Horizontal shaping device, packaging machine having such a horizontal shaping device, and support unit for such a horizontal shaping device

Abstract

The invention relates to a horizontal shaping device, in particular for horizontal tubular-bag machines, comprising at least one, in particular roller-free, shaping unit (12), in particular a shaping shoulder, and comprising at least one support unit (14) which, together, are designed to shape a packaging-material web (16), in particular a paper web, to form a packaging-material tube (18), wherein the support unit (14) comprises at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element (20, 22), which is arranged on a side of the support unit (14) facing the shaping unit (12) and is designed to delimit, together with a shaping tunnel (24) of the shaping unit (24), at least one guide gap (26, 28) between the shaping unit (12) and the support unit (14), through which gap the packaging-material web (16) can be guided in order to shape the packaging-material tube (18). According to the invention, the support unit (14) comprises at least one lower support element (30, 32), which is arranged on a side of the support unit (14) facing away from the shaping unit (12) and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the upper support element (20, 22) and / or relative to the shaping unit (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Horizontal forming device, packaging machine with such a horizontal forming device and support unit for such a horizontal forming device

[0003] State of the art

[0004] The invention relates to a horizontal forming device, in particular for horizontal tubular bag machines, with at least one forming unit, in particular a forming shoulder, and with at least one support unit, which are jointly provided for forming a packaging material web into a packaging material tube, wherein the support unit comprises at least one upper support element which is arranged on a side of the support unit facing the forming unit and which is provided, together with a forming tunnel of the forming unit, to delimit at least one guide gap between the forming unit and the support unit, through which guide gap the packaging material web can be guided to form the packaging material tube.

[0005] Such horizontal forming devices are already known, for example, from DE 10 2019 132 878 A1 or from DE 10 2020 134 431 A1. In the already known horizontal forming devices, the support unit must be replaced almost completely when the format of the products to be packaged changes, in particular since the support unit only comprises the upper support element, which is formed integrally with a lower support element of the support unit and / or which is replaceably fixed in a fixed position on a support and / or cover plate of the already known horizontal forming devices. Replacing the support unit can result in a long machine downtime of a packaging machine comprising the already known horizontal forming devices, which can result in low productivity of the packaging machine. In addition, replacing the support unit to adapt the format can be very time-consuming for an operator.

[0006] The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a generic horizontal forming device, a generic packaging machine, and / or a generic support unit with improved properties regarding high productivity and / or user-friendly format adjustment. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, claim 9, and claim 10, respectively, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The invention is based on a horizontal forming device, in particular for horizontal tubular bag machines, with at least one, in particular roller-free, forming unit, in particular a forming shoulder, and with at least one support unit, which are jointly provided for forming a packaging material web, in particular a paper web, into a packaging material tube, wherein the support unit comprises at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element, which is arranged on a side of the support unit facing the forming unit and which is provided, together with a forming tunnel of the forming unit, to delimit at least one guide gap between the forming unit and the support unit, through which guide gap the packaging material web can be guided to form the packaging material tube.

[0009] It is proposed that the support unit comprise at least one lower support element which is arranged on a side of the support unit facing away from the forming unit and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the upper support element and / or relative to the forming unit. By means of the design of the horizontal forming device according to the invention, a simple format adaptation of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged can be advantageously enabled, wherein a reliable formation of a packaging material tube for the different formats of products to be packaged can advantageously be enabled. A precise forming of a packaging material web into a packaging material tube can advantageously be enabled. A format adaptation of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged can advantageously be enabled with just a few manual actions by an operator.Downtime of the horizontal forming device caused by format adjustment can advantageously be kept to a minimum. This advantageously enables high productivity of the horizontal forming device and / or a packaging machine comprising the horizontal forming device. Packaging material webs made of sensitive, particularly tear-prone and / or very thin materials, especially paper, can advantageously be formed into packaging material tubes. This advantageously allows precise guidance of the packaging material web during the forming of the packaging material tube.

[0010] The lower support element is preferably formed separately from the upper support element. The lower support element is preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to the molding unit, independently of the upper support element. A longitudinal axis of the upper support element preferably runs at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lower support element, in particular at least substantially parallel to a main plane of extension of a support and / or cover plate of the horizontal molding device. “Substantially parallel” is to be understood in particular as an orientation of a direction relative to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein the direction has a deviation from the reference direction of in particular less than 8°, advantageously less than 5°, and particularly advantageously less than 2°. The lower support element is preferably mounted so as to be movable on the support and / or cover plate.Preferably, the lower support element is movably mounted relative to the upper support element, relative to the mold unit, and / or relative to the support and / or cover plate. However, it is also conceivable for the lower support element to be movably mounted on the mold unit, in particular relative to the upper support element and relative to the mold unit, as well as relative to the support and / or cover plate. The upper support element and the lower support element can be arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another with respect to a horizontal plane. However, it is also conceivable for the upper support element and the lower support element to be arranged asymmetrically to one another with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0011] The support unit preferably comprises a plurality of upper support elements, in particular two upper support elements, which are arranged, in particular, on the side of the support unit facing the molding unit. The upper support elements are preferably movable relative to one another, in particular in addition to a possibility of movement relative to lower support elements of the support unit. The upper support elements are preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, relative to the lower support elements and / or relative to the molding unit, in particular by means of at least one compensating unit of the horizontal molding device. The support unit preferably comprises a plurality of lower support elements, in particular two lower support elements, which are arranged, in particular, on the side of the support unit facing away from the molding unit.Preferably, the lower support elements are movable relative to one another, in particular in addition to being movable relative to the upper support elements of the support unit. The lower support elements are preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, relative to the upper support elements, and / or relative to the molding unit, in particular by means of at least one bearing unit of the horizontal molding device.

[0012] The horizontal forming device preferably comprises at least the compensating unit, which is provided for movably mounting the forming unit and / or at least the upper support element, in particular all upper support elements of the support unit, such that the forming unit and the upper support element(s) are movable relative to one another at least during forming of the packaging material tube, in particular to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube. “Provided” should be understood in particular to mean specially set up, specially programmed, specially designed and / or specially equipped. The fact that an object is provided for a specific function should be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and / or executes this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state.It is conceivable that only the forming unit is movably mounted by means of the compensating unit, that only the upper support element(s) is / are movably mounted by means of the compensating unit, or that the forming unit and the upper support element(s) are movably mounted by means of the compensating unit in order to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube. The compensating unit is preferably provided in addition to a gap adjustment unit, by means of which a gap thickness of the guide gap can be adjusted. However, it is also conceivable that an adjustment function for adjusting a gap thickness of the guide gap is integrated into the compensating unit.The compensation unit is preferably provided to movably mount the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) in such a way that the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) are movable relative to one another during ongoing operation of a packaging machine comprising the horizontal forming device, in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine. The compensation unit is preferably provided to movably mount the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) in such a way that the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) are movable relative to one another as the packaging material web passes through the guide gap, in particular when a maximum thickness of the packaging material web varies, for example by a connecting element arranged on the packaging material web, in particular splicing adhesive tape, by an at least temporarily double-layered packaging material web or the like., after a change of the packaging material web or the like, while the packaging material web passes through the guide gap. The forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) can be actively moved by means of the compensating unit or the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) can be movably mounted by means of the compensating unit in such a way that the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) are passively moved relative to one another as the packaging material web passes through the guide gap, in particular when a maximum thickness of the packaging material web varies, for example as a result of a connecting element arranged on the packaging material web, in particular splicing adhesive tape or the like, after a change of the packaging material web or the like.The forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) preferably perform an evasive movement, in particular when a maximum thickness of the packaging material web varies. The compensating unit can be provided to movably mount the entire forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) or can be provided to movably mount only individual elements of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) in order to enable a compensating movement during forming of the packaging material tube. Other possibilities for moving the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) by means of the compensating unit to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube are also conceivable.The compensation unit can be designed in such a way that a maximum compensation movement distance can be realized that is stepless or adjustable in steps, in particular by a maximum compensation movement distance of the mold unit relative to the upper support element(s) being stepless or adjustable in steps, by a maximum compensation movement distance of the upper support element(s) being stepless or adjustable in steps relative to the mold unit, or by a maximum compensation movement distance of the mold unit and the upper support element(s) being stepless or adjustable in steps relative to one another.

