DEVICE, METHOD AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PROCESSING A PACKAGING CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for processing at least one packaging container, in particular for stretching out at least one stretching element of the packaging container, comprising at least one pivoting-arm pair, which comprises a first pivoting arm and a second pivoting arm, which is arranged in a mirror-symmetric manner in relation to the first pivoting arm with respect to an axis of symmetry perpendicular to the at least one linear axis, wherein the first pivoting arm is supported in such a way that the first pivoting arm can be rotated about a first pivoting-arm axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of symmetry in a first rotational motion and can be displaced in the direction of the at least one linear axis in a first displacement motion and the second pivoting arm is supported in such a way that the second pivoting arm can be rotated about a second pivoting-arm axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of symmetry in a second rotational motion and can be displaced in the direction of the at least one linear axis in a second displacement motion, and comprising a coupling transmission, which is designed to produce the first rotational motion and the first displacement motion of the first pivoting arm and the second rotational motion and the second displacement motion of the second pivoting arm from at least one first driving motion and one second driving motion, and wherein the first rotational motion and the second rotational motion are synchronous to each other and in opposite directions and the first displacement motion and the second displacement motion are synchronous to each other and in opposite directions.

Claims

1. A device for processing at least one packaging container (12a-e), the device comprising at least one linear axis (16a-e), comprising at least one pair of pivot arms (18a-e) including a first pivot arm (20a-e) and a second pivot arm (24a-e) arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the first pivot arm (20a-e) with reference to a symmetry axis (22a-e) perpendicular to the at least one linear axis (16a-e), wherein the first pivot arm (20a-e) is mounted so as to be rotatable in a first rotational movement (28a-e) about a first pivot arm rotational axis (30a-e) perpendicular to the symmetry axis (22a-e) and displaceable in a first displacement movement (32a-e) in the direction of the at least one linear axis (16a-e), and wherein the second pivot arm (24a-e) is mounted so as to be rotatable in a second rotational movement (36a-e) about a second pivot arm rotational axis (38a-e) perpendicular to the symmetry axis (22a-e) and displaceable in a second displacement movement (40a-e) in the direction of the at least one linear axis (16a-e), and comprising a coupler mechanism (42a-e) for generating the first rotational movement (28a-e) and the first displacement movement (32a-e) of the first pivot arm (20a-e) and the second rotational movement (36a-e) and the second displacement movement (40a-e) of the second pivot arm (24a-e) from at least one first drive movement (44a-e) and one second drive movement (46a-e), and wherein the first rotational movement (28a-e) and the second rotational movement (36a-e) as well as the first displacement movement (32a-e) and the second displacement movement (40a-e) are in each case synchronous with one another in opposite directions.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a plurality of pairs of pivot arms (18b-e) having in each case a first pivot arm (20b-e) and a second pivot arm (24b-e).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that in at least one operating state at least one second pivot arm (24c-e) of a pair of pivot arms (18c-e) and one first pivot arm (20c-e) of a further pair of pivot arms (18c-e) adjacent in the direction of the linear axis (16c-e) are arranged so as to cross over.

4. The device as claimed in at least claim 2, characterized in that at least two first pivot arms (20c′, 20c″) and/or at least two second pivot arms (24c′, 24c″) are rotatably mounted on in each case one common carriage (48c, 50c) which is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis (16c).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupler mechanism (42a-e) comprises at least one first mechanism element (52a-e) for generating from the first drive movement (44a-e) a first advance movement (54a-e) parallel to the linear axis (16a-e) and a synchronous first return movement (56a-e) parallel to the linear axis (16a-e) and is in the reverse direction to the first advance movement (54a-e).

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the coupler mechanism (42a-e) comprises coupling means (58a-e, 59a-e) for transmitting the first advance movement (54a-e) to the at least one first pivot arm (20a-e) and the first return movement (56a-e) to the at least one second pivot arm (24a-e).

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupler mechanism (42a-e) comprises at least one second mechanism element (60a-e) for generating from the second drive movement (46a-e) a second advance movement (62a-e) parallel to the linear axis (16a-e) and a synchronous second return movement (64a-e) parallel to the linear axis (16a-e) and is in the opposite direction to the second advance movement (64a-e).

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the coupler mechanism (42a-e) comprises rotary coupling means (66a-e, 67c-e) for generating the at least one first rotational movement (28a-e) from a relative movement of the second advance movement (62a-e) with reference to the at least one first pivot arm rotational axis (30a-e) and the at least one second rotational movement (36a-e) from a relative movement of the second return movement (64a-e) with reference to the at least one second pivot arm rotational axis (38a-e).

