device 50 can be installed in a filling machine according to Fig. 3 be integrated. However, it is equally possible that the device 50 of the Fig. 4A-B It can be integrated into a different type of filling machine or, if required, used independently of a filling machine.

[0050] Device 50 shows a magazine 52 in which a stack 53 of packaging sleeves 51, folded flat along two edges 54, is held. For clarity, no packaging sleeve 51 is shown in the other parts of the device 50. In practice, however, this is especially true when starting up the device 50. Otherwise, it is more likely that several packaging sleeves 51 are provided at different locations in the illustrated device 50, so that a large number of packaging sleeves 51 can be unfolded and formed in rapid succession. The packaging sleeves 51 are open at both ends, closed only in the sleeve area. This can be the case, for example, because the packaging material blanks used to form the packaging sleeves 51 are joined together at opposite longitudinal ends, forming a longitudinal seam, in particular by welding.Other types of packaging 51 would also be conceivable.

[0051] The front packaging sleeve 51 of the stack 53 of flat-folded packaging sleeves 51 is grasped by a feeding device 55, which is designed to feed the packaging sleeves 51 to a forming station 56. The forming station 56 is shown in an open position and, in the illustrated and thus preferred embodiment, has four forming parts 57-60 which, in a closed position of the forming station 56, together form a mold 61 for forming the packaging sleeves 51 received in the mold 61. Each of the forming parts 57-60 provides at least one forming surface 62-65 of the mold 61. When the forming station 56 is closed, the forming surfaces 62-65 face inwards towards the formed packaging sleeve 51, which can, if necessary, conform to the forming surfaces 62-65 during the forming of the packaging sleeve 51. The mold 61, consisting of the four mold parts 57-60, can be completely closed all around in the closed position at the molding station 56.However, it is also conceivable that the shape 61 is only partially or section by section completely closed all the way around.

[0052] In the illustrated and thus preferred device 50, the molded parts 57-60 are formed by two lateral molded parts 57, 58 for receiving the packaging shells 51 from the feeding device 55, the feeding device 55 itself, and a discharge device 66 for removing the formed molded parts from the molding station 56. The feeding device 55 forms the molded part 59 located at the rear of the packaging shells 51 in the transport direction R, while the discharge device 66 forms the molded part 60 located at the front of the packaging shells 51 in the transport direction R. Further molded parts would also be conceivable if they could be used advantageously.

[0053] For the sake of clarity and to avoid unnecessary repetition, the term "forming station 56" is understood here, depending on the context, to refer either to the two lateral forming parts 57, 58 or to the lateral forming parts 57, 58 together with the forming part 59, 60 formed by the feeding device 55 and / or the discharge device 66. This is due to the fact that the feeding device 55 and the discharge device 66 do not belong to the forming station 56, at least in part and / or functionally, or only to a limited extent. The linguistic distinction is therefore not always straightforward, but is always recognizable to a person skilled in the art from the respective context. Explaining the distinction precisely in each individual case would be time-consuming and rather counterproductive to understanding, which is why it is omitted here.

[0054] The feeding device 55 has a gripping unit 67 with a strut 68, on one side of which several suction grippers 69 are provided for gripping packaging sleeves 51 in the stack 53 of packaging sleeves 51. The suction grippers 69 grip the packaging sleeves 51 on the side facing away from the stack 53 and towards the forming station 56. The side of the strut 68 facing away from the suction grippers 69 forms the forming part 59 of the gripping unit 67, the forming surface 64 of which faces towards the discharge device 66. The gripped packaging sleeve 51 is transported by the gripping unit 67 to the forming station 56. This occurs in a translational movement, at least partially superimposed, in the transport direction R of the packaging sleeves 51 on the one hand, and a pivoting movement about an axis A perpendicular to the transport direction R and parallel to the packaging sleeve 51 on the other. This superimposed movement of the grasped packaging sleeve 51 is in the Fig. 4B The arrows T and S illustrate translation and pivoting, respectively. The transport of the packaging sleeves 51 from the stack 53 to the forming station 56 is driven by a rack 70 of the feeding device 55, which meshes with a motor-driven gear 71. The pivoting of the gripping unit 67 together with the gripped packaging sleeve 51 can be accomplished by a further motor drive.

