Packaging machinery and methods using such packaging machinery.

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 sealing 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 creases.

[0003] Based on German Patent Application Publication No. 3732033, Australian Patent Application Publication No. 1985 / 43753, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-11923, German Patent Application Publication No. 3837709, and US Patent No. 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 sealing seam, in at least one packaging material, and a forming device. The forming device is provided for forming, in particular pressing together, the packaging material preformed into a tubular bag in the region of the closing seam, particularly 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, in particular, a packaging machine device of the type described at the beginning, which has improved characteristics with respect to processing reliability and in particular the sealing property of the manufactured package. 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 dependent claims and subclaims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention relates to a packaging machine apparatus comprising: at least one closing device, particularly a sealing device, for forming at least one closing seam, particularly a seal seam, in at least one packaging material; and a forming device provided for forming the packaging material, which has been preformed into a tubular bag, in the area of ​​the closing seam, particularly at least partially, before the formation of the closing seam.

[0006] It is proposed that the molding apparatus is provided for molding the packaging material in the region of the closed seam, starting from the inner region of the closed seam and moving toward at least one outer region of the closed seam.

[0007] In this context, "closing device" refers to a variety of devices that a person skilled in the art would deem appropriate, such as folding and / or sealing devices that can reasonably close a tubular bag, and more preferably, sealing devices.

[0008] The term "seal" should be understood to include all sealing methods that a person skilled in the art would consider reasonable, particularly cold seals, hot seals, ultrasonic seals, and separation seals.

[0009] Furthermore, it is conceivable that not only is one packaging material provided, but multiple packaging materials, such as a carrier material and a barrier material that can be bound together, are also provided.

[0010] The term "closure seam" can refer to a variety of seams that a person skilled in the art would deem appropriate, such as a longitudinal seam extending along the length of a tubular bag, but particularly preferably, a transverse seam extending laterally to the longitudinal direction of the tubular bag, and especially parallel to a cut line where the tubular bag is cut and / or perforated to separate individual packages.

[0011] In this context, “molding apparatus” should be understood as an apparatus provided for folding, particularly for pre-folding, and / or particularly preferably for smoothing, the packaging material after it has been formed into a tubular bag by a molding means such as a molding shoulder and / or one or more folding boxes, particularly by point loading and / or linear loading. Furthermore, “molding apparatus” should be understood as an apparatus having a molding surface formed separately from the closing surface of a closure device, provided for forming a closing seam, particularly the sealing surface of a seal jaw. The molding apparatus particularly has a molding unit formed separately from the molding unit that molds the packaging material into a tubular bag. Preferably, the molding apparatus has a molding unit that is spatially separated from the molding unit provided for molding the tubular bag. The molding apparatus preferably has a molding unit provided for contacting the tubular bag, particularly before the closing means of a closure device, such as a seal jaw, contacts the tubular bag. In particular, the molding process is completed at least largely when the tubular bag walls of the tubular bags are brought into contact with each other, especially using a closing mechanism such as a seal jaw, and pressure and / or heat are applied.

[0012] The molding apparatus preferably has a molding unit positioned behind a closing means, particularly a seal jaw, of a closing device, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the point of contact with the tubular bag, and the molding apparatus may also have a molding unit positioned in front of a closing means, particularly a seal jaw, of a closing device, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the point of contact with the tubular bag.

[0013] In this context, "in the area of ​​the closing seam" should be understood as meaning that at least one area of ​​the packaging material is formed by the molding device, and this area has a spacing of less than half the length of the packaging to be manufactured, preferably less than one-quarter of the length of the packaging to be manufactured, and / or less than 8 cm, preferably less than 4 cm, relative to the closing seam, and "length of packaging" should be understood as the length of the packaging to be manufactured in the longitudinal direction of the packaging tube.

[0014] "To be provided" should be understood as being specially formed, specially designed, and / or specially configured. "To be provided for a particular function" should be understood as being, in particular, to satisfy and / or perform this particular function in at least one usage and / or operating state.

[0015] Using the configuration according to the present invention, errors / corner folds that occur in the closure seam region of a tubular bag due to stress can be reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, particularly tight packaging and visually appealing closure seams can be formed with particularly high processing reliability, which is especially advantageous when the molding apparatus is provided to mold the packaging material preformed into a tubular bag in the closure seam region at least partially before the formation of the closure seam. Alternatively, or preferably supplementally, the molding apparatus may be provided to mold the packaging material preformed into a tubular bag in the closure seam region at least partially after the formation of the closure seam.