9. A packaging machine (72a-e) having a device (10a-e) as claimed in claim 1.

10. A method for processing at least one packaging container (12a-e), the method comprising providing a device (10a-e) with at least one pair of pivot arms (18a-e) including at least one first pivot arm (20a-e) and a second pivot arm (24a-e) which is arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner to the first pivot arm (20a-e) with reference to a symmetry axis (22a-e) perpendicular to a linear axis (16a-e), rotating the first pivot arm (20a-e) in a first rotational movement (28a-e) about a first pivot arm rotational axis (30a-e) perpendicular to the symmetry axis (22a-e), displacing the first pivot arm in a first displacement movement (32a-e) in the direction of the linear axis (16a-e), rotating the second pivot arm (24a-e) in a second rotational movement (36a-e) about a second pivot arm rotational axis (38a-e) perpendicular to the symmetry axis (22a-e) and displacing the second pivot arm in a second displacement movement (40a-e) in the direction of the linear axis (16a-e), wherein a coupler mechanism (42a-e) generates the first rotational movement (28a-e) and the first displacement movement (32a-e) of the first pivot arm (22a-e) as well as the second rotational movement (36a-e) and the second displacement movement (40a-e) of the second pivot arm (24a-e) from at least one first drive movement (44a-e) and one second drive movement (46a-e), and wherein the first rotational movement (28a-e) and the second rotational movement (36a-e) as well as the first displacement movement (32a-e) and the second displacement movement (40a-e) are in each case synchronous with one another in opposite directions.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a plurality of pairs of pivot arms (18b-e) having in each case a first pivot arm (20b-e) and a second pivot arm (24b-e), wherein in each case one pair of pivot arms (18b-e) is provided for processing the packaging container (12b-e).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages are produced from the following description of the drawing. Five exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description and the claims include numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also observe the features in an expedient manner individually and combine them to form sensible further combinations.

[0023] The drawing is as follows:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a view of a device according to the invention in a first exemplary embodiment,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a second view of the device according to the invention of the first exemplary embodiment,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a third view of the device according to the invention of the first exemplary embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a functional diagram of the device according to the invention of the first exemplary embodiment,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a functional diagram of a device according to the invention in a second exemplary embodiment,

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a functional diagram of a device according to the invention in a third exemplary embodiment,

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a functional diagram of a device according to the invention in a fourth exemplary embodiment and

[0031] FIG. 8 shows a functional diagram of a device according to the invention in a fifth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a detail of a packaging machine 72a with a device 10a according to the invention in a first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the kinematics of the device 10a in three different positions I to III. The device 10a serves for tensioning a tensioning element 14a of a packaging container 12a, which is realized as a rubber band.

[0033] The device 10a comprises a linear axis 16a and a pair of pivot arms 18a which includes a first pivot arm 20a and a second pivot arm 24a which, with reference to a symmetry axis 22a which is perpendicular to the linear axis 16a, is arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner to the first pivot arm 20a. In FIG. 1 described here, the first pivot arm 20a is arranged on the right-hand side and the second pivot arm 24a is arranged on the left-hand side. This provides a convention in this description and is not to be understood as binding.

[0034] The first pivot arm 20a is mounted by way of a first pivot arm rotary bearing 26a so as to be rotatable in a first rotational movement 28a about a first pivot arm rotational axis 30a which is perpendicular to the symmetry axis 22a and so as to be displaceable in a first displacement movement 32a in the direction of the linear axis 16a.

[0035] The second pivot arm 24a is mounted by way of a second pivot arm rotary bearing 34a so as to be rotatable in a second rotational movement 36a about a second pivot arm rotational axis 38a which is perpendicular to the symmetry axis 22a and so as to be displaceable in a second displacement movement 40a in the direction of the linear axis 16a. The pivot arm rotational axes 30a, 38a are parallel to a symmetry plane 116a which is perpendicular to the linear axis 16a.

[0036] In each case on an end region located opposite the pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a, the first and the second pivot arms 20a, 24a comprise active means which are realized as rod-shaped fingers 84a, 86a and are oriented in the direction of the pivot arm rotational axes 30a, 38a. The fingers 84a, 86a serve for the purpose of carrying out a desired processing operation on the packaging container 12a as a result of positive locking.

[0037] A coupler mechanism 42a is provided for the purpose of generating the first rotational movement 28a and the first displacement movement 32a of the first pivot arm 20a and the second rotational movement 36a and the second displacement movement 40a of the second pivot arm 24a from a first drive movement 44a and a second drive movement 46a. The first drive movement 44a is generated by a first drive unit 74a, the second drive movement 46a is generated by a second drive unit 76a. The drive units 74a, 76a are formed in each case by synchronous motors which are actuated by a control unit 78a such that the pair of pivot arms 18a carries out the movements necessary for processing the packaging container 12a.