[0055] In the Fig. 5 Figure 67 illustrates how the packaging sleeve 51 can be transferred to the forming station 56. The gripping unit 67 holds the packaging sleeve 51 between the two lateral forming parts 57 and 58 of the forming station 56. The lateral forming parts 57 and 58 can then move towards each other and take hold of the packaging sleeve 51, allowing the gripping unit 67 to rotate back and, if necessary, be moved back slightly. In this way, the forming part 59, provided by the feeding device 55, is aligned for forming the packaging sleeve 51. To hold the flattened packaging sleeve 51, the lateral forming parts 57 and 58 have grooves 72 into which the folded edges 54 of the packaging sleeve 51 can engage. In this context, it may also be provided that the side molded parts 57-60 are closed to such an extent during the transfer of the packaging jackets 51 that the gripping unit 67 presses the packaging jackets 51 with the folding edges 54 into the grooves 72 of the side molded parts 54.However, the rotation of the gripping unit 67 should then be completed in time so that the gripping unit 67 can press the packing jackets 51 at least substantially translationally into the grooves 72 of the lateral molded parts 57,58.

[0056] In the Fig. 6 The packaging sleeve 51 is held by the lateral forming parts 57, 58, which have moved further together to unfold the packaging sleeve 51. The lateral forming parts 57, 58 press the opposing fold edges 54, around which the packaging sleeve 51 is folded flat, against each other. This causes the packaging sleeve 51 to unfold. The forming part 59 provided by the feeding device 55 is already in position to form the unfolded packaging sleeve 51. However, this does not apply to the forming part 60 provided by the discharge device 66. This can only be moved into position once the packaging sleeve 51 has unfolded and, if necessary, at least partially formed. Otherwise, a holding unit 73 of the discharge device 66 would unintentionally collide with the packaging sleeve 51.

[0057] In the Fig. 7 The forming station 56 is shown in the closed position. The four forming parts 57-60 form a common mold 61 for forming the packaging shell 51 within it. The formed packaging shell 51 comes into contact with at least one forming surface 62-65 of each forming part 57-60. The forming parts 57-60 thus form a mold 61 that is at least substantially closed. In the illustrated and thus preferred method, the forming part 59 of the gripping unit 67 is in contact with the formed packaging shell 51 on the side facing the stack 53, while the lateral forming parts 57, 58 are in contact with the formed packaging shell 51 on opposite sides. The molded part 60 formed by the holding unit 73 is positioned both section by section against the lateral sections of the packaging jacket 51 opposite the transport direction R and against the side of the formed packaging jacket 51 facing the stack 53 in the transport direction R.

[0058] The forming parts 57-60 are then moved apart, as indicated by the arrows, to move the forming station 56 from the closed position to the open position. During this movement, the side forming parts 57, 58 move outwards transversely to the transport direction R of the packaging sleeves 51, while the forming part 59 formed by the gripping unit 67 moves backwards against the transport direction R, and the forming part 60 formed by the holding unit 73 moves forwards in the transport direction R. The holding unit 73 is adjusted by providing a rack 74 with which a motor-driven gear 75 meshes. The drive mechanism for the two side forming parts 57, 58 is not shown but can be implemented analogously. However, the drives 57, 58 for the forming parts can also be designed differently than shown.

