Packaging machine device and method using such a packaging machine device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging machine device comprising at least one closing device (10), in particular a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam (12, 14), in particular a seal seam, in at least one packaging material (16), and a forming device (18) provided for shaping the packaging material (16) preformed into a tubular bag in the region of the closing seam (12, 14), in particular at least partially before the formation of the closing seam (12, 14). It is proposed that the forming device (18) is provided for shaping the packaging material (16) in a direction (30, 32) from the inner region (24) of the closing seam (12, 14) as a starting point towards at least one outer region (26, 28) of the closing seam (12, 14) in the region of the closing seam (12, 14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention particularly relates to a packaging machine device provided with at least one closing device, in particular a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam, in particular a seal seam, in at least one packaging material.

Background Art

[0002] Such packaging machine devices are already known. In a packaging machine equipped with a corresponding packaging machine device, the packaging material is formed into a tubular bag. During the packaging process of the product and when closing the tubular bag in individual packages, stress is applied to the tubular bag, which may cause errors / corner folds.

[0003] Based on DE 3732033 A1, AU 1985 / 43753 A, JP 2003-11923 A, DE 3837709 A1, and US 6138442, for example, a packaging machine equipped with a packaging machine device is already known. In this packaging machine, the packaging machine device has at least one closing device, in particular a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam, in particular a seal seam, in at least one packaging material, and a forming device. The forming device is provided for shaping, in particular pressing together, the packaging material preformed into a tubular bag in the region of the closing seam, in particular at least partially before the formation of the closing seam, so that the filling can be separated from the region of the closing seam to be formed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which has improved characteristics particularly with regard to processing reliability and in particular the sealing property of the manufactured packages. This object is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, and the advantageous configurations and developments of the invention can be read from the subclaims and dependent claims.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] The present invention relates to a packaging machine device comprising at least one closing device, in particular a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam, in particular a seal seam, in at least one packaging material, and a forming device provided for shaping a packaging material preformed into a tubular bag in the region of the closing seam, in particular at least partially before the formation of the closing seam.

[0006] It is proposed that the forming device is provided for shaping the packaging material in a direction from an inner region of the closing seam as a starting point to at least one outer region of the closing seam in the region of the closing seam.

[0007] In this context, the "closing device" can be considered to be various devices that a person skilled in the art would consider appropriate, such as folding and / or adhering devices that can reasonably close a tubular bag, particularly preferably a sealing device.

[0008] It should be understood that "sealing" is all sealing methods that a person skilled in the art would consider reasonable, such as particularly cold sealing, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, separation sealing, etc.

[0009] Moreover, it is also conceivable that not only one packaging material is provided, but also a plurality of packaging materials, such as a carrier material and a barrier material that are joined together, for example.

[0010] Regarding the "closing seam", various seams that a person skilled in the art would consider appropriate are conceivable, such as a longitudinal seam extending in the longitudinal direction of a tubular bag, for example. Particularly preferably, a transverse seam extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular bag, in particular parallel to a separation line where the tubular bag is separated and / or perforated to separate individual packages, is also conceivable.

[0011] In this context, the "shaping device" is to be understood as a device that, after shaping a packaging material into a tubular bag, particularly by means of shaping means such as a shaping shoulder and / or one or more folding boxes, and / or by means of a point load and / or a linear load, is provided for folding the packaging material, particularly for pre-folding, and / or particularly preferably for smoothing the packaging material. Further, the "shaping device" is to be understood as a device having a shaping surface formed separately from the closing surface of a closing device, which is provided for forming a closing seam, particularly such as the sealing surface of a seal jaw. The shaping device particularly has a shaping unit formed separately from the shaping unit for shaping the packaging material into a tubular bag. Preferably, the shaping device has a shaping unit that is spatially separated from the shaping unit provided for shaping the tubular bag. The shaping device preferably has a shaping unit provided for contacting the tubular bag, particularly before the closing means of a closing device, particularly such as a seal jaw, contacts the tubular bag. In particular, at least most of the shaping process is completed when the walls of the tubular bag are brought into contact with each other using closing means, particularly such as a seal jaw, and pressure and / or heat are applied.