[0016] Preferably, the closing seam is formed by a transverse seam as already described, and the molding process is carried out using a molding apparatus after the longitudinal seam of the tubular bag has been formed in time.

[0017] Particularly preferably, packaging can be formed using packaging materials that impose higher processing requirements compared to standard packaging materials, along with particularly high processing reliability. Particularly preferably, packaging materials having a thickness greater than 30 μm, preferably greater than 40 μm, and especially preferably greater than 60 μm, can be processed. Packaging materials made from at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, and especially preferably at least 60% recycled materials, packaging materials made from at least 20%, preferably at least 40%, and especially preferably at least 60% recycled raw materials, and packaging materials made from at least 10%, preferably at least 20% aluminum and / or aluminum composite materials can be processed.

[0018] "Recycled raw materials" should be understood here as organic raw materials, particularly plant-based raw materials, that originate from agricultural and / or forestry products and are configured for a specific purpose by humans for further use, except in the food and / or feed industries, or are by-products and / or waste from agriculture and / or the food and feed industries. Recycled raw materials in the sense of this application are exclusively organic raw materials that are not of fossil origin. Such recycled raw materials in this invention are preferably local products and by-products and / or residues derived from agricultural and / or forestry products, and algae, provided that they do not violate waste disposal laws.

[0019] Particularly preferably, packaging materials manufactured at least partially from fibrous materials and / or paper materials can also be processed.

[0020] Molding using a molding apparatus, particularly smoothing of packaging materials, can be performed in a variety of forms that a person skilled in the art would consider reasonable, for example, by simple plate pressing. Particularly preferably, however, the molding apparatus is provided to make contact with the packaging material in a series of different areas as intended, when viewed in a projection plane that extends parallel to the closing seam and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubular bag and / or the direction of movement of the tubular bag, thereby molding the packaging material, particularly for smoothing. This allows for particularly advantageous molding, particularly smoothing, and also allows air to escape from the tubular bag as intended. Particularly preferably, the molding apparatus may also be provided to generate relative motion, i.e., a kind of friction motion, between the molding surface of the molding unit of the molding apparatus 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 the direction of movement of the tubular bag. A corresponding friction motion can be obtained by the movement of the molding surface relative to the packaging material and / or the movement of the packaging material relative to the molding surface.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the molding apparatus is provided to mold the packaging material in the region of the closing seam, in a direction starting from the inner region of the closing seam and moving toward the two outer regions of the closing seam, thereby particularly advantageously reducing or eliminating unwanted corner folds. Corresponding contact can be achieved in a variety of forms that a person skilled in the art would consider reasonable, for example, by the intended movement of one or more molding surfaces of at least one molding unit of the molding apparatus toward the packaging material, in which case, for example, the molding unit is driven by one or more actuators and guided along a special cam trajectory, and / or the molding apparatus has a molding unit which, when viewed at the point of contact with the packaging material, has a spatially changing geometric shape along the direction of the closing seam, thereby structurally easily achieving the molding unit molding the packaging material in the region of the closing seam, in a direction starting from the inner region of the closing seam and moving toward at least one outer region of the closing seam. In this context, "a changed geometric shape of a single component" should be understood as a change in at least one dimension of the component as seen at a single point in time and along a specific direction.

[0022] Preferably, the molding unit of the molding apparatus has a specific shape that increases the distance between the molding unit and the closing seam or the closing contact area of ​​the closing seam, when viewed in a projection plane perpendicular to the direction of motion of the molding unit during operation, starting from the central region of the closing seam and along the closing seam, in the direction of one end region of the closing seam, preferably in the direction of both end regions of the closing seam, which can preferably be achieved by a slope and / or curvature. This distance is at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably at least 1 mm. Alternatively and / or supplementally, the molding unit may be formed with different thicknesses and may preferably be dome-shaped. Preferably, the molding unit is provided to create a pressing line arrangement configuration that extends away from each other.

[0023] Furthermore, it has been proposed that the molding apparatus be provided for molding the packaging material in the region of the closure seam in a direction laterally to the closure seam, and in such a configuration, the molding apparatus particularly preferably has a molding unit which has a geometric shape that, when viewed at the point of contact with the packaging material, changes spatially in a direction transverse to the closure seam. Particularly preferably, the molding apparatus is provided for preforming the packaging material in the region of the closure seam in a direction laterally to the closure seam, in the direction of the closure seam, thereby allowing advantageous molding, particularly smoothing, and advantageously allowing air to be directed out of the tubular bag. In a molding apparatus having a molding unit positioned in front of a closing means, particularly a seal jaw, of a closing device, when viewed in the direction of movement of the tubular bag and at the point of contact with the tubular bag, the molding apparatus is preferably provided for molding the packaging material laterally to the closure seam and away from the closure seam.