[0059] When the forming station 56 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the side forming parts 57, 58 are moved at least slightly before the holding unit 73. As the side forming parts 57, 58 move to the side, the formed packaging shell 51 yields slightly and consequently presses against the sections 76 of the holding unit 73, which partially encompass the formed packaging shell 51 from opposite sides. When the side forming parts 57, 58 are out of contact with the formed packaging shell 51, the holding unit 73 can also be moved outwards. The formed packaging shell 51 remains held in the holding unit 73 and is moved with the holding unit 73 in the transport direction R.Meanwhile, the gripping unit 67 is moved back to the stack 53 of packaging jackets 51 in order to grip the foremost packaging jacket 51 on the side facing the forming station 56 and transport it as the next packaging jacket 51 to forming station 56.

[0060] Forming station 56 is now back in the open position, which was in the Fig. 8 The cycle described above begins again. The packaging shell 51 that has just been formed is still held by the holding unit 73 of the discharge device 66. Before the next packaging shell 51 can be formed, the already formed packaging shell 51 must be discharged via the discharge device 66. In the illustrated and thus preferred device 50, the formed packaging shell 51 is ejected upwards by a punch 82.

[0061] This is in the Fig. 9 in a sectional view of a detail of the device 50 from Fig. 8 shown along the section plane IX-IX. In the position of the Fig. 9 The forming station 56 is still in the closed position. On the side of the discharge device 66 facing away from the forming station 56, a holding element 77 is provided, which is fixedly connected to the holding unit 73 relative to it. With the forming station 56 at least substantially closed, the holding element 77 receives a packing sleeve 51 from above, which has been previously formed and then provided with a spout 79 in a processing station 78 located above the holding element 77. For this purpose, the holding element 77 has holding fingers 80 that laterally encompass the packing sleeve 51 and hold it securely. The packing sleeves 51 in the holding unit 73 and the holding element 77 are held parallel to each other. When the forming station 56 is now moved into the open position, the discharge device 66 with the holding unit 73 and the holding element 77 moves forward in the direction of transport R or R.to the right, as illustrated by the arrow.

[0062] Thus, the device 50 is brought into the position according to Fig. 10 In this position, the packing sleeve 51, held in the holding element 77, is transferred from the holding element 77, as indicated by the corresponding arrow. Simultaneously, the packing sleeve 51, which was just formed, is positioned below the processing station 78 and from there transferred upwards to the processing station 78, as indicated by the corresponding arrow. A spout 79 is also fed to the processing station 78, as indicated by the corresponding arrow. The packing sleeve 51 is then connected to the spout 79 in the processing station 78 in a manner not shown. The packing sleeve 51 is then processed as described above. Fig. 9 described, together with the attached spout 79, delivered to the holding element 77 of the discharge device 66.

[0063] Especially in the Fig. 10 It is also shown that the side molded parts 57, 58 have recesses 81 into which sections 76 of the holding unit 73, which laterally encompass the formed packaging shell 51 on opposite sides, can engage. These recesses 81 allow the holding unit 73 to be moved towards the packaging shell 51 held between the side molded parts 57, 58 only when the side molded parts 57, 58 have already been moved towards each other to their inner end position, or at least substantially to their inner end position. The holding unit 73 neither unintentionally collides with the unfolded or only partially unfolded packaging shell 51 between the side molded parts 57, 58, nor do the side molded parts 57, 58 and the holding unit 73 obstruct each other when the molding station 56 is moved to the closed position and back to the open position.Rather, the holding unit 73 engages laterally in the recesses 81 of the molded parts 57, 58 and is then withdrawn from them. The lateral molded parts 57, 58 can ultimately be moved inwards in front of the holding unit 73 and outwards in front of the holding unit 73 without the holding unit 73 and the lateral molded parts 57, 58 obstructing each other.

[0064] Instead of recesses 81 in the lateral molded parts 57, 58, which correspond at least substantially to the sections 76 of the holding unit 73 and laterally encompass the formed packaging shells 51, several lateral molded parts 57, 58 could also be provided on one or both sides. If these lateral molded parts 57, 58 are spaced apart from each other by a gap, the sections 76 of the holding unit 73, which laterally encompass the formed packaging shells 51, can engage in these gaps, just as they engage in the recesses 81 of the lateral molded parts 57, 58 in the closed position of the illustrated device 50 at the forming station 56. However, this is somewhat more complex in terms of equipment and therefore generally less preferred.