[0012] Preferably, the shaping device has a shaping unit that is arranged behind the closing means of a closing device, particularly such as a seal jaw, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the point of contact of the tubular bag. The shaping device may also have a shaping unit that is arranged in front of the closing means of a closing device, particularly such as a seal jaw, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the point of contact of the tubular bag.

[0013] In this context, "in the region of the closure seam" means that at least one region of the packaging material is formed by a forming device, and this region has an interval shorter than half the length of the packaging to be manufactured, preferably shorter than 1 / 4 of the length of the packaging to be manufactured, and / or shorter than 8 cm, preferably shorter than 4 cm, with respect to the closure seam. "The length of the packaging" should be understood as the dimension of the packaging to be manufactured in the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube.

[0014] "Provided" should be understood as being formed, designed, and / or configured in a particularly special way. When an object is provided for a specific function, it should be understood in particular that the object satisfies and / or executes this specific function in at least one use state and / or operating state.

[0015] Using the configuration according to the present invention, it is possible to at least reduce the errors / corner creases that occur in the region of the closure seam in the tubular bag due to stress. And, it is possible to form a particularly tight packaging and a visually beautiful closure seam, especially with a particularly high processing reliability. This is particularly advantageous when the forming device is provided for at least partially forming the closure seam in the region of the closure seam of the packaging material preformed on the tubular bag before the formation of the closure seam. Alternatively or preferably additionally, the forming device may be provided for at least partially forming the closure seam in the region of the closure seam of the packaging material preformed on the tubular bag after the formation of the closure seam.

[0016] Preferably, as already described, the closure seam is formed by a transverse seam, and the forming process is performed using a forming device after the formation of the longitudinal seam of the tubular bag in terms of time.

[0017] Particularly preferably, it is also possible to form a package with a packaging material that, together with particularly high processing reliability, basically imposes higher requirements regarding processability compared to standard packaging materials. Particularly preferably, a packaging material having a thickness greater than 30 μm, preferably greater than 40 μm, particularly preferably greater than 60 μm, a packaging material in which at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, particularly preferably at least 60% is manufactured from recycled materials, a packaging material in which at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, particularly preferably at least 60% is manufactured from recycled raw materials, and a packaging material in which at least 10%, preferably at least 20% is manufactured from aluminum and / or aluminum composite materials can be processed.

[0018] The "recycled raw materials" here are to be understood as organic raw materials, particularly plant-based raw materials, that are derived from agricultural products and / or forestry products and are, in particular, configured according to the purpose for further use by humans, excluding the food industry and / or the feed industry, or are by-products and / or waste from the agricultural and / or food industry and feed industry. The recycled raw materials in the meaning of this application are exclusively organic raw materials not derived from fossils. Such recycled raw materials are preferably, in the context of the present invention, local products derived from agricultural products and / or forestry products and their by-products and / or residues, and, if not in conflict with the waste law, algae.

[0019] Particularly preferably, it is also possible to process a packaging material that is at least partially manufactured from a fiber material and / or a paper material.

[0020] Forming, in particular smoothing of the packaging material, using a forming device can be carried out in a variety of forms that are considered reasonable by a person skilled in the art, for example by simple plate pressing. Particularly preferably, however, the forming device is provided to contact the packaging material in succession in different regions as desired, as seen in a projection plane that extends parallel to the closing seam and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubular bag and / or parallel to the direction of movement of the tubular bag, thereby forming, in particular smoothing, the packaging material. Thereby, particularly advantageous forming, in particular smoothing, can be achieved, and air can be discharged from the tubular bag as desired. Particularly preferably, the forming device may also be provided to generate a relative movement, i.e., a kind of rubbing movement, between the forming surface of the forming unit of the forming device that is in contact with the packaging material and the packaging material in a projection plane that extends parallel to the closing seam and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubular bag and / or parallel to the direction of movement of the tubular bag. The corresponding rubbing movement can be obtained by the movement of the forming surface relative to the packaging material and / or by the movement of the packaging material relative to the forming surface.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the forming device is provided for forming the packaging material in a direction from the inner region of the closing seam as a starting point towards the two outer regions of the closing seam in the region of the closing seam, whereby in particular undesired corner folds can be reduced or eliminated particularly advantageously at least. The corresponding contact can be achieved in various forms that are considered reasonable by a person skilled in the art, for example by the targeted movement of one or more forming surfaces of at least one forming unit of the forming device relative to the packaging material. In such a case, for example, the forming unit is driven by one or more actuators, guided on a special cam track, and / or the forming device has a forming unit which, when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material, has a geometric shape that varies spatially along the direction of the closing seam. Thereby, it can be structurally simply achieved that the forming unit forms the packaging material in the region of the closing seam in a direction from the inner region of the closing seam as a starting point towards at least one outer region of the closing seam. It should be understood that "the changing geometric shape of a member" in this context means that at least one dimension of the member changes when viewed at one point in time and along a specific direction.