[0013] The compensating unit is preferably provided to movably support at least one mold element of the mold unit and / or at least the upper support element(s) by means of at least one spring-loaded compensating element of the compensating unit. Preferably, the spring-loaded compensating element is arranged with at least one side on the mold element or the upper support element(s), in particular fixed thereto. However, it is also conceivable for the spring-loaded compensating element to be formed integrally with the mold element or one of the upper support elements.“One-piece” should be understood in particular to mean at least materially connected, for example by a welding process, an adhesive process, an injection molding process and / or another process that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art, and / or advantageously formed in one piece, such as by production from a single casting and / or by production using a single-component or multi-component injection molding process and advantageously from a single blank. The support unit preferably comprises the two upper support elements, which are each movably mounted by means of at least one spring-loaded compensating element of the compensating unit. The upper support elements are preferably mirror-symmetrical to one another and / or arranged on the molding unit, in particular with respect to a vertical plane.The forming unit preferably comprises at least two forming elements that are mirror-symmetrical to one another, particularly with respect to the vertical plane. It is conceivable that the forming elements of the forming unit, particularly alternatively or in addition to the upper support elements, are each movably mounted by means of at least one spring-loaded compensating element of the compensating unit. However, it is also conceivable that the forming elements are fixed in place, particularly during the forming of the packaging material tube, and that the upper support elements are movably mounted on one of the two forming elements via the spring-loaded compensating elements.The compensating element can be spring-loaded by means of a helical spring, an elastomer, a gas spring, an oil pressure spring, a spring steel, or another element suitable for generating a preload that would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the compensating unit comprises at least one preload element, in particular a spring element, that generates a preload force acting counter to a compensating movement of the mold unit and / or the upper support element(s). The preload element can be designed as a helical tension spring, a helical compression spring, a disc spring, an elastomer, a gas spring, an oil pressure spring, a spring steel, or another spring element that would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art.Preferably, the prestressing element acts directly or indirectly on the compensating element, which is arranged on the at least one mold element of the mold unit and / or on the at least one upper support element of the support unit. Further configurations and / or arrangements of the prestressing element that would be deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art are also conceivable.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the compensating unit has at least one gear, in particular a guide gear, for implementing a compensating movement of the mold unit and / or the upper support element(s). The gear can be designed, for example, as an eccentric gear, which enables a compensating movement of the mold unit and / or the upper support element(s), wherein at least one eccentric element of the eccentric gear can be designed as a spring-loaded compensating element. The gear can be designed as a coupling gear, which enables a compensating movement of the mold unit and / or the upper support element(s), wherein at least one coupling element of the coupling gear can be designed as a spring-loaded compensating element. However, it is also conceivable for the gear to have a different configuration that would appear expedient to a person skilled in the art.Preferably, at least one forming element of the forming unit and / or at least one upper support element of the support unit is arranged on at least one gear element, in particular on the spring-biased compensating element, in particular fixed thereto. In particular, the at least one forming element of the forming unit and / or the at least one upper support element of the support unit is movably mounted by means of the gear of the compensating unit. Preferably, the gear is provided to implement a compensating movement along at least two directions running transversely to one another. Preferably, the gear is provided to implement a compensating movement along a direction running at least substantially parallel to a transport direction of the packaging material web and / or the packaging machine and along a direction running at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction.The expression “essentially perpendicular” is intended in particular to define an orientation of a direction relative to a reference direction, wherein the direction and the reference direction, in particular viewed in a projection plane, enclose an angle of 90° and the angle has a maximum deviation of in particular less than 8°, advantageously less than 5° and particularly advantageously less than 2°. The gear mechanism is preferably provided for implementing a superposition of a translation and a rotation. The gear mechanism is preferably designed as a guide gear mechanism, in particular as a parallelogram guide mechanism. However, it is also conceivable for the gear mechanism to have another design that would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art and that is suitable for enabling a compensating movement along at least two directions running transversely to one another.Alternatively or additionally, the compensating unit preferably comprises at least one actuator designed to actively move the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) during forming of the packaging material tube, in particular to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube. The actuator can be operatively connected only to the forming unit, operatively connected only to the upper support element(s), or operatively connected to the forming unit and the upper support element(s) in order to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit and / or the upper support element(s) relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube.The actuator can be designed as a servomotor, a controllable hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, or another actuator deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art. The actuator can be provided alternatively or in addition to the gearing of the compensation unit. The compensation unit preferably comprises at least one sensor element for detecting a packaging material web characteristic, wherein the actuator can be controlled depending on the detected packaging material web characteristic. The packaging material web characteristic is preferably a characteristic that can be a condition, a geometry, an orientation, an arrangement, or another characteristic of the packaging material web that would be appropriate to a person skilled in the art.The packaging material web characteristic can be, for example, a maximum thickness of the packaging material web, a defect in or on the packaging material web, a connection point between the packaging material web and another packaging material web, or another packaging material web characteristic that a person skilled in the art considers appropriate. The sensor element can be designed as a light barrier, a camera, a sensor, or another sensor element that a person skilled in the art considers appropriate.

[0015] The forming unit is preferably provided to form the packaging material tube at least in sections around the support unit, in particular around outer edges of the support unit, preferably around outer edges of the upper support elements and outer edges of lower support elements of the support unit. The forming unit is preferably provided to deflect the packaging material web. In particular, a packaging material feed unit of the packaging machine is provided to feed the packaging material web to the forming unit along a direction running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicular, to the transport direction. The forming unit preferably has at least one folding edge around which the packaging material web can be deflected. In particular, the forming unit is designed as a forming shoulder. The folding edge is preferably designed as a shoulder edge.The folding edge is preferably formed at least partially by an edge of a forming element of the forming unit and an edge of a further forming element of the forming unit. In particular, the forming unit is designed free of rollers for deflecting the packaging material web. The forming unit is preferably provided to deflect the packaging material web at the folding edge in a direction transverse to an inlet direction of the packaging material web and transverse to the transport direction. In particular, the folding edge extends at least substantially perpendicular to the inlet direction of the packaging material web and to the transport direction. In particular, the folding edge is provided to generate homogeneous material tension in the packaging material. The forming unit preferably has at least two shaped contour edges which extend from the folding edge transversely to the folding edge, in particular in a V-shape.In particular, the packaging material web can be formed into the packaging material tube around the shaped contour edges. The shaped contour edges preferably extend along a running direction of the packaging material web and / or along an outer contour of the fed products from the folding edge to a forming tunnel of the forming unit, which is provided to guide the packaging material tube along the transport direction. In particular, a longitudinal axis of the forming tunnel runs at least substantially parallel to the transport direction. The forming tunnel preferably at least partially delimits the guide gap. The forming tunnel is preferably arranged on a side of the forming unit facing the support unit, in particular on a side of the forming unit facing the upper support elements. The packaging material web or the packaging material tube surrounds the support unit at least in the region of the forming tunnel.The support unit is preferably arranged in the region of the forming tunnel and along the transport direction of the packaging material web downstream of the forming tunnel within the packaging material tube, in particular at least as far as a longitudinal sealing unit of a packaging machine comprising the horizontal forming device. Products to be packaged are preferably arranged within the support unit, in particular while the support unit is surrounded by the packaging material tube. The support unit is preferably provided for guiding the products to be packaged into the packaging material tube, in particular in a manner already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0016] The support unit is preferably arranged at least partially in a region of the mold tunnel of the mold unit. The support unit, in particular at least the upper support elements, is preferably designed to correspond at least partially to the mold tunnel of the mold unit. In particular, the guide gap is delimited by the mold tunnel of the mold unit and by the upper support elements of the support unit, which are arranged in the region of the mold tunnel of the mold unit. Preferably, a distance, in particular a minimum distance, between a wall of the mold tunnel of the mold unit and outer surfaces of the upper support elements, which are arranged in the region of the mold tunnel of the mold unit, defines a gap thickness, in particular a maximum gap thickness, of the guide gap. The support unit, in particular the upper support elements, is, in particular are, arranged at least partially within the mold tunnel of the mold unit.The support unit preferably extends at least partially into the forming tunnel of the forming unit. The support unit preferably has at least two, in particular L-shaped, upper support elements, in particular support legs, in particular two L-shaped upper support elements configured to correspond to a U-shaped configuration of the forming tunnel of the forming unit. Preferably, the packaging material web is guided between the forming unit, in particular the forming tunnel of the forming unit, and the upper support elements during the forming of the packaging material tube, in particular in a manner already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0017] The horizontal forming device is preferably part of the packaging machine, in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine. In particular, the horizontal forming device is provided for guiding the packaging material web, in particular the packaging material tube, along a horizontal transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular along the transport direction running at least substantially perpendicular to a direction of gravitational force. Preferably, the horizontal forming device is provided at least for forming and / or guiding a packaging material web, wherein the packaging material web is preferably designed as a paper web. Alternatively, the horizontal forming device can be designed for forming and / or guiding a packaging material web made of a material different from a paper web, for example, made of a plastic.A "packaging material web" is understood to mean, in particular, a flat, in particular two-dimensional, configuration of a packaging material, in particular a packaging paper. The packaging machine preferably comprises at least one packaging material unwinding unit, which is designed to receive the packaging material web, in particular as a packaging material roll. The packaging material unwinding unit is preferably designed to unwind the packaging material web and, in particular, to feed it to a packaging material feed unit of the packaging machine. The packaging material feed unit is designed, in particular, to feed the packaging material web to the horizontal forming device, in particular to the forming unit.The packaging material feed unit can comprise a plurality of components, in particular those known to a person skilled in the art, such as at least one rocker arm, at least one centering button, at least one web edge control and / or at least one printing unit for printing the packaging material web.