[0065] The device 50 for forming packaging shells 51 for the production of filled packages 7, as previously described, cannot be used solely with the previously known filling machine from the Fig. 3 can be combined, but also with filling machines of a different type. For example, the device 50 can be integrated into a filling machine with a walking unit 83 in a sterile air chamber 92, as exemplified in the Fig. 11 is shown schematically.

[0066] The device 50 for forming packaging sleeves 51 for the production of filled packages 7 comprises a magazine 52 in which a stack 53 of flat-folded packaging sleeves 51 is held. The front packaging sleeve 51 of the stack 53 is grasped by a feeding device 55 and fed to a forming station 56 with a mold 61. The unfolded packaging sleeve 51 in the mold 61 is removed by a discharge device 66 and pushed upwards by a punch 82 into a processing station 78, where the packaging sleeve 51 is provided with a spout 79. The packaging sleeve 51 is then released downwards again to a holding element 77, which transfers the packaging sleeve 51 together with the spout 79 to a walking unit 83.

[0067] The packaging jacket 51 is then transported horizontally through a sterilization unit 84 by the walking unit 83. In the illustrated embodiment, this unit has three stations: a station 85 for preheating the packaging jackets 51, which are still open at the bottom; a station 86 for sterilization by injection of a sterilizing agent; and a station 87 for drying the sterilized packaging jackets 51, whereby the sterilizing agent is reliably removed from the sterilized surfaces of the packaging jacket 51. In the next step, the bottom is formed in a bottom forming unit 88, in which the bottom surfaces at the lower end of the packaging jacket 51 are welded together to form a transverse seam.

[0068] The protruding tabs are then, as described above, attached to the bottom of the package from below. This creates an open-topped package body, which is transported to a filling unit 89, where the package body is actually filled with the desired product. After filling, it is transported to a gable-forming unit 90, where the upper part of the package body is closed by forming a transverse seam, and the resulting side flaps are attached to the sides of the package. The resulting package 7 is then transported further and discharged from the device in area 91, and is now ready for sale.

[0069] The individual stations are surrounded by a sterile air chamber 92 to ensure aseptic filling. The sterilization unit 84, bottom forming unit 88, filling unit 89, and gable forming unit 90 constitute the aseptic area of ​​the device, as shown in Fig. 12 The transport of the packaging shells 51, packaging bodies, and fully filled packages 7 is carried out by means of a walking mechanism 83, which has at least two transport racks 93, 95 arranged parallel in a horizontal plane, each with a plurality of facing tines, wherein the two opposing transport racks 93, 95 can be moved towards and away from each other or back and forth in the transport direction to clamp or release the open packaging shells, bottom-sealed packaging bodies, and finished packages, as indicated by the arrows at the right end of the transport racks 93, 95.

[0070] The function of the walking mechanism 83 and in particular the movement sequences of the transport rakes are described in the Fig. 13A bis 13G schematically represented. For the sake of simplicity, no distinction is made between the respective status of the transported products (packaging outer layer, packaging body and packaging), but only a single package 7 is shown to describe the function of the walking mechanism used.

[0071] As already explained, the walking mechanism 83 has two transport racks 93 and 94 arranged parallel to each other in an upper horizontal plane, each equipped with a corresponding number of mutually oriented tines. The spacing of the tines corresponds to the width of the packing 7 to be clamped. Below these two transport racks 93 and 94, in a common plane, are two further transport racks 95 and 96, which, as described in Fig. 13A shown, are moving towards each other and hold the shown package 7 in the lower area by means of a clamping effect.