[0022] Preferably, the forming unit of the forming device has a specific shape, whereby when viewed in a projection plane perpendicular to the movement direction of the forming unit during operation, starting from the central region of the closing seam along the closing seam, when viewed in the direction of one end region of the closing seam, preferably in the direction of both end regions of the closing seam, the distance between the forming unit and the closing contact point of the closing seam or the closing unit increases. This can preferably also be achieved by means of an inclined surface and / or by means of curvature. This distance is at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, particularly preferably at least 1 mm. Alternatively and / or additionally, the forming unit may be formed with different thicknesses and may preferably be formed in a dome shape. Preferably, the forming unit is provided to produce a pressing line arrangement form that extends away from each other.

[0023] Furthermore, it is proposed that the forming device is provided for laterally forming the packaging material with respect to the closing seam in the region of the closing seam. In such a configuration, particularly preferably, the forming device has a forming unit, and this forming unit has a geometric shape that spatially changes in a direction transverse to the closing seam when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material. Particularly preferably, the forming device is provided for preforming the packaging material laterally with respect to the closing seam and in the direction of the closing seam in the region of the closing seam, whereby, together with advantageous forming, in particular smoothing, air can advantageously be guided out of the tubular bag. In a forming device having a forming unit arranged in front of a closing means such as a sealing jaw, in particular, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the time of contact of the tubular bag, the forming device is preferably provided for forming the packaging material laterally away from the closing seam with respect to the closing seam.

[0024] In another configuration of the present invention, it is proposed that the forming device has a bearing unit, and one forming unit of the forming device is rotatably supported using this bearing unit, whereby an advantageous forming movement can be achieved with a structurally simple configuration. However, the forming unit may be supported so as to be movable in translation instead of or in addition to the rotatable support form.

[0025] When the forming device has a bearing unit and this bearing unit is at least partially integrally formed with the bearing unit of the closing device, supplementary members and costs can be saved. At this time, the forming unit of the forming device is preferably movably supported together with a closing unit such as a sealing jaw in particular.

[0026] Furthermore, it is proposed that the forming device has a forming unit that is deformable, in particular elastically deformable. In this context, "deformable" should be understood to mean that the forming unit is formed such that it undergoes a dimensional change of at least 0.5 mm when the packaging material is deformed. At this time, the forming unit is preferably elastically deformed and preferably compressed. Preferably, the forming unit is at least partially formed from an elastomer and / or a foam material. Furthermore, the forming unit advantageously has a base body made of a first material such as steel and a layer body made of a second material arranged, in particular adhered, on this base body and having a lower hardness than the material of the base body.

[0027] Furthermore, a manufacturing method for manufacturing the forming unit of the forming device of the packaging machine according to the present invention is proposed. This manufacturing method is excellent in terms of at least one additive manufacturing step, preferably a 3D printing manufacturing step. Thereby, the forming unit can be configured particularly flexibly and inexpensively, and thus particularly advantageous forming of the packaging material can be achieved. Instead of or in addition to the 3D printing method, another additive manufacturing step that those skilled in the art consider reasonable, in particular an injection molding method step in which a single layer or multiple layers are adhered onto an object where one material already exists, is also conceivable.

[0028] The device, machine, unit, and method according to the present invention should not be limited to the uses and embodiments described above. Furthermore, within the range of values shown in this disclosure, values within the described limit values should also be regarded as disclosed and should be considered arbitrarily usable.

