A thermo-forming packaging machine having a transport device that is configured to convey a lower film in a film transport surface along a transport direction from a forming station for forming troughs in the lower film via an inserting track for filling the troughs with products to a sealing station for sealing the troughs with an upper film and further to a cutting station for separating the sealed troughs. The film transport surface may include an area that ascends along the transport direction, either between the forming station and the sealing station or following the sealing station. The ascending areas may be followed in the transport direction by an even area. As a result, one of a product feeding device for feeding of products or a packaging discharge device for leading away packages may be positioned particularly close to the lower film.

Provided is a sheet material end detection mechanism including: a sheet material information part indicating information on a sheet material wound around a core member in which a light passing part is formed; a reader configured to optically read the sheet material information part; and a detection unit configured to detect that the sheet material is used up. A forming part is attached to an outer surface of the core member and an inner surface of the sheet material. The sheet material information part is formed in a portion of the forming part corresponding to the light passing part. The detection unit detects that the sheet material is present when a read signal of the sheet material information part read by the reader is received and that the sheet material is used up when the read signal disappears.

Provided is a sheet material end detection mechanism including: a sheet material information part indicating information on a sheet material wound around a core member in which a light passing part is formed; a reader configured to optically read the sheet material information part; and a detection unit configured to detect that the sheet material is used up. The sheet material information part is held at an end of the sheet material wound around the core member at a position corresponding to the light passing part. The detection unit detects that the sheet material is present when a read signal of the sheet material information part read by the reader is received and that the sheet material is used up when the read signal disappears.

An air pillow machine system may include an air pillow machine including a primary base plate having mounted thereto a feeding mechanism, an inflating mechanism, and a sealing mechanism. The primary base plate of the air pillow machine may be removably slidingly received within a frame. The frame may be one of mounted at least partially within a housing and integral with the housing. A portion of each of the feeding mechanism, inflating mechanism, and sealing mechanism that engage an uninflated pillow-precursor may protrude away from the primary base plate and away from the frame.

An air pillow machine system may include an air pillow machine including a primary base plate having mounted thereto a feeding mechanism, an inflating mechanism, and a sealing mechanism. The primary base plate of the air pillow machine may be removably slidingly received within a frame. The frame may be one of mounted at least partially within a housing and integral with the housing. A portion of each of the feeding mechanism, inflating mechanism, and sealing mechanism that engage an uninflated pillow-precursor may protrude away from the primary base plate and away from the frame.

A feed unit for articles includes a guide extending along a guide longitudinal axis to define a linear feed path for such articles. The guide is for accommodating articles arranged in a row one after the other and to guide the articles as the articles move along the linear feed path. The articles have a characteristic length corresponding to their size along the longitudinal axis. At least one segment of the guide is progressively rotated about the guide longitudinal axis by a total angle greater than 180 and with an angular variation per unit of linear measurement such that, substantially for each portion of the linear feed path equal to the characteristic length of the articles, the guide is rotated about the longitudinal axis by an angle greater than 4.

A feed unit for articles includes a guide extending along a guide longitudinal axis to define a linear feed path for such articles. The guide is for accommodating articles arranged in a row one after the other and to guide the articles as the articles move along the linear feed path. The articles have a characteristic length corresponding to their size along the longitudinal axis. At least one segment of the guide is progressively rotated about the guide longitudinal axis by a total angle greater than 180 and with an angular variation per unit of linear measurement such that, substantially for each portion of the linear feed path equal to the characteristic length of the articles, the guide is rotated about the longitudinal axis by an angle greater than 4.

A method for operating a packaging device and a packaging device are provided. Guide units which are fastened to transporter of a transport unit are moved along a plurality of supply and dispensing units. The transporter is driven by a drive axle coupled to a motor and returned via a deflection axle, the motor being coupled to a control unit. The transporter and/or the deflection axle have a plurality of markings spaced at predefined intervals, and at least one travel difference or time difference between two markings is determined. The determined difference is compared to a setpoint value and the drive axle is stopped when a deviation between the setpoint value and the determined difference exceeds a threshold value.

A method for operating a packaging device and a packaging device are provided. Guide units which are fastened to transporter of a transport unit are moved along a plurality of supply and dispensing units. The transporter is driven by a drive axle coupled to a motor and returned via a deflection axle, the motor being coupled to a control unit. The transporter and/or the deflection axle have a plurality of markings spaced at predefined intervals, and at least one travel difference or time difference between two markings is determined. The determined difference is compared to a setpoint value and the drive axle is stopped when a deviation between the setpoint value and the determined difference exceeds a threshold value.

A method for operating a packaging device and a packaging device are provided. Guide units which are fastened to transporter of a transport unit are moved along a plurality of supply and dispensing units. The transporter is driven by a drive axle coupled to a motor and returned via a deflection axle, the motor being coupled to a control unit. The transporter and/or the deflection axle have a plurality of markings spaced at predefined intervals, and at least one travel difference or time difference between two markings is determined. The determined difference is compared to a setpoint value and the drive axle is stopped when a deviation between the setpoint value and the determined difference exceeds a threshold value.