[0024] In another configuration of the present invention, the molding apparatus has a bearing unit, and it is proposed that one molding unit of the molding apparatus is pivotably supported by this bearing unit, thereby enabling structurally simple and advantageous molding motion. However, the molding unit may be supported so as to be able to move in translation instead of, or in addition to, the pivotable support configuration.

[0025] If the molding apparatus has a bearing unit, and this bearing unit is formed at least partially integrally with the bearing unit of the closing device, supplementary components and costs can be saved. In this case, the molding unit of the molding apparatus is preferably movably supported together with a closing device, such as a seal jaw.

[0026] Furthermore, it is proposed that the shaping device has a shaping unit that is deformable, particularly elastically deformable. In this context, "deformable" should be understood to mean that the shaping 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 shaping unit is preferably elastically deformed and preferably compressed. Preferably, the shaping unit is at least partially formed from an elastomer and / or a foam material. Furthermore, the shaping unit advantageously has a base body made of a first material such as steel, and a layer body made of a second material that is arranged, particularly adhered, on this base body and has a lower hardness than the material of the base body.

[0027] Furthermore, a manufacturing method for manufacturing the shaping unit of the shaping 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 shaping unit can be configured particularly flexibly and at low cost, and thus particularly advantageous shaping of the packaging material can be achieved. Instead of or in addition to the 3D printing method, another additive manufacturing step that is considered reasonable by those skilled in the art, particularly 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 other suitable combinations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] This figure shows a portion of a roughly illustrated packaging machine equipped with the packaging machinery device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a magnified view of section II shown in Figure 1 at the first point in time. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing an enlarged view of section II at the second point in time. [Figure 4] This figure shows the molding unit of the molding apparatus in a projection plane perpendicular to the direction of motion of the molding unit during operation. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view along the VV line in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This figure shows packaging manufactured using the packaging machine shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This figure shows the molding unit of the molding apparatus according to the present invention during manufacturing by an additive manufacturing process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

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

[0032] The packaging machine has a closing device 10, or sealing device, for forming two closing seams 12 and 14, which are formed as seal seams, in the packaging material 16. The closing seams 12 and 14 are transverse seams, and Figure 6 shows packaging manufactured using the packaging machine with closing seams 12 and 14 formed as transverse seams.

[0033] The packaging machinery includes a molding device 18, which is provided to preform the packaging material 16, which will be preformed into a tubular bag, in the area of ​​the closure seams 12, 14 before the formation of the closure seams 12, 14, that is, to smooth and partially vacuum it (see Figures 1 to 5).

[0034] The packaging material 16 is fed from rollers (not shown in detail) and supplied to the molding unit 48 via a deflection roller 46, where the packaging material 16, which is flat up to this point, is molded into a tubular bag (see Figure 1). The tubular bag is supplied to the guide tunnel 50. At the end 54 of the guide tunnel 50 facing the opposite direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag, the packaged product is transported into the tubular bag using a conveying device (not shown in detail). At the end 56 facing the direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag, the tubular bag is supplied to a packaging machine equipped with a molding device 18 and a closing device 10.

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

[0036] The molding apparatus 18 has two molding units 34, 36 that form the preform surface, and these molding units come into contact with the packaging material during the preforming process, in particular with the seal jaws 58, 60 of the closing apparatus 10 before the seal jaws 58, 60 come into contact with the packaging material 16, and then before pressure is applied to the walls.

[0037] The molding apparatus 18 is provided to make contact with the packaging material 16 in a succession of different regions 24, 26, and 28 as intended, when viewed in a projection plane 20 that is parallel to the closing seams 12, 14 and parallel to the longitudinal direction 22 of the tubular bag and the direction of motion 52 of the tubular bag (see Figures 1 and 6), thereby molding the packaging material 16, and in particular to smooth it. Using the molding apparatus 18, it is achieved that the packaging material 16 or packaging tube is directed at at least first towards the molding units 34, 36, rather than at the packaged item which may have an uneven contour.

[0038] The molding apparatus 18 is provided to preform the packaging material 16 in the region of the closing seams 12, 14 in opposite directions 30, 32, starting from the inner region 24 of the closing seams 12, 14 and moving toward the outer regions 26, 28 of the closing seams 12, 14, regardless of the contour of the product to be packaged.