[0018] A “packaging material tube” should be understood to mean, in particular, a configuration of the packaging material web that is deformed, in particular three-dimensional, at least at least transversely to a web plane of the packaging material web, in particular as is already known to a person skilled in the art. In particular, the packaging material tube is intended to envelop products to be packaged. The packaging material tube is intended, in particular, for packaging, in particular for wrapping, products, in particular food products. In particular, the packaging machine has at least one product feed unit, in particular a conveyor belt, a carrier chain, a linear drive system, as sold, for example, by Beckhoff under the name “Linear Transport System XTS (extended Transport System)”, or the like., which is intended to transport the products to be packaged for wrapping through the packaging material tube into a region of the horizontal forming device, in particular of the forming unit, preferably into the forming tunnel. Preferably, a transport direction of the products runs at least substantially parallel to the transport direction of the packaging material web. Preferably, the product feed unit is arranged along the transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular along a horizontal direction, upstream of the horizontal forming device, in particular upstream of the forming unit. Preferably, the support unit, in particular the upper support elements and the lower support elements, extend into the forming tunnel of the forming unit, in particular through it.

[0019] Furthermore, it is proposed that the lower support element be movably mounted, in particular by means of the bearing unit, along a direction extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a product feed direction and / or at least substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, in particular the one already mentioned, in particular translationally. The product feed direction is preferably a direction along which the products to be packaged are moved into the support unit or relative to the support unit in order to convey the products to be packaged into the packaging material tube. The product feed direction preferably runs at least substantially parallel to the transport direction of the packaging material, in particular within the forming tunnel, and / or to the horizontal plane.Preferably, the lower support element is movably mounted along a direction running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular by means of the bearing unit. The lower support element is preferably mounted for translational movement by means of the bearing unit. However, it is also conceivable for the lower support element to be pivotably mounted for movement by means of the bearing unit, in particular in the horizontal plane, or for the lower support element to be movably mounted for movement by means of the bearing unit, in particular in the horizontal plane, in such a way that the lower support element can execute a movement consisting of a translation and a rotation, for example by means of a parallelogram guide or the like.Preferably, a description of a movement and / or a mounting of the lower support element applies analogously to all lower support elements, unless an explicit description to the contrary is given. Preferably, the lower support elements are movably mounted independently of one another and / or relative to the upper support elements by means of the mounting unit. However, it is also conceivable for the lower support elements to be movably mounted jointly with one another and / or jointly with the upper support elements by means of the mounting unit or as a result of a different type of movement coupling. By means of the inventive design of the horizontal forming device, a structurally simple mobility of the lower support element(s) can be enabled for easy format adaptation to different formats of products to be packaged.This advantageously enables reliable support of the packaging material tube during filling with products to be packaged, as well as reliable support and lateral guidance of the products to be packaged. It is advantageously possible to adapt the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged with just a few simple steps by an operator. Packaging material webs made of sensitive, particularly tear-prone and / or very thin materials, especially paper, can advantageously be formed into packaging material tubes. It is advantageously possible to achieve precise guidance of the packaging material web during the formation of the packaging material tube.

[0020] It is further proposed that the horizontal forming device comprises at least one support and / or cover plate on which the lower support element is arranged, in particular is movably mounted. Preferably, the lower support element, in particular the lower support elements, are movably mounted in the horizontal plane by means of the bearing unit. Preferably, the lower support element, in particular the lower support elements, are arranged on the support and / or cover plate, in particular are movably mounted relative to the support and / or cover plate by means of the bearing unit. The support and / or cover plate preferably forms a piece track on which at least the products to be packaged or already packaged can be transported. The support and / or cover plate preferably comprises the main extension plane, which extends at least substantially parallel to the horizontal plane.A "main extension plane" of an element or structural unit is to be understood in particular as a plane that is parallel to a largest side surface of a smallest imaginary cuboid that just completely encloses the element or structural unit, and in particular runs through the center of the cuboid. In particular, the axes of rotation of the sealing rollers of the longitudinal sealing unit run at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate. Preferably, the forming unit is arranged, in particular completely, on a side of the support and / or cover plate on which the products can be transported and which faces the packaging material unwinding unit and the packaging material feed unit. By means of the configuration according to the invention, an already existing installation space can advantageously be used for the arrangement of the lower support element(s).This advantageously allows easy access to the lower support element(s). A compact adjustment option for the support unit can be implemented. This advantageously allows easy format adjustment of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged, thereby advantageously enabling reliable formation of a packaging material tube for the different formats of products to be packaged.

