Method and Device for Forming Package Bodies Open on One Side from Package Sleeves Open on Both Sides

Abstract

Described and depicted is a method for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, in which the package sleeves are folded flat and held ready for further processing in a stack around at least two folding edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeves, in which the flat-folded package sleeves are transferred successively from the stack to a forming station, in which the package sleeves are unfolded in the forming station, in which the package sleeves are pulled in the forming station through a channel coming into contact with the two opposite folding edges of the package sleeve and tapering transversely to the package sleeve and/or the package sleeves are positioned in the forming station between at least two form halves of a form and unfolded by closing the form, and in which the unfolded package sleeves are slid from the forming station onto a mandrel for closing, in particular sealing, a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, comprising:
 folding a package sleeve flat around at least two folding edges running in a longitudinal direction of the package sleeve and holding them in a stack,   transferring the flat-folded package sleeve successively from the stack to a forming station,   unfolding the package sleeve in the forming station, by positioning the package sleeve in the forming station between at least two form halves of a form,   pulling the package sleeve from the forming station through a channel coming into contact with the two opposite folding edges of the package sleeve and tapering transversely to the package sleeve,   and unfolding the package sleeve by closing the form,   sliding the unfolded package sleeve from the forming station onto a mandrel, and closing or sealing a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeve is folded flat around exactly two folding edges, and/or no folding line running straight along the entire length of the package sleeve is provided between the folding edges for folding the package sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least two folding edges are pressed against from opposite sides of the package sleeve such that the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve are moved towards each other to enlarge a free cross-section of the package sleeve in the forming station. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeve is unfolded by being at least substantially circumferentially applied to the inside of the form. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein a side of the folded package sleeve forms a front side of the stack, the package sleeve is pulled from the stack by suction cups and/or the package sleeve is pulled in a pre-folding unit for partial unfolding of the package sleeve in a straight line through the channel. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein, when the package sleeve is being pulled through it, at least one lateral boundary of the channel presses against the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve in such a manner that the folding edges of the package sleeve are moved towards each other. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the package sleeve, together with the at least two folding edges, engages associated grooves at the end of the channel in opposite sides of the channel and is transported further in the longitudinal direction of the grooves into an unfolding unit. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeve is moved in one direction through a pre-folding unit and is moved at least substantially perpendicularly to a direction of movement in the pre-folding unit to an unfolding unit. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeve, together with the at least two folding edges, is spaced away from an edge of a sleeve of the mandrel and/or a corner of a head of the mandrel and is slid onto the mandrel, and the distance from the at least two folding edges to the edge of the sleeve and/or the at least one corner of the head, is at least one tenth of the distance between an adjacent edge and/or corners, and/or the folding edges are arranged on flat and/or outwardly arched sides of the sleeve of the mandrel. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the package sleeves slide with a feeding unit in the longitudinal direction of the grooves to the unfolding unit and the feeding unit is engaged positively with at least one finger on a longitudinal end of the package sleeve during the sliding of the package sleeve. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeves comprising the stack are successively gripped by a gripping arm with suction cups and are pulled through the channel unfolded and/or the package sleeves that are unfolded and held between the closed form halves slide with a transfer unit onto the mandrel in each case. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the package sleeves, during the transfer from the channel to the form halves, are received at least in sections by two groove elements and wherein the groove elements are moved towards each other against a restoring force of at least one spring during the closing of the form halves, and after the transfer of the package sleeve to the mandrel, the form halves are parted by the restoring force of the at least one spring to receive a further package sleeve. 
     
     
         33 . A device for forming package bodies open on one side from package sleeves open on both sides for the manufacture of filled packages, comprising
 a magazine comprising a stack formed from package sleeves, wherein the package sleeves of the stack are folded flat around at least two folding edges running in a longitudinal direction of the package sleeves,   a transfer unit for transferring the package sleeves from the stack, successively to a forming station, wherein the forming station has at least two form halves of a form for simultaneously compressing and unfolding the package sleeves and a channel for at least partly unfolding the package sleeves moved through the channel, and   a sliding unit for sliding the unfolded package sleeves in the forming station onto a mandrel.   
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least two form halves are designed in such a manner that the package sleeve is unfolded by the closing of the form, and comes in contact with an inside of the form in at least a substantially circumferential manner. 
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein a pre-folding unit has the channel and/or the channel is designed to move the package sleeves through it in a straight line and the width of the channel tapers in a transport direction of the package sleeves to a degree which is smaller than the width of the flat-folded package sleeves, which are received in the magazine, such that at least one lateral boundary of the channel presses against the at least two folding edges of the package sleeve and moves the folding edges of the package sleeve towards each other. 
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least one lateral boundary of the channel, at when the package sleeve is being moved through it, is stationary and/or the end of the channel, grooves situated opposite are provided to receive the folding edges of the package sleeves. 
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 36 , wherein a feeding unit feeds the package sleeves into an unfolding unit in the longitudinal direction of the grooves, either in the grooves and/or with the grooves and the feeding unit comprises at least one finger that engages a longitudinal end of the package sleeve and positively slides the package sleeve towards the unfolding unit. 
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein a gripping arm grips a package sleeve of the stack and pulls the package sleeve through the channel, up to the grooves and/or the transfer unit slides the package sleeve unfolded between the closed at least two form halves onto the mandrel. 
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least two groove elements receive the at least two folding edges of the package sleeves during the transfer of the package sleeves from the channel to the at least two form halves, and the at least two groove elements are engaged with the form halves in at least the closed position of the form halves, and the groove elements are spring-loaded and arranged in such a manner that they move towards each other against a restoring force of at least one spring means during the closing of the at least two form halves. 
     
     
         40 . The device according to  claim 39 , wherein the restoring force of the at least one spring means of the at least two groove elements causes the at least two form halves to open after the transfer of the package sleeve to the mandrel.