[0029] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings, which show an embodiment of the present invention. The drawings, the description of the specification, and the claims include many combined features. Those skilled in the art will consider these features individually according to the purpose and combine them into suitable other combinations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a part of a schematic packaging machine equipped with the packaging machine device according to the present invention. The packaging machine is preferably formed as a horizontal machine as shown, but may also be formed as a vertical machine.

[0032] The packaging machine device has a closing device 10, that is, a sealing device, for forming two closing seams 12, 14 formed as seal seams in the packaging material 16. The closing seams 12, 14 are horizontal seams, and FIG. 6 shows a package manufactured using the packaging machine and having the closing seams 12, 14 formed as horizontal seams.

[0033] The packaging machine device includes a forming device 18, which is provided for preforming the packaging material 16 preformed into a tubular bag in the region of the closing seams 12, 14 before the formation of the closing seams 12, 14, that is, for smoothing and partially evacuating (see FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0034] The packaging material 16 is unwound from a roller (not shown in detail), supplied to the forming unit 48 via the deflecting roller 46, and in this forming unit 48, the flat packaging material 16 is formed into a tubular bag up to this point (see FIG. 1). The tubular bag is supplied to the guide tunnel 50. At the end 54 of the guide tunnel 50 opposite to the movement direction 52 of the tubular bag, the product to be packaged is conveyed into the tubular bag using a conveying device (not shown in detail). At the end 56 of the tubular bag facing the movement direction 52, the tubular bag is supplied to a packaging machine device equipped with a forming device 18 and a closing device 10.

[0035] A longitudinal seal seam is formed in the tubular bag using the seal rollers 92, 94 between the two ends 54, 56 of the guide tunnel 50.

[0036] The forming device 18 has two forming units 34, 36 that form a preform surface, and these forming units, during the preform process, come into contact with the packaging material 16 before the seal jaws 58, 60 of the closing device 10 contact the packaging material 16, specifically guiding the walls of the tubular bag together using the seal jaws 58, 60 and then coming into contact with the packaging material before pressure is applied to the walls.

[0037] The forming device 18 is provided to contact the packaging material 16 in succession at different regions 24, 26, 28 as desired when viewed in the projection plane 20 that extends parallel to the closing seams 12, 14 and parallel to the longitudinal direction 22 of the tubular bag and the movement direction 52 of the tubular bag (see FIGS. 1 and 6), thereby forming and in particular smoothing the packaging material 16. Using the forming device 18, it is achieved that the packaging material 16 or the packaging tube is directed at least first towards the forming units 34, 36 rather than the product to be packaged that may have a convex-concave contour.

[0038] The forming device 18 is provided to preform the packaging material 16 in regions of the closing seams 12, 14 in directions 30, 32 opposite to each other starting from the inner region 24 of the closing seams 12, 14 towards the outer regions 26, 28 of the closing seams 12, 14, regardless of the contour of the product to be packaged.

[0039] For this purpose, the forming units 34, 36 of the forming device 18 have a geometric shape that varies spatially in the direction 38 of the closing seams 12, 14 when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material 16. This will be described later with reference to the forming unit 34, and the same applies correspondingly to the forming unit 36 (see FIG. 4). In a projection plane 62 perpendicular to the movement direction 64 of the forming unit 34 during operation of the packaging machine, when viewed in the direction of both end regions of the closing seams 12, 14 along the closing seams 12, 14 starting from the central region of the closing seams 12, 14, there is an increasing distance 66 between the forming unit 34 and the contact plane 68 of the closing device 10. The contact plane 68 extends perpendicular to the projection plane 62 and is located at the seal jaw contact surface. The distance 66 varies with a value exceeding 1 mm in the illustrated embodiment. The forming unit 34 has a constant thickness along the direction 38. However, the forming unit 34 may preferably have a greater thickness, particularly in the central region, than in the side regions and may thus be configured in a dome shape.

[0040] Furthermore, the forming device 18 is provided to preform the packaging material 16 transversely to the closing seams 12, 14 in the regions of the closing seams 12, 14, i.e., preferably without contacting the product to be packaged and thus without causing damage to the product to be packaged that may occur in some cases. The forming units 34, 36 have a geometric shape that varies spatially in a direction transverse to the closing seams 12, 14 when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material 16.