[0072] In a first movement, the two upper transport racks 93 and 94 move towards each other, as shown by the two arrows in Fig. 13B shown, until they too clamp the package 7 in place. Then the two lower transport racks 95 and 96 move, as shown. Fig. 13C The arrows indicate the separation, so that the lower transport rack releases the package 7. Now, the two upper transport racks 93 and 94 move relative to the two lower transport racks 95 and 96, with the package 7 moving in the direction of the Fig. 13D The package is transported horizontally to the next position as indicated by the arrows. In this position, the two lower transport racks 95 and 96 also move towards each other again and "take over" the clamping of the package 7 in this position, as shown in Fig. 13E as shown by the arrows. In the next step, the upper transport racks 93 and 94 move apart again, as shown in Fig. 13F as shown by the arrows, so that these two transport racks 93 and 94 are sufficiently far away from the package 7 and in a final step, as in Fig. 13G shown, this time in a direction opposite to the direction of transport, they can return to their original position, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13G is hinted at.

[0073] A comparison of Fig. 13G with Fig. 13A This shows that the two transport computation pairs 93, 94 and 95, 96 have returned to their initial state (cf. Fig. 13A ) while the package 7 has been transported one position further. It quickly becomes clear that the walking mechanism 83 shown provides a timed transport in the horizontal direction. This allows for precise alignment of the packages 7 with the treatment units distributed within the device in the direction of transport. The overview of Fig. 11 and the Fig. 13A bis 13G This quickly makes it clear that the transport racks 93, 94 and 95, 96 used for transport move continuously inside the sterile air chamber 92 and do not, as in filling machines with rotating transport devices, have to be moved out of the sterile air chamber 92 and then, after a corresponding rotation, back into the sterile air chamber 92. This is a significant advantage with regard to the size of the device according to the invention, with the already described advantages of reducing the moving masses and, in particular, avoiding contamination of the interior of the device or its costly cleaning.

[0074] In Fig. 14 Another embodiment of a filling machine is shown schematically in a side view. Unlike the one in the Fig. 11 The device shown proceeds as follows in the device of the Fig. 14 The depicted walking mechanism 83 operates on different planes and essentially consists of three sections. The filling machine can be configured with several parallel tracks, each featuring identical walking mechanisms 83.

[0075] The already in Fig. 11 The illustrated assemblies and components are also identified here with the same reference numerals. The packing jackets 51 used here differ from those used in the device of Fig. 11 The device used differs in that, instead of two (later) packing edges also forming the folding ends of the packing sleeve 51, the packing sleeve 51 used here was folded over so-called false crease lines in the middle of its longitudinal sides. For the sake of clarity, however, the same reference symbol is used for both the packing sleeves 51 and the walking mechanisms 83.

[0076] At one end of the filling machine, a device 50 for forming packaging sleeves 51 for the production of filled packages 7 is provided, which has a magazine 52 with a stack 53 of flat-folded packaging sleeves 51. The front packaging sleeve 51 of the stack 53 is gripped by a feeding device 55 and fed to a forming station 56 with a mold 61. The unfolded packaging sleeve 51 in the mold 61 is removed by a discharge device 66 and pushed upwards by a punch 82 into a processing station 78, where the packaging sleeve 51 is fitted with a spout 79. The packaging sleeve 51 is then discharged downwards again to a holding element 77, which transfers the packaging sleeve 51 together with the spout 79 to a walking unit 83. In the next position, an optical sensor 97 checks the packaging jacket 51 equipped with the spout 79 in order to detect possible defects.

[0077] In the following position, the packaging sleeve 51 is transported to a transfer station 98 by means of a slide (only indicated) via guide elements (not shown) into the level below of the walking unit 83, and is simultaneously returned to its rectangular cross-section shape. From there, transport begins intermittently to the right in the direction of the arrow shown in the center of the walking unit 83. The packaging sleeves 51, which are still open at the bottom, first pass a mechanical sensor 99, which checks the correct orientation and position of the now fully unfolded packaging sleeves 10' within the walking unit's guide rails. If discrepancies are detected by the optical sensor 99 or the mechanical sensor 99, a subsequent removal or...At the reject station 100, either an automatic downward rejection occurs, as shown by the dashed line, or the incorrect packaging sleeve 51 can be manually removed upwards from the walking unit 83. While the automatic rejection takes place during operation of the device, a misalignment of a packaging sleeve 51 leads to an immediate standstill of the device in order to manually remove the misaligned packaging sleeve from its position without jeopardizing the further production process. For this purpose, (only indicated) viewing windows and openings are provided in the housing of the device.