[0021] Furthermore, in particular in at least one exemplary embodiment of the horizontal forming device according to the invention, it is proposed that the horizontal forming device comprise at least one adjustment unit, in particular a format width adjustment unit, which is provided for adjusting a position of at least two mold elements of the forming unit that are mounted movably relative to one another, in particular the previously mentioned mold elements, relative to one another, wherein at least the lower support element, in particular the two lower support elements and / or the bearing unit, is coupled to the adjustment unit. Preferably, the adjustment unit is provided for adjustably mounting at least the two mold elements of the forming unit relative to one another and relative to the support and / or cover plate.Preferably, the adjustment unit is provided for adjustably mounting the two forming elements of the forming unit relative to one another to achieve different packaging material tube geometries, in particular maximum packaging material tube widths. However, it is also conceivable for the horizontal forming device to comprise a plurality of adjustment units, wherein one of the adjustment units is provided at least for adjustably mounting the forming unit, and wherein a further adjustment unit is provided at least for adjustably mounting the support unit. In particular, different packaging material tube geometries may be required for packaging different products. In particular, the packaging machine is provided for packaging different products, which in particular have different dimensions.In particular, different packaging material tube geometries may be required for packaging different products, which have different maximum extensions at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, in particular different heights, and / or which have different maximum extensions at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate and transverse to the transport direction of the packaging material, in particular different widths.In particular, at least one position of the two shaped elements relative to one another is / are adjustable by the adjustment unit, which corresponds to a maximum extension of the packaging material tube at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, in particular a height of the packaging material tube, and / or a maximum extension of the packaging material tube at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate and transverse to the transport direction of the packaging material, in particular a width of the packaging material tube. The lower support element(s) can be motion-coupled directly to the adjustment unit or indirectly via the bearing unit to the adjustment unit.The fact that “the lower support element(s) is / are directly or indirectly coupled in terms of movement to the adjustment unit” should be understood to mean in particular that a movement of the forming elements relative to one another by means of the adjustment unit causes a movement of the lower support element(s), in particular independently of a separate actuation of the lower support element(s) by an operator. By means of the inventive design of the horizontal forming device, a simple format adaptation of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged can be advantageously enabled. It can advantageously be enabled with just a few manual actions by an operator to adapt the format of the support unit and the forming unit to different formats of products to be packaged.Furthermore, it is proposed that the upper support element and the lower support element each have an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, in particular wherein at least one maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element is different from at least one maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element. Preferably, the leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element and of the lower support element extends in one cross-sectional plane. The cross-sectional plane preferably extends at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the packaging material and at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate.Preferably, the maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element, which runs at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, is different from, in particular less than, the maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element, which runs at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate. Alternatively or additionally, the maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element, which runs at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, is different from, in particular less than, the maximum leg length of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element, which runs at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate.However, in an alternative embodiment of the horizontal forming device according to the invention, it is also conceivable to achieve the above-mentioned object for the upper support element and the lower support element each to have an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, wherein the upper support element and the lower support element are designed symmetrically, in particular mirror-symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane extending at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate. Other cross-sectional shapes of the upper support element and the lower support element that appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable, such as embodiments with V-shaped cross-sectional shapes, embodiments with circular-arc cross-sectional shapes, or the like. By means of the embodiment according to the invention, reliable guidance of the packaging material tube can advantageously be enabled.Packaging material webs made of delicate, particularly tear-prone and / or very thin materials, especially paper, can be advantageously formed into packaging material tubes. This simple design enables precise shaping of the packaging material tube while simultaneously ensuring reliable guidance of the products to be packaged.

[0022] It is further proposed that the support unit comprise at least two upper, in particular the previously mentioned upper, support elements and at least two lower, in particular the previously mentioned lower, support elements, wherein the upper support elements are arranged at a distance relative to the lower support elements along a direction running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a product feed direction, in particular the previously mentioned, in particular vertically. Preferably, the upper support elements are arranged at a distance relative to the lower support elements along a direction running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, in particular vertically.The upper support elements are preferably arranged at a distance relative to one another along a direction running at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, in particular horizontally. The lower support elements are preferably arranged at a distance relative to one another along a direction running at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate, in particular horizontally. The configuration according to the invention advantageously enables reliable guidance of the packaging material tube. Packaging material webs made of sensitive, in particular tear-prone and / or very thin, materials, in particular paper, can advantageously be formed into packaging material tubes.A precise shaping of the packaging material tube can be enabled in a structurally simple manner and, at the same time, reliable guidance of the products to be packaged can be achieved. A structurally simple adaptation of the format of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged can be enabled. Furthermore, it is proposed that the support unit comprise at least two upper, in particular the aforementioned upper, support elements and at least two lower, in particular the aforementioned lower, support elements, which are each arranged in a side edge region of a product receiving region of the support unit, through which products to be packaged, in particular foodstuffs, can be fed to the packaging material tube.The product receiving area is preferably defined by a space that is delimited by the support unit and through which products to be packaged can be fed to the packaging material tube, in particular along the horizontal direction. The products to be packaged are preferably in the form of foodstuffs, in particular as bars, such as chocolate bars, muesli bars, rice bars, or the like, as biscuits, cookies, chocolate tablets, or as other products that appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the two upper support elements form upper side edges or upper corner regions of the space defining the product receiving area. Preferably, the two lower support elements form lower side edges or lower corner regions of the space defining the product receiving area.The products to be packaged can come into contact with the upper support elements and / or with the lower support elements, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube. In particular, the products to be packaged can slide on the upper support elements and / or on / on the lower support elements, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube. The upper support elements and / or the lower support elements preferably form at least lateral guides for the products to be packaged, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube. By means of the configuration according to the invention, a product to be packaged can advantageously be reliably guided during feeding to the packaging material tube. A reliable formation of a packaging material tube for different formats of products to be packaged can advantageously be enabled.Advantageously, a precise forming of a packaging material web into a packaging material tube can be enabled. Advantageously, a precise guidance of the packaging material web during forming of the packaging material tube can be achieved. Furthermore, it is proposed that the horizontal forming device comprise at least one support and / or cover plate, in particular the one already mentioned, which delimits a fragment opening at least in the region of the support unit, through which fragments of products to be packaged can be removed, wherein the lower support element is arranged at least partially within the fragment opening or, in particular viewed along the vertical direction, above the fragment opening. Preferably, the two lower support elements are movable relative to one another within the fragment opening when the two lower support elements are at least partially arranged within the fragment opening.Preferably, when the two lower support elements are arranged above the fragment opening, the two lower support elements at least partially cover the fragment opening. The upper support elements and the lower support elements are preferably arranged in relation to the fragment opening such that fragments of products to be packaged can pass through a gap between the lower support elements and / or through a gap between one of the lower support elements and one of the upper support elements into the fragment opening. Preferably, particularly viewed along the vertical direction, a collecting container of the horizontal forming device or the packaging machine is arranged below the fragment opening to collect the fragments of products to be packaged. The collecting container is preferably arranged detachably or removably on a frame or on a housing of the horizontal forming device or the packaging machine.However, it is also conceivable for the horizontal forming device or the packaging machine to comprise, alternatively or in addition to the collecting container, a removal device designed to remove fragments of products to be packaged that are removed through the fragment opening or to remove fragments of products to be packaged that are collected in the collecting container. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the horizontal forming device or the packaging machine to comprise one or more guide elements, such as one or more guide plates or the like, designed to specifically guide fragments of products to be packaged that are removed through the fragment opening into the collecting container or the removal device. Further embodiments with regard to collecting and / or removing fragments of products to be packaged that would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable.The inventive design of the horizontal forming device advantageously counteracts downtime of the packaging machine due to contamination in the area of ​​the support unit. It allows for the removal of fragments from products to be packaged in a simple design. It advantageously enables high productivity of the horizontal forming device and / or a packaging machine comprising the horizontal forming device.

[0023] Furthermore, a packaging machine, in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine, with at least one horizontal forming device according to the invention is proposed. Preferably, the packaging machine comprises, in particular in addition to the horizontal forming device, at least the packaging material unwinding unit, the packaging material feeding unit, the product feeding unit, the longitudinal sealing unit, and the transverse sealing unit. It is conceivable for the packaging machine to comprise further units deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a forming guide unit, a heating unit, a vacuum unit, in particular an air extraction unit, or the like.The packaging machine preferably comprises at least the longitudinal sealing unit, which is intended to create a longitudinal sealing seam of the packaging material tube, in particular running at least substantially parallel to the transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular by introducing heat into the packaging material web or the packaging material tube and / or by applying pressure to the packaging material web or the packaging material tube. The longitudinal sealing unit is arranged along the transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular along the horizontal direction, downstream of the horizontal forming device. In particular, the longitudinal sealing unit comprises at least one pair of sealing rollers, in particular provided with a profile, which can be subjected to pressure and / or heated, which are intended to transport the packaging material tube, in particular by rotation.The longitudinal sealing unit preferably comprises a plurality of pairs of sealing rollers, wherein at least a first pair of sealing rollers arranged downstream of the horizontal forming device along the transport direction of the packaging material web is designed to be unheated, in particular for unheated transport of the packaging material tube. However, it is also conceivable for the first pair of sealing rollers to be designed to be heatable with a heater. The packaging machine preferably comprises at least the transverse sealing unit, which is provided to create transverse sealing seams of the packaging material web or of the packaging material tube, in particular after each product arranged in the packaging material tube, which transverse sealing seams run in particular at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the packaging material web, in particular by targeted pressure on the packaging material web orthe packaging material tube and / or by introducing heat into the packaging material web or the packaging material tube. The transverse sealing unit can, for example, have an ultrasound unit, an induction unit or another heating unit that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art for introducing heat, which heating unit can also be partially integrated into the jaws of the transverse sealing unit. In particular, the transverse sealing unit is provided for separating the packaging material tube into individual packages, each of which encloses a product, preferably by means of at least one separating element, such as a blade or the like. The separating element can be integrated into the jaws of the transverse sealing unit or can be mounted so as to be movable separately from the jaws. The transverse sealing unit is arranged downstream of the longitudinal sealing unit along the transport direction of the packaging material web.The design according to the invention advantageously enables the reliable formation of a packaging material tube for the different formats of products to be packaged. Downtime caused by format adjustment can advantageously be kept to a minimum. This advantageously enables high productivity of the packaging machine.

