The invention relates to a consumable-material handling device for transporting and/or handling at least one consumable material (12a; 12b), in particular packaging material, comprising at least one at least partially autonomous handling unit (14a; 14b), which is at least provided for handling the consumable material (12a; 12b). According to the invention, the machine tool comprises at least one, in particular at least partially autonomous, mobility unit (16a; 16b), on which the handling unit (14a; 14b) is arranged and which is at least provided for enabling locomotion, in particular at least partially autonomous locomotion, of the handling unit (14a; 14b).

There is described a method for feeding a supply station (6) of a packaging unit (1) with a new reel (3a) of sheet packaging material, comprising the steps of releasably connecting a sheet packaging material holder (11) to a support structure (5); coupling an end portion (52) of new reel (3a) with holder (11) connected, in turn, to support structure (5); carrying out on end portion (52) at least an operation, which is preliminary for joining of end portion (52) to a first edge (53) of a terminated reel (3a′, 3b) previously connected to packaging unit (1); moving new reel (3) together with holder (11) from support structure (5) towards supply station (6); and releasably connecting a fixed part (12) of supply station (6) to holder (11) together with new reel (3a).

The invention relates to a consumable-material handling device for transporting and/or handling at least one consumable material (12a; 12b), in particular packaging material, comprising at least one at least partially autonomous handling unit (14a; 14b), which is at least provided for handling the consumable material (12a; 12b). According to the invention, the machine tool comprises at least one, in particular at least partially autonomous, mobility unit (16a; 16b), on which the handling unit (14a; 14b) is arranged and which is at least provided for enabling locomotion, in particular at least partially autonomous locomotion, of the handling unit (14a; 14b).