[0078] This is followed by a pre-folding station 101, in which both the top and bottom of the packaging sleeves 51 are pre-folded to break up the fibers of the fold lines in the top and bottom areas of the packaging sleeves 51 and to simplify subsequent folding before sealing. The packaging sleeves 51 are then sterilized in the sterilization unit 84. Afterwards, the bottom seam sealing and ear sealing of the packaging sleeves 51 take place in the bottom forming unit 88, whereby the ears are sealed from below onto the slightly domed, concave packaging base, creating a closed-bottom packaging body. This body is then lifted slightly upwards by a further lifting unit 102 to the level of the filling unit 89.After filling, which in the illustrated and therefore preferred embodiment takes place in two steps, the now filled packaging body passes through the gable forming station 90. First, the gable seam sealing is carried out in station 103, and then, in station 104, the final gable forming, the attachment of the tabs, and sealing of the side surfaces of the now finished packaging 7 take place. At the end of the walking unit 83, the fully filled and sealed packaging 7 is discharged downwards from the device.

[0079] Should errors be detected during filling or gable formation, such a defective package 7 can be automatically rejected via a swivel flap in the base, whereby the defective package 7 can be removed via a conveyor belt. ImNormally, the finished package 7 is moved to the right onto a transport carousel by means of an unspecified slide, from where the finished packages 7 leave the palletizing or packaging device. Below the walking mechanism 83, the drive units 105 necessary for the movements of the walking mechanism 83 can be seen; all of these are located below the sterile air chamber 92. Reference symbol list

[0080] 1 Cut 2 Packaging material 3 Packaging jacket 4 Longitudinal edges 5, 6 Fold lines 7 Package 8, 9 Edge 10 Seal seam 11 Section 12 Section 13 Jacket 14, 15 Longitudinal ends 16 Bottom 17 Head 18 Package ears 20 Device 21 Package body 22 Magazine 23 Processing line 24 Stack 25 Feeding device 26 Device 27 Mandrel 28 Mandrel 29 Heating unit 30 Press 31 Sealing device 32 Cell 33 Transport device 34 Filling machine 35 Aseptic chamber 36 Sterilization zone 37 Filling and sealing zone 38 Sterile air connections 39 Preheating device 40 Sterilizing device 41 Drying device 42 Filling position 43 Filling outlet 44 Food 45Closing device 50Device 51Packaging sleeve 52Magazine 53Stack 54Folding edges 55Feeding device 56Forming station 57-60Forming part 61Form 62-65Forming surface 66Discharge device 67Gripping unit 68Strut 69Suction gripper 70Rack 71Gear 72Groove 73Holding unit 74Rack 75Gear 76Section 77Holding element 78Processing station 79Spout 80Holding finger 81Recesses 82Punch 83Walking unit84 Sterilization unit 85-87 Station 88 Base forming unit 89 Filling unit 90 Gable forming unit 91 Area 92 Sterile air chamber 93-94 Transport rake 95-96 Transport rake 97 Sensor 98 Transfer station 99 Sensor 100 Discharge station 101 Pre-folding station 102 Lifting unit 103 Station 104 Station 105 Drive unit RTransport direction A-axis TTranslation S-swivel

Claims

1. A method for forming package sleeves (51) for the production of filled packages, - in which package sleeves (51) folded flat along at least two fold lines (54) extending in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves (51) are transferred from a feeding device (55) to a forming station (56) comprising at least three forming parts (57-60), - in which the transferred package sleeves (51) are held between at least two forming parts (57, 58) in an open position of the forming station (56), - in which the package sleeves (51) held between the at least two forming parts (57, 58) are unfolded and formed by moving the at least three forming parts (57-60) into a closed position of the forming station (56), - in which the unfolded and formed package sleeves (51) are successively removed from the forming station (56) by a removal device (66), and - in which the feeding device (55) and / or the removal device (66) forms a forming part (59, 60) of the forming station (56) for forming the package sleeves (51).