[0024] In addition, a support unit, in particular the one already mentioned above, for a horizontal forming device according to the invention is proposed, with at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element, in particular the upper support element already mentioned, and with at least one, in particular the lower support element already mentioned, which is movably mounted relative to the upper support element. By means of the configuration according to the invention, a simple retrofitting of existing horizontal forming devices with the support unit according to the invention can be advantageously enabled, in particular in order to enable a simple format adaptation of the support unit to different formats of products to be packaged, wherein a reliable formation of a packaging material tube for the different formats of products to be packaged can advantageously be enabled.It can advantageously enable a precise forming of a packaging material web into a packaging material tube.

[0025] The horizontal forming device according to the invention, the packaging machine according to the invention, and / or the support unit according to the invention are not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the horizontal forming device according to the invention, the packaging machine according to the invention, and / or the support unit according to the invention can have a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein in order to fulfill a function described herein. Furthermore, in the value ranges specified in this disclosure, values ​​within the stated limits are also to be considered disclosed and can be used arbitrarily.

[0026] Drawings

[0027] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0028] They show:

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a part of a packaging machine according to the invention in a schematic representation,

[0030] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a horizontal forming device according to the invention of the packaging machine according to the invention from Fig. 1 in a schematic representation, Fig. 3 is a front view of the horizontal forming device according to the invention with a viewing direction parallel to a horizontal direction or parallel to a product feed direction in a schematic representation and

[0031] Fig. 4 is a perspective side view of the horizontal forming device according to the invention in a schematic representation, viewed slightly obliquely from above.

[0032] Description of the embodiment

[0033] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of part of a packaging machine 62. The packaging machine 62 is preferably designed as a horizontal tubular bag machine. The packaging machine 62 comprises at least one horizontal forming device 10. The horizontal forming device 10 comprises at least one, in particular roller-free, forming unit 12, in particular a forming shoulder, and at least one support unit 14, which together are provided for forming a packaging material web 16, in particular a paper web, into a packaging material tube 18.The support unit 14 has at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element 20, 22, which is arranged on a side of the support unit 14 facing the forming unit 12 and which, together with a forming tunnel 24 of the forming unit 12, is intended to delimit at least one guide gap 26, 28 between the forming unit 12 and the support unit 14, through which guide gap the packaging material web 16 can be guided to form the packaging material tube 18 (cf. Figures 2 and 3). In particular, the horizontal forming device 10 is intended to guide the packaging material tube 18, after forming, along a horizontal transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62, in particular along a transport direction running at least substantially perpendicular to a direction of gravitational force.The horizontal forming device 10 is preferably provided at least for forming and / or guiding the packaging material web 16, wherein the packaging material web 16 is preferably formed at least for the most part as a packaging paper web. The packaging material web 16 is preferably formed for the most part from paper. The horizontal forming device 10 can preferably be provided additionally or at least alternatively for forming and / or guiding a packaging material web 16 which is formed at least for the most part from a material that is different from paper, for example from plastic, from aluminum, from a material mixture or the like. The packaging material web 16, in particular the packaging material tube 18, is intended in particular for packaging, in particular for wrapping, products 58, in particular foodstuffs.

[0034] The packaging machine 62 preferably comprises at least one packaging material unwinding unit 66 and / or an auxiliary unwinding unit (not shown in detail here), which are / is provided to receive the packaging material web 16, in particular as a packaging material roll 68. The packaging material unwinding unit 66 is preferably provided to unwind the packaging material web 16, in particular to feed it to a packaging material feed unit 70 of the packaging machine 62. The packaging material feed unit 70 is preferably provided to feed the packaging material web 16 to the horizontal forming device 10, in particular to the forming unit 12.The packaging material feed unit 70 can comprise a plurality of components, in particular components known to a person skilled in the art, such as at least one rocker arm, at least one centering switch, at least one web edge control, and / or at least one printing unit for printing the packaging material web 16. In particular, the packaging material tube 18 is provided for wrapping products 58 to be packaged. In particular, the packaging machine 62 has at least one product feed unit 72, in particular a conveyor belt, a carrier chain, or the like, which is provided for transporting the products 58 to be packaged for wrapping through the packaging material tube 18 into a region of the horizontal forming device 10, in particular into a product receiving region 56 of the support unit 14. The products 58 can preferably be transported by means of the product feed unit 72 along the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62.

[0035] The packaging machine 62 preferably comprises at least one longitudinal sealing unit 74, which is provided for creating a longitudinal sealing seam of the packaging material tube 18, in particular running at least substantially parallel to the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62, in particular by applying pressure to the material of the packaging material tube 18 and / or by introducing heat into the material of the packaging material tube 18. The longitudinal sealing unit 74 is arranged along the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62 downstream of the horizontal forming device 10, in particular downstream of a forming guide unit 76 of the horizontal forming device 10. The longitudinal sealing unit 74 preferably comprises at least one pair of sealing rollers 86, 88, in particular heatable, profiled and / or pressurizable, which are provided for transporting the packaging material tube 18, in particular by rotation.The longitudinal sealing unit 74 preferably comprises a plurality of pairs of sealing rollers 86, 88, wherein at least a first pair of sealing rollers 86 arranged downstream of the horizontal forming device 10 along the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62 is designed to be heat-free, in particular for heat-free transport of the packaging material tube 18. The packaging machine 62 preferably comprises at least one transverse sealing unit 78, which is designed to create transverse sealing seams of the packaging material tube 18, in particular after at least one product 58, which extend at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62, in particular by applying pressure to the material of the packaging material tube 18 and / or by introducing heat into the material of the packaging material tube 18.The transverse sealing unit 78 is preferably provided for separating the packaging material tube 18 into individual packages, each of which, in particular, encloses at least one product 58. The transverse sealing unit 78 is arranged downstream of the longitudinal sealing unit 74 along the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62. The forming unit 12 is preferably provided for redirecting the packaging material web 16. In particular, the packaging material feed unit 70 is provided for feeding the packaging material web 16 to the forming unit 12 along a vertical direction 54 running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62 and at least substantially parallel to the direction of action of the gravitational force. Figure 2 shows the horizontal forming device 10 of the packaging machine 62 in a state disassembled from a frame or a housing of the packaging machine 62.The forming unit 12 is preferably designed as a forming shoulder. The forming unit 12 preferably has at least one folding edge 80 around which the packaging material web 16 can be deflected. The folding edge 80 is preferably designed as a shoulder edge. In particular, the forming unit 12 is designed free of rollers for deflecting the packaging material web 16. The forming unit 12 is preferably provided to deflect the packaging material web 16 at the folding edge 80 in a direction transverse to an infeed direction 82 of the packaging material web 16 and transverse to the transport direction 64 of the packaging machine 62 or the packaging material tube 18. The folding edge 80 preferably extends at least substantially perpendicular to the infeed direction 82 of the packaging material web 16 and to the transport direction 64.Preferably, the folding edge 80 and / or at least one further folding edge 84 of the forming unit 12 are / is provided to generate a homogeneous material tension in the packaging material web 16. Preferably, the folding edge 80 is arranged at least partially on a forming element 40 of the forming unit 12. The further folding edge 84 is preferably arranged partially on a further forming element 42 of the forming unit 12. The forming element 40 and the further forming element 42 are preferably two separate components that are mirror-symmetrical to one another. In particular, the forming element 40 and the further forming element 42 are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another.