[0039] To this end, the molding units 34 and 36 of the molding apparatus 18 have a geometric shape that changes spatially in the direction 38 of the closing seams 12 and 14 when viewed at the point of contact with the packaging material 16. This will be described later with reference to the molding unit 34, and the same applies to the molding unit 36 ​​(see Figure 4). The packaging machine has a gap 66 between the molding unit 34 and the contact plane 68 of the closing device 10, viewed in the direction of the closing seams 12 and 14, starting from the central region of the closing seams 12 and 14 and moving along the closing seams 12 and 14 towards the regions at both ends of the closing seams 12 and 14, in a projection plane 62 perpendicular to the direction of motion 64 of the molding unit 34 during operation. The contact plane 68 extends perpendicular to the projection plane 62 and is located at the seal jaw contact surface. The gap 66 changes by a value greater than 1 mm in the illustrated embodiment. The molding unit 34 has a thickness that remains constant along the direction 38. However, the molding unit 34 may preferably have a greater thickness in the central region than in the side regions, and may even be configured in a dome shape.

[0040] Furthermore, the molding apparatus 18 is provided to preform the packaging material 16 in the region of the closing seams 12, 14 in a direction laterally to the closing seams 12, 14, that is, to preform it preferably without contact with the packaged product and, if possible, without causing damage to the packaged product. The molding units 34, 36 have a geometric shape that changes spatially in the direction across the closing seams 12, 14 when viewed at the point of contact with the packaging material 16.

[0041] When viewed with a cutting plane 70 perpendicular to the projection plane 62, the molding unit 34 has an outer surface 72 facing the packaging material 16, and this outer surface 72 has a gap 74 that increases with respect to the contact plane 68 of the closing device 10 along the direction of movement 64 of the molding unit 34. In the illustrated embodiment, this gap 74 varies by a value greater than 1 mm.

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

[0043] Figure 6 shows preform lines 80, 82 or pressure lines, along which the packaging material 16 is preformed using molding units 34, 36 independently of the contour of the packaged product, and pressure is applied to the packaging material 16 from the molding unit 34 along the preform lines 80, 82 or pressure lines. The preform lines 80, 82 are formed to move away from each other toward the closing seams 12, 14 in the opposite direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag. Furthermore, the preform lines 80, 82 are formed in a curved shape.

[0044] The molding apparatus 18 has bearing units 40 and 42, and the molding units 34 and 36 of the molding apparatus 18 are pivotably supported using both bearing units 40 and 42 (see Figures 1 to 3). The bearing units 40 and 42 are integrally formed with the bearing units of the closing device 10, that is, the bearing units 40 and 42 are formed by a lateral seal axis. The seal jaws 58 and 60 are positioned on the lateral seal axis and are pivotably supported via the lateral seal axis. The molding units 34 and 36 are positioned on the seal jaws 58 and 60 on the side facing the pivot direction, that is, they are directly fixed to the seal jaws 58 and 60. Based on the fact that the molding units 34 and 36 are elastically deformable, the molding units 34 and 36 may protrude radially beyond the seal jaws 58 and 60, starting from the pivot axis of the bearing units 40 and 42. Alternatively, the molding units 34 and 36 may be fixed directly to the lateral seal shaft, or to a support ring (not shown in detail) fixed to the lateral seal shaft.

[0045] The molding unit 34 is supported by the seal jaw 58 so that its position can be adjusted (see Figure 4). For this purpose, the molding unit 34 has elongated holes 84 and 86. The same applies to the molding unit 36.

[0046] The molding units 34 and 36 are positioned on the side of the seal jaws 58 and 60 facing the direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag, as viewed at the time of sealing (see Figures 1 to 3). Additionally, molding units may also be positioned on the side opposite to the direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag (this is schematically shown). With this configuration, preferably, as viewed in the direction of movement 52 of the tubular bag, the packaging material 16 can be advantageously molded spatially before and / or behind the closing seams 12 and 14, and temporally before and / or after the formation of the closing seams 12 and 14, and preferably at least partially vacuumed. The molding units 34 and 36 may be formed to be identical in structure to the molding units on the opposing sides of the seal jaws 58 and 60, particularly in the case of translationally movable seal jaws, or they may be formed to be different in structure to the rotatably supported seal jaws 58 and 60, particularly as in the illustrated embodiment.