2. A method according to claim 1, - in which the flat-folded package sleeves (51) are gripped by a gripping unit (67) of the feeding device (55) and transferred from the gripping unit (67) to the forming station (56) and / or - in which the flat-folded package sleeves (51) are held in a stack (53) of flat-folded package sleeves (51) and are sequentially gripped by the feeding device (55) and removed from the stack (53).

3. A method according to claim 2, - in which the gripping unit (67) forms a forming part of the forming station (56) for forming the package sleeves (51) and - in which, preferably, a side facing away from the package sleeve (51) gripped by the gripping unit (67) forms the side of the forming part (59) that faces the formed package sleeve (51) in the forming station (56) when the forming station (56) is in the closed position.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, - in which the package sleeves (51) are gripped by the gripping unit (67) from a side facing away from the stack (53) and / or facing the forming station (56), and / or - in which the gripping unit (67) with the gripped package sleeve (51) is moved, at least partially and / or in sections, in a translational manner from the stack (53) to the forming station (56) for the transfer of the package sleeve (51) to the forming station (56), and / or - in which the gripping unit (67) is rotated and / or pivoted, at least partially and / or in sections, with the gripped package sleeve (51) to transfer the package sleeve (51) to the forming station (56), and / or - in which the package sleeves (51) are transferred to the forming station (56) in an orientation rotated by at least substantially 180° relative to the orientation of the package sleeves (51) in the stack (53).

5. A method according to claim 4, - in which the package sleeves (51) are rotated and / or pivoted by the gripping unit (67) about an axis (A) at least substantially perpendicular to the direction of translational transport (R) of the package sleeves (51) and / or - in which the package sleeves (51) are rotated and / or pivoted by the gripping unit (67) about an axis (A) at least substantially parallel to the package sleeves (51), in particular to a central axis of the package sleeves (51), and / or - in which the package sleeves (51) are transported by the gripping unit (67) at least in sections in an overlapping manner, on the one hand translationally and, on the other hand, rotated and / or pivoted before being transferred to the forming station (56),6. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, - in which the gripping unit (67) uses a plurality of suction grippers (69) distributed along the length of a strut (68) to grip the package sleeves (51) and / or - in which the gripping unit (67) uses a strut (68) with a side of the forming part (59) that extends along the longitudinal direction of the strut (68) and, in the closed forming station (56), faces toward the package sleeve (51) formed in the forming station (56), for forming the package sleeves (51).

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, - in which the formed package sleeves (51) are held by a holding unit (73) of the removal device (66), which holds the formed package sleeves (51) from at least two opposite sides of the package sleeves (51), and are removed from the forming station (56), and - in which, preferably, the package sleeves (51), when the forming station (56) is moved from the closed position to the open position, are brought into frictional engagement with the holding unit (73) by the restoring forces of the package sleeves (51) themselves and / or the holding unit (73) at least in sections forms the side of the forming part (60) that, in the closed position of the forming station (56), faces the package sleeve (51) in the forming station (56).

8. Method according to claim 7, - in which, in the closed position of the forming station (56), the holding unit (73) engages, on two sides of the package sleeve (51) in the forming station (56) opposite one another, in at least one recess (81) of a respective forming part (57, 58) provided on the respective side, and / or - in which the holding unit (73), in the closed position of the forming station (56), engages on two sides opposite the package sleeve (51) in the closed forming station (56) in at least one gap between at least two forming parts (57, 58) provided on the respective side.