[0036] The shape guide unit 76 is preferably provided to guide the packaging material tube 18 further after forming by means of the forming unit 12. In particular, the shape guide unit 76 is arranged along the transport direction 64 downstream of the forming unit 12 and in particular upstream of the longitudinal sealing unit 74. The shape guide unit 76 is preferably designed free of rollers, in particular as a further forming shoulder. The shape guide unit 76 is preferably designed, in particular arranged, separately from the forming unit 12. The shape guide unit 76 is preferably designed as an independent component or as an independent assembly, in particular consisting of two symmetrical components. In particular, the shape guide unit 76 is arranged at a distance from the forming unit 12 along the vertical direction 54 running at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction 64 and / or along the transport direction 64.Alternatively, it is conceivable that the mold guide unit 76 is formed integrally with the mold unit 12, in particular as a mold guide extension of the mold unit 12. The horizontal molding device 10 preferably comprises at least one support and / or cover plate 36 on which products 58 to be packaged can be transported. The mold guide unit 76 is preferably arranged at least for the most part on a side of the support and / or cover plate 36 facing away from the mold unit 12 (cf. Figures 1 and 3). However, it is also conceivable that the mold guide unit 76 is arranged at least for the most part on a side of the support and / or cover plate 36 facing the mold unit 12.The support and / or cover plate 36 preferably forms a piece path on which the products 58 can be transported, in particular fed to the forming unit 12, the support unit 14 and / or the forming guide unit 76 for wrapping by means of the packaging material web 16, in particular the packaging material tube 18. The support and / or cover plate 36 preferably extends at least substantially parallel to the transport direction 64. Rotation axes 90, 92 of the sealing rollers 86, 88 of the longitudinal sealing unit 74 preferably run at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36 (see Figure 1). The forming unit 12 is preferably arranged on a side of the support and / or cover plate 36 on which the products 58 can be transported and which faces the packaging material unwinding unit 66 and the packaging material feed unit 70.

[0037] The forming unit 12 preferably has at least the forming tunnel 24, in which the packaging material web 16 can be formed into the packaging material tube 18 as a result of the interaction of the forming unit 12 and the support unit 14, in particular in a manner already known in principle to a person skilled in the art. The formed packaging material tube 18 is preferably guided in the forming tunnel 24 along the transport direction 64, in particular by means of the forming unit 12 and the support unit 14. In particular, a longitudinal axis of the forming tunnel 24 runs at least substantially parallel to the transport direction 64. The forming tunnel 24 preferably at least partially delimits the guide gap 26, 28, in particular two guide gaps 26, 28, preferably together with the support unit 14.The mold tunnel 24 is preferably arranged on the mold unit 12 on a side of the mold unit 12 facing the support unit 14 and / or the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular is formed integrally with the mold unit 12. The support unit 14 is preferably arranged at least partially in a region of the mold tunnel 24. The support unit 14 is preferably designed to at least partially correspond to the mold tunnel 24, in particular upper support elements 20, 22 of the support unit 14 are designed to at least partially correspond to the mold tunnel 24. The guide gap 26, 28, in particular the guide gaps 26, 28, is preferably delimited by the mold tunnel 24 and by at least the part of the support unit 14 that is arranged in the region of the mold tunnel 24.Preferably, a, in particular minimal, distance between a wall of the forming tunnel 24 and an outer surface of the part of the support unit 14 that is arranged in the region of the forming tunnel 24 defines a, in particular maximum, gap thickness of the guide gap 26, 28, in particular of the guide gaps 26, 28. In particular, outer surfaces of the upper support elements 20, 22 and the wall of the forming tunnel 24 facing the support unit 14 delimit the guide gaps 26, 28. Preferably, the packaging material web 16 is guided between the forming unit 12, in particular the forming tunnel 24, and the support unit 14, in particular the upper support elements 20, 22, during forming of the packaging material tube 18, in particular in a manner that is already known in principle to a person skilled in the art.

[0038] The support unit 14 comprises at least one lower support element 30, 32, which is arranged on a side of the support unit 14 facing away from the molding unit 12 and is movably mounted relative to the upper support element 20, 22, in particular to the upper support elements 20, 22, and / or relative to the molding unit 12 (see Figures 2 to 4). The support unit 14 for the horizontal molding device 10 preferably has at least the upper support element(s) 20, 22, in particular movably mounted, and at least the lower support element 30, 32, which is movably mounted relative to the upper support element 20, 22, in particular to the upper support elements 20, 22. The lower support element 30, 32 is preferably formed separately from the upper support element 20, 22. The lower support element 30, 32 is preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to the mold unit 12, independently of the upper support element 20, 22.A longitudinal axis 94, 96 of the upper support element 20, 22 preferably runs at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 98, 100 of the lower support element 30, 32, in particular at least substantially parallel to the main plane of extension of the support and / or cover plate 36. The lower support element 30, 32 is preferably movably mounted on the support and / or cover plate 36. The lower support element 30, 32 is preferably movably mounted relative to the upper support element 20, 22, relative to the mold unit 12, and / or relative to the support and / or cover plate 36. However, it is also conceivable that the lower support element 30, 32 is movably mounted on the mold unit 12, in particular relative to the upper support element 20, 22 and relative to the mold unit 12 as well as relative to the support and / or cover plate 36. The upper support element 20, 22 and the lower support element 30, 32 can be arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another with respect to a horizontal plane.However, it is also conceivable that the upper support element 20, 22 and the lower support element 30, 32 are arranged asymmetrically to each other with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0039] The support unit 14 preferably comprises a plurality of upper support elements 20, 22, in particular two upper support elements 20, 22, which are arranged, in particular, on the side of the support unit 14 facing the molding unit 12. The upper support elements 20, 22 are preferably movable relative to one another, in particular in addition to a possibility of movement relative to lower support elements 30, 32 of the support unit 14. The upper support elements 20, 22 are preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, relative to the lower support elements 30, 32 and / or relative to the molding unit 12, in particular by means of at least one compensating unit 102 of the horizontal molding device 10. The support unit 14 preferably comprises a plurality of lower support elements 30, 32, in particular two lower support elements 30, 32, which are arranged, in particular, on the side of the support unit 14 facing away from the molding unit 12.Preferably, the lower support elements 30, 32 are movable relative to one another, in particular in addition to a possibility of movement relative to the upper support elements 20, 22 of the support unit 14. The lower support elements 30, 32 are preferably mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, relative to the upper support elements 20, 22 and / or relative to the molding unit 12, in particular by means of at least one bearing unit 104 of the horizontal molding device 10. Preferably, a description of a movement, an arrangement and / or a bearing of the lower support element 30, 32 applies analogously to all lower support elements 30, 32, unless an explicit description to the contrary is given. Preferably, a description of a movement, an arrangement and / or a bearing of the upper support element 20, 22 applies analogously to all upper support elements 20, 22, unless an explicit description to the contrary is given.

[0040] The support unit 14 preferably comprises at least the two upper support elements 20, 22 and at least the two lower support elements 30, 32, each of which is arranged in a side edge region of the product receiving region 56 of the support unit 14, through which the products 58 to be packaged can be fed to the packaging material tube 18. The product receiving region 56 is preferably defined by a space that is delimited by the support unit 14 and through which the products 58 to be packaged can be fed to the packaging material tube 18, in particular along a horizontal direction 52. The two upper support elements 20, 22 preferably form upper side edges or upper corner regions of the space defining the product receiving region 56. The two lower support elements 30, 32 preferably form lower side edges or lower corner regions of the space defining the product receiving region 56.The products 58 to be packaged can come into contact with the upper support elements 20, 22 and / or with the lower support elements 32, 30, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube 18. In particular, the products 58 to be packaged can slide on the upper support elements 20, 22 and / or on / on the lower support elements 30, 32, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube 18. The upper support elements 20, 22 and / or the lower support elements 30, 32 preferably form at least lateral guides for the products 58 to be packaged, in particular during feeding to the packaging material tube 18.