[0041] When viewed in a cutting plane 70 perpendicular to the projection plane 62, the forming unit 34 has an outer surface 72 facing the packaging material 16, and this outer surface 72 has an increasing spacing 74 with respect to the contact plane 68 of the closing device 10 along the movement direction 64 of the forming unit 34. This spacing 74 varies with a value exceeding 1 mm in the illustrated embodiment.

[0042] The outer surface 72 is formed as an inclined surface extending towards the contact plane 68, but it may also be formed in a curved shape. The angle 76 between the outer surface 72 and the contact plane 68 is preferably between 0° and 90°, particularly preferably between 20° and 70°. The angle 76 is preferably selected in relation to the desired folding triangle 78 and the peeling length of the packaging material 16 (see Fig. 6).

[0043] Fig. 6 shows preform lines 80, 82 or pressing lines, and along these preform lines 80, 82 or pressing lines, the packaging material 16 is preformed using the forming units 34, 36 regardless of the contour of the product to be packaged, and pressure is applied to the packaging material 16 from the forming unit 34 along the preform lines 80, 82 or pressing lines. The preform lines 80, 82 are formed so as to move away from each other towards the closing seams 12, 14 in a direction opposite to the movement direction 52 of the tubular bag. Further, the preform lines 80, 82 are formed in a curved shape.

[0044] The forming device 18 has bearing units 40, 42, and using both bearing units 40, 42, the forming units 34, 36 of the forming device 18 are rotatably supported (see FIGS. 1 to 3). The bearing units 40, 42 are integrally formed with the bearing units of the closing device 10, that is, the bearing units 40, 42 are formed by the lateral seal shafts. The seal jaws 58, 60 are arranged on the lateral seal shafts and are rotatably supported via the lateral seal shafts. The forming units 34, 36 are respectively arranged on the seal jaws 58, 60 on the side facing the turning direction, that is, are directly fixed to the seal jaws 58, 60. Based on the fact that the forming units 34, 36 are elastically deformable, the forming units 34, 36 may project beyond the seal jaws 58, 60 starting from the turning axis of the bearing units 40, 42 in the radial direction. Alternatively, the forming units 34, 36 may be directly fixed to the lateral seal shafts, or may be fixed to a support ring (not shown in detail) fixed to the lateral seal shafts.

[0045] The forming unit 34 is supported by the seal jaw 58 such that its position is adjustable (see FIG. 4). For this purpose, the forming unit 34 has elongated holes 84, 86. The same also applies to the forming unit 36.

[0046] The forming units 34, 36 are arranged on the side of the sealing joints 58, 60 facing the moving direction 52 of the tubular bag at the time of sealing (see FIGS. 1 to 3). Additionally, forming units may also be arranged at the sealing joints 58, 60 on the side opposite to the moving direction 52 of the tubular bag (this is schematically shown). With such a configuration, preferably when viewed in the moving direction 52 of the tubular bag, the packaging material 16 can be advantageously formed in front of and / or behind the spatially closed seams 12, 14 and temporally before and / or after the formation of the closed seams 12, 14, and can preferably be at least partially evacuated. The forming units 34, 36 may be formed in the same structure as the forming units on the opposite sides of the sealing joints 58, 60, especially in the case of sealing joints that can move translationally, or may be formed in a different structure, especially in the case of the sealing joints 58, 60 rotatably supported as in the illustrated embodiment.

[0047] The forming units 34, 36 are formed to be elastically deformable and are elastically deformed during the forming of the packaging material 16. The forming units 34, 36 are manufactured by a manufacturing method including an additive manufacturing step, that is, manufactured by a 3D printing manufacturing step (this is described with reference to the forming unit 34 in FIG. 7), and the same applies to the forming unit 36. The forming unit 34 has a steel base body 88, and an elastomer layer 90 is adhered to this base body 88 in the additive manufacturing step. The elastomer layer 90 may be formed to protrude beyond the surface of the base body 88 (this is illustrated by a dashed line in FIGS. 5 and 7), and with such a configuration, in particular, a larger outer surface 72 and improved deformability of the elastomer layer 90 can be obtained.