9. A method according to claim 8, - in which the at least two forming parts (57, 58) on the sides opposite the flat-folded package sleeves (51) are moved, at least in sections, relative to the holding unit (73) engaging in the at least one recess (81) and / or the at least one gap, into the closed position of the forming station (56) and / or - in which the at least two forming parts (57, 58) on the sides opposite the flat-folded package sleeves (51) are moved, at least in sections, relative to the holding unit (73) engaging in the at least one recess (81) and / or the at least one gap, into the open position of the forming station (56).

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, - in which the removal device (66), in particular the holding unit (73), is moved with the formed package sleeve (51) during the adjustment of the forming station (56) to the open position, preferably exclusively, translationally away from the position of the removal device (66), in particular the holding unit (73), in the closed position of the forming station (56) and / or, preferably exclusively, translationally away from the stack (53) of flat-folded package sleeves (51), and / or - in which the formed package sleeve (51) in the open position of the forming station (56) is ejected upward or downward from the removal device (66), in particular the holding unit (73), by a punch (82).

11. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, - in which the ejected package sleeves (51) are processed in a processing station (78), in particular connected to a spout (79), and - in which the processed package sleeves (51) are taken over by a holding element (77) fixedly connected to the holding unit (73) and - in which, preferably, the package sleeves (51) are held in the holding unit (73) and the holding element (77) at least substantially parallel to one another and / or the package sleeves (51) are moved away from the forming station (56) by the holding element (77) when the forming station (56) is moved to the open position and, if necessary, away from the stack (53) of flat-folded package sleeves (51) and discharged.

12. Device for forming package sleeves (51) for the production of filled packages, preferably according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a forming station (56) for unfolding and forming flat-folded package sleeves (51), a feeding device (55) for feeding flat-folded package sleeves (51) to the forming station (56), and a removal device (66) for removing the unfolded and formed package sleeves (51) from the forming station (56), wherein the forming station (56) comprises at least three forming parts (57-60), wherein the forming parts (57-60) are provided to be movable from an open position of the forming station (56) for transferring flat-folded package sleeves (51) to the forming station (56) to a closed position of the forming station (56) for unfolding and forming the package sleeves (51) and back, characterized in that the feeding device (55) and / or the removal device (66) forms a forming part (59, 60) of the forming station (56) for forming the package sleeves (51).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the feeding device (55) comprises a gripping unit (67) for gripping flat-folded package sleeves (51) and for transferring the flat-folded package sleeves (51) to the forming station (56), and / or that a stack (53) of flat-folded package sleeves (51) is provided for sequential gripping by the feeding device (55), in particular the gripping unit (67).

14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the gripping unit (67) comprises a strut (68) with a plurality of suction grippers (69) extending along the longitudinal axis of the strut (68) for gripping the package sleeves (51), and / or the gripping unit (67), in particular the side of the strut (68) opposite the suction grippers (69), in the closed position of the forming station (56), forms a forming part (59) of the forming station (56) that, in particular lies against, the formed package sleeve (51) and / or that the gripping unit (67) is connected to a drive for transporting the flat-folded package sleeves (51) to the forming station (56) with a movement that is at least partially an overlapping translational movement on the one hand, and a rotational and / or pivoting movement on the other hand.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a holding unit (73) of the removal device (66) is provided for holding and removing the formed package sleeves (51), and that, in the closed position of the forming station (56), the holding unit (73) engages, on two sides of the package sleeve (51) that are opposite each other, in at least one recess (81) of a forming part (57, 58) provided on each respective side and / or engages in at least one gap between at least two forming parts (57, 58) provided on each respective side, and that, preferably, a holding element (77), which is fixedly connected to the holding unit (73) and can be moved together with the holding unit (73) when the forming station (56) is moved from the open position to the closed position and back, is provided for receiving, holding, and releasing package sleeves (51) that have been processed after being removed from the holding unit (73).

Images