[0041] The horizontal forming device 10 preferably comprises at least the compensating unit 102, which is provided for movably supporting the forming unit 12 and / or at least the upper support element 20, 22, in particular all upper support elements 20, 22 of the support unit 14, such that the forming unit 12 and the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are movable relative to one another at least during forming of the packaging material tube 18, in particular in order to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube 18 (cf. Figures 2 to 4).It is conceivable that only the forming unit 12 is movably mounted by means of the compensating unit 102, that only the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are movably mounted by means of the compensating unit 102, or that the forming unit 12 and the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are movably mounted by means of the compensating unit 102 in order to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube 18. The compensating unit 102 is preferably provided in addition to a gap adjustment unit, by means of which a gap thickness of the guide gap 26, 28 can be adjusted. However, it is also conceivable that an adjustment function for adjusting a gap thickness of the guide gap 26, 28 is integrated into the compensating unit 102.The compensation unit 102 is preferably provided to movably mount the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 such that the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are movable relative to one another during ongoing operation of the packaging machine 62 comprising the horizontal forming device 10, in particular the horizontal tubular bag machine.The compensation unit 102 is preferably provided for movably supporting the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 such that the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are movable relative to one another as the packaging material web 16 passes through the guide gap 26, 28, in particular when a maximum thickness of the packaging material web 16 varies, such as, for example, as a result of a connecting element arranged on the packaging material web 16, in particular splicing adhesive tape, as a result of an at least temporarily double-layered packaging material web 16 or the like, after a change of the packaging material web 16 or the like, as the packaging material web 16 passes through the guide gap 26, 28.The forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 can be actively moved by means of the compensation unit 102 or the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 can be movably mounted by means of the compensation unit 102 such that the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 are passively moved relative to one another by the packaging material web 16 passing through the guide gap 26, 28, in particular when a maximum thickness of the packaging material web 16 varies, for example by a connecting element arranged on the packaging material web 16, in particular splicing adhesive tape or the like, after a change of the packaging material web 16 or the like. The forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 preferably perform an evasive movement , especially when there is a variation in the maximum thickness of the packaging material web 16.The compensating unit 102 can be provided to movably mount the entire forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22, or it can be provided to movably mount only individual elements of the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 in order to enable a compensating movement during forming of the packaging material tube 18. Other possibilities for moving the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 by means of the compensating unit 102 to enable a compensating movement of the forming unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22 relative to one another during forming of the packaging material tube 18 are also conceivable.The compensation unit 102 can be designed such that a maximum compensation movement distance can be realized that is continuous or adjustable in steps, in particular by a maximum compensation movement distance of the mold unit 12 relative to the upper support element(s) 20, 22 being continuously adjustable or in steps, by a maximum compensation movement distance of the upper support element(s) 20, 22 relative to the mold unit 12 being continuously adjustable or in steps, or by a maximum compensation movement distance of the mold unit 14 and the upper support element(s) 20, 22 relative to one another being continuously adjustable or in steps.

[0042] The compensating unit 102 is preferably provided to movably support at least one of the mold elements 40, 42 of the mold unit 12 and / or at least the upper support element(s) 20, 22 by means of at least one spring-loaded compensating element 106, 108 of the compensating unit 102 (see Figures 2 to 4). Preferably, the spring-loaded compensating element 106, 108 is arranged with at least one side on the mold element 40, 42 or one of the upper support elements 20, 22, in particular fixed thereto. However, it is also conceivable for the spring-loaded compensating element 106, 108 to be formed integrally with the mold element 40, 42 or one of the upper support elements 20, 22. Preferably, the two upper support elements 20, 22 are each movably mounted by means of at least one spring-loaded compensating element 106, 108 of the compensating unit 102.The upper support elements 20, 22 are preferably mirror-symmetrical to one another and / or arranged on the forming unit 12, in particular with respect to a vertical plane. It is conceivable that the forming elements 40, 42 are fixed in place, in particular during forming of the packaging material tube 18, and that the upper support elements 20, 22 are movably mounted on one of the two forming elements 40, 42 via the spring-loaded compensating elements 106, 108. The compensating element 106, 108 can be spring-loaded by means of a helical spring, an elastomer, a gas spring, an oil pressure spring, a spring steel, or another element suitable for generating a preload that would be deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art.The compensating unit 102 preferably has at least one prestressing element 110, 112, in particular a spring element, which can transmit a prestressing force acting counter to a compensating movement of the mold unit 12 and / or the upper support element(s) 20, 22. The prestressing element 110, 112 can be designed as a helical tension spring, a helical compression spring, a disc spring, an elastomer, a gas spring, an oil pressure spring, spring steel, or as another prestressing element 110, 112 that would be deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art. The prestressing element preferably acts directly or indirectly on the compensating element 106, 108, which is arranged on the at least one mold element 40, 42 of the mold unit 12 and / or on the at least one upper support element 20, 22 of the support unit 14. Further designs and / or arrangements of the prestressing element 110, 112 that appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable.Alternative designs to a movable mounting of the upper support elements 20, 22 are also conceivable.

[0043] The lower support element 30, 32 is mounted for movement, in particular translationally, along the direction 52 running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a product feed direction 34 and / or at least substantially parallel to the horizontal plane, in particular horizontally. Preferably, the lower support element 30, 32 is mounted for movement, in particular by means of the bearing unit 104, along the direction 52 running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the transport direction 64, in particular horizontally. The lower support element 30, 32 is preferably mounted for movement, in particular translationally, by means of the bearing unit 104. The bearing unit 104 is preferably designed as a linear bearing unit.However, it is also conceivable for the lower support element 30, 32 to be pivotably mounted, in particular in the horizontal plane, by means of the bearing unit 104, or for the lower support element 30, 32 to be movably mounted, in particular in the horizontal plane, by means of the bearing unit 104 in such a way that the lower support element 30, 32 can execute a movement consisting of a translation and a rotation, for example by means of a parallelogram guide or the like. Preferably, a description of a movement and / or a mounting of the lower support element 30, 32 applies analogously to all lower support elements 30, 32, unless an explicit description to the contrary is given. Preferably, the lower support elements 30, 32 are movably mounted relative to one another and / or relative to the upper support elements 20, 22 by means of the bearing unit 104.

[0044] The horizontal forming device 10 comprises at least the support and / or cover plate 36, on which the lower support element 30, 32 is arranged, in particular is movably mounted, preferably movably mounted in the horizontal plane. Preferably, the lower support element 30, 32, in particular the lower support elements 30, 32, are movably mounted in the horizontal plane by means of the bearing unit 104 (cf. Figures 2 to 4). Preferably, the lower support element 30, 32, in particular the lower support elements 30, 32, are arranged on the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular are movably mounted relative to the support and / or cover plate 36 by means of the bearing unit 104. The support and / or cover plate 36 preferably comprises the main extension plane, which extends at least substantially parallel to the horizontal plane.Movement axes 114, 116 of the lower support elements 30, 32 preferably extend at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36. The movement axes 114, 116 of the lower support elements 30, 32 preferably extend, in particular additionally, transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal extension axes 98, 100 of the lower support elements 30, 32. The movement axes 114, 116 of the lower support elements 30, 32 are preferably designed as linear axes along which the lower support elements 30, 32 are movably mounted relative to the upper support elements 20, 22, relative to the mold unit 12 and / or relative to the support and / or cover plate 36.

