Disclosed is a method used to handle outer packages (10) with foldable top flaps (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r). The handling can be carried out in association with a mechanical removal or introduction of articles (14) out of or into the outer package (10). The method provides the unfolding and/or the holding open of at least one top flap (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r) in order to at least partly uncover an opening (16) to make accessible an interior space of the outer package (10), as well as providing the application of a tensile force (32) to the at least one top flap (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r), the tensile force (32) being specified and/or variable over the course of the conveying phase.

The invention includes a transport section (20) which carries out the method during the conveyance of outer packages (10).

A packaging container-filler member includes: a front-side sheet and a back-side sheet disposed to oppose each other; a first connecting sheet connecting outer edges of the front-side and back-side sheets on a first side in a first direction along the front-side sheet; a second connecting sheet connecting outer edges of the front-side and back-side sheets on a second side in the first direction; and a third connecting sheet connecting outer edges of the front-side and back-side sheets on a first side in a second direction along the front-side sheet, the second direction crossing the first direction. The front-side and back-side sheets, and the first and second connecting sheets constitute a cylindrical body whose cross section is rectangular when the cylindrical body has a three-dimensional shape. The first, second and third connecting sheets are each folded in an opposing direction in which the front-side and back-side sheets oppose each other.

The invention relates to a method for forming package bodies open at one end from package sleeves open at both ends for the manufacture of filled packages. In order to allow packages with a cross section which is neither square nor rectangular to be formed more simply and reliably, the package sleeves are kept ready for further processing in a stack, folded flat along at least two folded edges running in the longitudinal direction of the package sleeve, the flat-folded package sleeves are transferred in succession from the stack to a forming station, the package sleeves are unfolded in a forming station and the unfolded package sleeves are, in the forming station, pushed onto a mandrel in order to close, in particular seal, a longitudinal end of the package sleeve.

An apparatus for fetching a blank from a magazine holding a number of blanks is presented. Each of the blanks is a sleeve shaped piece of packaging material folded planar. The apparatus comprises a rotary feeder provided with a gripper. The rotary feeder and the gripper are arranged to rotate around a main rotational axis, such that the gripper is moved between a fetching position in which a blank is fetched and a releasing position in which the blank is released. The gripper is arranged to rotate around a gripper specific rotational axis, such that fetching the blank in the fetching position is facilitated.

A bi-directional carton opening system for opening cartons in left hand or right hand configuration. The system utilizes apparatus having a Y axis rail with a first X axis rail fixedly mounted thereto and a second X axis rail mounted moveably thereto. A carton is gripped by a carrier on the first X axis rail and a carrier on the second X axis rail. The carrier on one of the X axis rails is moved along the respective X axis rail while the carrier on the other X axis rail is held in place and the moveable X axis rail is moved along the Y axis to open the carton to a rectangular tubular shape.

A device for shaping the gable surfaces of packages with a slanted gable is shown and described, including: a conveyor system with cells fixed to it to receive the packages, at least one gable folder to fold a fin seam in the gable region of the packages and at least two ear folders to fold ears in the gable region of the packages. In order to enable rapid and reliable shaping of the gable even in packages with slanted gables, it is proposed that both the gable folder and the ear folders be mounted movably relative to the conveyor system and the packages to be transported therewith. A method for shaping the gable surfaces of packages with a slanted gable is also shown and described.

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.

A device is depicted and described for the single-sided closure of packaging sleeves for the production of composite packages, in particular carton/plastic-composite packages, by forming by means of a mandrel wheel with a plurality of mandrels arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference and directed radially outwards, which pass successively through several processing stations in the circumferential direction of the mandrel wheel, wherein each mandrel has a head on its free end, on which the folding sections to be closed of the packaging sleeve slid onto the mandrel are folded and sealed in the closed position, and wherein the head of the mandrel is designed to be variable in its outer dimensions. In order to reliably ensure a reliable and in particular a pocket-free sealing of the end area of the packaging sleeve on the mandrel, it is provided that at least two corner segments of the head are variable in their position, that the mandrel in its interior has at least one axially movable tappet for the adjustment of the head geometry and that the corner segments of the head are designed as pivot elements, which can be brought from a sealing position into a retracted position.

A device for shaping closed packages is depicted and described, including: a base plate for supporting the bottom or the gable of the packages, at least two support elements for supporting the side surfaces or the front surface and the rear surface of the packages and at least two sliding elements for shaping the side surfaces or the front surface and the rear surface of the packages wherein the support elements and the sliding elements include at least one shaped surface on their side assigned to the package. In order to also enable a precise shaping of the packages even in the case of closed packages with complex geometry, it is proposed for at least one of the shaped surfaces to be curved at least in sections. A method for shaping closed packages is also depicted and described.

Embodiments include a carton feeding device for feeding cartons to a conveyor track, comprising a pick-up head with a plurality of vacuum cups, an erecting finger pivotally suspended at the pick-up head, where the pick-up head has a pick-up position (P1) and an insertion position (P2), where the carton is held with an angle ? between the holding plane of the pick-up head and the bearing surface of the erecting finger, wherein the angle ? differs from 90 degrees with at least 10 degrees in the insertion position (P2), where the carton is inserted between two parallel teeth of the conveyor track, and where the distance between the teeth is substantially equal to the width of the upper wall of the carton.