[0048] Alternatively, it is also possible to manufacture the entire forming unit 34 by a 3D printing method or a multi-component injection molding method. The elastomer layer 90 is compressed during the forming process, that is, preferably compressed by a value exceeding 0.5 mm.

[0049] The processed packaging material 16 has a thickness 44 of 65 μm (see Fig. 3). The packaging material 16 is an aluminum composite material, and this aluminum composite material consists of at least 20% aluminum, at least 40% recycled material, and at least 40% recycled raw materials, particularly paper raw materials. However, basically, various compositions that those skilled in the art would consider reasonable are conceivable.

Claims

1. At least one closing device (10), in particular a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam (12, 14), in particular a seal seam, in at least one packaging material (16); and a forming device (18) provided for shaping the packaging material (16), which is preformed into a tubular bag, in the region of the closing seam (12, 14), in particular at least partially before the formation of the closing seam (12, 14). A packaging machine device, comprising: The forming device (18) is provided for shaping the packaging material (16) in a direction (30, 32) from at least one inner region (24) of the closing seam (12, 14) as a starting point to at least one outer region (26, 28) of the closing seam (12, 14) in the region of the closing seam (12, 14). A packaging machine device, characterized in that

2. The forming device (18) is provided for contacting the packaging material (16) successively and precisely in different regions (24, 26, 28) as seen in a projection plane (20) that extends parallel to the closing seam (12, 14) and parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) of the tubular bag and / or the movement direction (52) of the tubular bag, thereby shaping, in particular smoothing, the packaging material (16). The packaging machine device according to claim 1

3. The forming device (18) has forming units (34, 36), and the forming units (34, 36) have a geometric shape that varies spatially along the direction (38) of the closing seam (12, 14) as seen at the time of contact with the packaging material (16). The packaging machine device according to claim 1 or 2

4. The forming device (18) is provided for shaping the packaging material (16) transversely to the closing seam (12, 14) in the region of the closing seam (12, 14). The packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 3

5. The forming device (18) has forming units (34, 36), and the forming units (34, 36) have a geometric shape that varies spatially in a direction transverse to the closing seam (12, 14) as seen at the time of contact with the packaging material (16). The packaging machine device according to claim 4

6. The forming device (18) has bearing units (40, 42), and one forming unit (34, 36) of the forming device (18) is rotatably supported by using the bearing units (40, 42). The packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The forming device (18) has bearing units (40, 42), and the bearing units (40, 42) are at least partially integrally formed with the bearing units of the closing device (10). The packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The forming device (18) has forming units (34, 36) formed to be deformable, particularly elastically deformable. The packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A forming device (18) for the packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Forming units (34, 36) for the forming device (18) according to claim 9.

11. A packaging machine comprising the packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A method using the packaging machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the packaging material (16) preformed into a tubular bag is formed by the forming device (18) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14), particularly at least partially before the formation of the closing seams (12, 14). A method characterized in that the forming device (18) is used to form the packaging material (16) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14) in a direction (30, 32) from the inner region (24) of the closing seams (12, 14) as a starting point to at least one outer region (26, 28) of the closing seams (12, 14).

13. Using the forming device (18), when viewed in a projection plane (20) that extends parallel to the closing seams (12, 14) and parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) of the tubular bag and / or the moving direction (52) of the tubular bag, the packaging material (16) is made to contact successively and accurately in different regions (24, 26, 28), thereby forming, particularly smoothing, the packaging material (16). The method according to claim 12.

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the forming device (18) is used to form the packaging material (16) transversely to the closing seams (12, 14) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14).

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the forming units (34, 36) of the forming device (18) are deformed during the forming of the packaging material (16).

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the packaging material (16) has a thickness (44) greater than 30 μm, preferably greater than 40 μm, and is processed.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein at least 20%, preferably at least 40% of the packaging material (16) is manufactured from recycled material and is processed.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein at least 20%, preferably at least 40% of the packaging material (16) is manufactured from recycled raw materials and is processed.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein at least 10%, preferably at least 20% of the packaging material (16) is manufactured from aluminum and is processed.

20. A manufacturing method for manufacturing the forming units (34, 36) of the forming device (18) of the packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by at least one additive manufacturing step, preferably a 3D printing manufacturing step.

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