[0045] The horizontal forming device 10 comprises, in particular alternatively or in addition to the storage unit 104, at least one adjustment unit 38, in particular a format width adjustment unit, which is provided for adjusting a position of the at least two forming elements 40, 42 of the forming unit 12, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, relative to one another, wherein at least the lower support element 30, 32 is coupled to the adjustment unit 38, in particular the two lower support elements 30, 32 are coupled to the adjustment unit 38. Preferably, the adjustment unit 38 is provided for adjustably mounting at least the two forming elements 40, 42 relative to one another and relative to the support and / or cover plate 36. Preferably, the adjustment unit 38 is provided for adjustably mounting the two forming elements 40, 42 relative to one another to realize different packaging material tube geometries, in particular maximum packaging material tube widths.In particular, at least one position of the two shaped elements 40, 42 relative to one another can be adjusted by the adjustment unit 38, which corresponds to a maximum extension of the packaging material tube 18 at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular a height of the packaging material tube 18, and / or a maximum extension of the packaging material tube 18 at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36 and transverse to the transport direction 64, in particular a width of the packaging material tube 18. The lower support element(s) 30, 32 can be motion-coupled directly to the adjustment unit 38 or indirectly via the bearing unit 104 to the adjustment unit 38.However, it is also conceivable that the horizontal forming device 10 comprises a plurality of adjustment units, wherein one of the adjustment units is provided at least to adjustably mount the forming unit 12, and wherein another of the adjustment units is provided at least to adjustably mount the support unit 14.

[0046] Preferably, the upper support element 20, 22, in particular the two upper support elements 20, 22, and the lower support element 30, 32, in particular the two lower support elements 30, 32, each have an L-shaped cross-sectional shape (see Figure 3). Preferably, at least one maximum leg length 44, 46 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element 20, 22 is different from at least one maximum leg length 48, 50 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element 30, 32 (see Figure 3). Preferably, the leg length 44, 46 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element 20, 22 and of the lower support element 30, 32 extends in one cross-sectional plane. The cross-sectional plane preferably extends at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction 64 and at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36.Preferably, the maximum leg length 44, 46 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element 20, 22, which extends at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, is different from, in particular less than, the maximum leg length 48, 50 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element 30, 32, which extends at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36. Alternatively or additionally, the maximum leg length 44, 46 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element 20, 22, which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, is different from, in particular less than, the maximum leg length 48, 50 of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower Support elements 30, 32.However, it is also conceivable for the upper support element 20, 22 and the lower support element 30, 32 to be symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetrical with respect to a mirror plane extending at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36. Other cross-sectional shapes of the upper support element 20, 22 and the lower support element 30, 32 that would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable, such as, for example, designs with V-shaped cross-sectional shapes, designs with circular cross-sectional shapes, or the like.

[0047] The support unit 14 preferably comprises at least the two upper support elements 20, 22 and at least the two lower support elements 30, 32, wherein the upper support elements 20, 22 are arranged at a distance relative to the lower support elements 30, 32 along the direction 54 running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the product feed direction 34, in particular vertically. The upper support elements 20, 22 are preferably arranged at a distance relative to the lower support elements 30, 32 along the direction 54 running transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular vertically. The upper support elements 20, 22 are preferably arranged at a distance relative to one another along the direction 52 running at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular horizontally (see Figure 3).The lower support elements 30, 32 are preferably arranged at a distance from one another along the direction 52, which runs at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the support and / or cover plate 36, in particular horizontally (see Figure 3).

[0048] The horizontal forming device 10 preferably comprises at least the support and / or cover plate 36, which, at least in the region of the support unit 14, delimits a fragment opening 60 through which fragments can be removed from the products 58 to be packaged, wherein the lower support element 30, 32 is arranged at least partially within the fragment opening 60 or, in particular viewed along the vertical direction 54, above the fragment opening 60 (cf. Figures 2 to 4). Preferably, the two lower support elements 30, 32 are movable relative to one another within the fragment opening 60 when the two lower support elements 30, 32 are at least partially arranged within the fragment opening 60.The upper support elements 20, 22 and the lower support elements 30, 32 are preferably arranged in relation to the fragment opening 60 such that fragments from the products 58 to be packaged can pass into the fragment opening 60 through a gap between the lower support elements 30, 32 and / or through a gap between one of the lower support elements 30, 32 and one of the upper support elements 20, 22. Preferably, a collecting container 118 (indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1) of the horizontal forming device 10 or the packaging machine 62 is arranged below the fragment opening 60, particularly when viewed along the vertical direction 54, for collecting the fragments from the products 58 to be packaged. The collecting container 118 is preferably arranged detachably or removably on the frame or on the housing of the horizontal forming device 10 or the packaging machine 62.However, it is also conceivable that the horizontal forming device 10 or the packaging machine 62, alternatively or in addition to the collecting container 118, comprises a removal device 120 (indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1), which is intended to remove fragments removed through the fragment opening 60 from the products 58 to be packaged or to remove fragments collected in the collecting container 118 from the products 58 to be packaged. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the horizontal forming device 10 or the packaging machine 62 comprises one or more guide elements (not shown in detail here), such as one or more guide plates or the like, which are intended to specifically guide fragments removed through the fragment opening 60 from the products 58 to be packaged into the collecting container 118 or into the removal device 120.Further configurations that appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art with regard to collecting and / or removing fragments from the products 58 to be packaged are also conceivable. Further configurations and / or arrangements of individual units and / or elements of the horizontal forming device 10 that appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable, particularly in connection with the movable mounting of the lower support elements 30, 32 for achieving the above-mentioned object.

Claims

Claims 1. Horizontal forming device, in particular for horizontal tubular bag machines, with at least one, in particular roller-free, forming unit (12), in particular a forming shoulder, and with at least one support unit (14), which are jointly provided for forming a packaging material web (16), in particular a paper web, into a packaging material tube (18), wherein the support unit (14) comprises at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element (20, 22), which is arranged on a side of the support unit (14) facing the forming unit (12) and which is provided, together with a forming tunnel (24) of the forming unit (24), to delimit at least one guide gap (26, 28) between the forming unit (12) and the support unit (14), through which the packaging material web (16) can be guided to form the packaging material tube (18), characterized in that the support unit (14) has at least one lower support element (30,32) which is arranged on a side of the support unit (14) facing away from the mold unit (12) and is movably mounted relative to the upper support element (20, 22) and / or relative to the mold unit (12).

2. Horizontal forming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower support element (30, 32) is mounted so as to be movable, in particular translationally, along a direction (52) extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a product feed direction (34) and / or at least substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, in particular horizontally.

3. Horizontal forming device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one support and / or cover plate (36) on which the lower support element (30, 32) is arranged, in particular is movably mounted, preferably is movably mounted in a horizontal plane.

4. Horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one adjustment unit (38), in particular a format width adjustment unit, which is provided for adjusting a position of at least two mold elements (40, 42) of the mold unit (12) which are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, wherein at least the lower support element (30, 32) is coupled to the adjustment unit (38).

5. Horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper support element (20, 22) and the lower support element (30, 32) each have an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, in particular wherein at least one maximum leg length (44, 46) of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the upper support element (20, 22) is different from at least one maximum leg length (48, 50) of the L-shaped cross-sectional shape of the lower support element (30, 32).

6. Horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit (14) comprises at least two upper support elements (20, 22) and at least two lower support elements (30, 32), wherein the upper support elements (20, 22) are arranged spaced apart from the lower support elements (30, 32) along a direction (54) extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a product feed direction (34), in particular vertically.

7. Horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit (14) comprises at least two upper support elements (20, 22) and at least two lower support elements (30, 32), which are each arranged in a side edge region of a product receiving region (56) of the support unit (14), through which products (58) to be packaged can be fed to the packaging material tube (18).

8. Horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one support and / or cover plate (36) which, at least in the region of the support unit (14), delimits a fragment opening (60) through which fragments of products (58) to be packaged can be removed, wherein the lower support element (30, 32) is arranged at least partially within the fragment opening (60) or, in particular viewed along a vertical direction (54), above the fragment opening (60).

9. Packaging machine, in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine, with at least one horizontal forming device according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Support unit (14) for a horizontal forming device according to one of claims 1 to 8, with at least one, in particular movably mounted, upper support element (20, 22) and with at least one lower support element (30, 32) which is movably mounted relative to the upper support element (20, 22).

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