[0047] The molding units 34 and 36 are formed to be elastically deformable and are elastically deformed when molding the packaging material 16. The molding units 34 and 36 are manufactured by a manufacturing method that includes an additive manufacturing step, i.e., a 3D printing manufacturing step (referencing molding unit 34 in Figure 7), and the same applies to molding unit 36. Molding unit 34 has a steel base body 88 to which an elastomer layer 90 is deposited in an additive manufacturing step. The elastomer layer 90 may be formed to protrude beyond the surface of the base body 88 (as shown by dashed lines in Figures 5 and 7), and this configuration provides, in particular, a larger outer surface area 72 and improved deformability of the elastomer layer 90.

[0048] Alternatively, the entire molding unit 34 can be manufactured by 3D printing or by multi-component injection molding. The elastomer layer 90 is compressed during the molding process, preferably to a value greater than 0.5 mm.

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

Claims

1. A packaging machine comprising at least one closing device (10) for forming at least one closing seam (12, 14) in at least one packaging material (16), and a molding device (18) provided for molding the packaging material (16), which is preformed to form a tubular bag, in the area of ​​the closing seam (12, 14), The packaging machine is characterized in that the molding apparatus (18) is provided to mold the packaging material (16) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14) starting from the inner region (24) of the closing seams (12, 14) and moving toward the two outer regions (26, 28) of the closing seams (12, 14) in directions (30, 32), at least partially before the formation of the closing seams (12, 14).

2. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding device (18) is provided to make contact with the packaging material (16) in a predetermined sequence of different regions (24, 26, 28) when viewed in a projection plane (20) that is parallel to the closing seams (12, 14) and parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) and / or the direction of motion (52) of the tubular bag, thereby molding the packaging material (16).

3. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has molding units (34, 36) which, when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material (16), have a geometric shape that changes spatially along the direction (38) of the closing seams (12, 14).

4. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) is provided for molding the packaging material (16) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14) in a transverse direction relative to the closing seams (12, 14).

5. The packaging machine according to claim 4, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has molding units (34, 36) which, when viewed at the time of contact with the packaging material (16), have a geometric shape that changes spatially in a direction across the closing seams (12, 14).

6. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has bearing units (40, 42), and one molding unit (34, 36) of the molding apparatus (18) is rotatably supported by the bearing units (40, 42).

7. The packaging machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has bearing units (40, 42), and the bearing units (40, 42) are at least partially formed integrally with the bearing units of the closing apparatus (10).

8. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has deformable molding units (34, 36).

9. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the molding apparatus (18) has elastically deformable molding units (34, 36), the molding units (34, 36) having a thickness greater in the central region than in the side regions, thereby forming a dome shape.

10. A molding apparatus (18) for a packaging machine according to claim 1.

11. A molding unit (34, 36) for the molding apparatus (18) according to claim 10.

12. A packaging machine equipped with the packaging machine device described in claim 1.

13. A method using a packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein a packaging material (16) preformed into a tubular bag is molded in the area of ​​a closing seam (12, 14) using a molding device (18), A method characterized by using the molding apparatus (18) to mold the packaging material (16) in the region of the closing seams (12, 14) starting from the inner region (24) of the closing seams (12, 14) and moving toward the two outer regions (26, 28) of the closing seams (12, 14) in directions (30, 32), at least partially before the formation of the closing seams (12, 14).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the molding apparatus (18) is used to make contact with the packaging material (16) in successively different regions (24, 26, 28) as intended, when viewed in a projection plane (20) that is parallel to the closing seams (12, 14) and parallel to the longitudinal direction (22) and / or the direction of motion (52) of the tubular bag, thereby molding the packaging material (16).

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the packaging material (16) is molded in the region of the closing seams (12, 14) in a transverse direction relative to the closing seams (12, 14) using the molding apparatus (18).

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the molding units (34, 36) of the molding apparatus (18) are deformed when molding the packaging material (16).

17. The method according to claim 13 for processing a packaging material (16) having a thickness (44) greater than 30 μm.

18. The method according to claim 13, comprising processing packaging material (16) which is manufactured from at least 20% recycled material.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the packaging material (16) is made from at least 20% recycled raw materials.

20. The method according to claim 13, comprising processing a packaging material (16) made of at least 10% aluminum.

21. A manufacturing method for producing the molding units (34, 36) of the molding apparatus (18) of the packaging machine apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 5, 6, 8, or 9, A manufacturing method comprising at least one additive manufacturing step.

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