[0038] The first rotational movement 28a and the second rotational movement 36a and the first displacement movement 32a and the second displacement movement 40a are in each case synchronous with one another in opposite directions. This is ensured by the kinematics of the coupler mechanism 42a described below.

[0039] The coupler mechanism 42a comprises a first mechanism element 52a which is provided for the purpose of generating from the first drive movement 44a a first advance movement 54a which is parallel to the linear axis 16a and a synchronous first return movement 56a which is parallel to the linear axis 16a and in the direction opposite to the first advance movement 54a. The mechanism element 52a is formed by a toothed belt which is guided in a circuit about a drive roller 80a and a tension roller 82a. The drive roller 80a is driven by the first drive unit 74a with the drive movement 44a. The drive roller 80a and the tension roller 82a are arranged on end regions of the linear axis 16a which are situated opposite one another in the direction of the displacement movements 32a, 40a such that the circuit of the mechanism element 52a extends parallel to the linear axis 16a in a region of the linear axis 16a in which the pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a are moved in the displacement movements 32a, 40a. In the example shown, the mechanism element 52a carries out the first advance movement 54a, on its path between the drive roller 80a of the first drive unit 74a and the tension roller 82a, on an advance side 68a of the circuit remote from the fingers 84a, 86a of the pair of pivot arms 18a and carries out the first return movement 56a on a return side 70a of the circuit facing the pair of pivot arms 18a.

[0040] The coupler mechanism 42a comprises coupling means 58a, 59a which are provided for transmitting the first advance movement 54a to the first pivot arm 20a and the first return movement 56a to the second pivot arm 24a. A first coupling means 58a connects the mechanism element 52a in the region of the first advance movement 54a to a carriage 48a, on which the first pivot arm rotary bearing 26a with the first pivot arm 20a is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16a. A second coupling means 59a connects the mechanism element 52a in the region of the first return movement 56a to a carriage 50a, on which the second pivot arm rotary bearing 34a with the second pivot arm 24a is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16a. The first advance movement 54a is consequently transmitted as first displacement movement 32a onto the first pivot arm 20a and the first return movement 56a is consequently transmitted as second displacement movement 40a onto the second pivot arm 24a. The two displacement movements 32a, 40a are in each case synchronous with one another in opposite directions.

[0041] The coupler mechanism 42a further comprises a second mechanism element 60a which is provided for the purpose of generating from the second drive movement 46a a second advance movement 62a which is parallel to the linear axis 16a and a synchronous second return movement 64a which is parallel to the linear axis 16a and in the direction opposite to the second advance movement 62a. The mechanism element 60a, as the mechanism element 52a, is formed by a toothed belt which is guided in a circuit about a further drive roller 81a and a further tension roller 83a. The further drive roller 81a is driven by the second drive unit 76a with the drive movement 46a. The drive roller 81a and the tension roller 83a are arranged on end regions of the linear axis 16a which are situated opposite one another in the direction of the displacement movements 32a, 40a such that the circuit of the mechanism element 52a extends parallel to the linear axis 16a in a region of the linear axis 16a in which the pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a are moved in the displacement movements 32a, 40a. In the example shown, the mechanism element 60a carries out the second advance movement 62a, on its path between the drive roller 81a of the second drive unit 76a and the tension roller 83a, on an advance side 68a of the circuit remote from the fingers 84a, 86a of the pair of pivot arms 18a and carries out the second return movement 64a on the return side 70a of the circuit facing the pair of pivot arms 18a.

[0042] The coupler mechanism 42a comprises rotary coupling means 66a, 67a which are provided for the purpose of generating the first rotational movement 28a from a relative movement of the second advance movement 62a with reference to the first pivot arm rotational axis 30a and generating the second rotational movement 36a from a relative movement of the second return movement 64a with reference to the second pivot arm rotational axis 38a.

[0043] A rotary drive wheel 88a, 90a, which is formed by a toothed wheel, is non-rotatably arranged in each case on the pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a. Tension rollers 92a, 94a are arranged on the sides of the carriages 48a, 50a opposite the pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a. Toothed belts 96a, 98a are arranged in each case in circuits about the respective pivot arm rotary bearings 26a, 34a and about the tension rollers 92a, 94a of the carriages 48a, 50a.

[0044] A rotary coupling means 66a connects the mechanism element 60a in the region of the second advance movement 62a to a region of the circuit of the toothed belt 96a which is parallel to the advance movement 62a and faces the advance side 68a. The toothed belt 96a is moved in said region on the advance side 68a consequently at a relative speed of the second advance movement 62a and of the first advance movement 54a, at which the carriage 48a is moved in the first displacement movement 32a. The toothed belt 96a forwards said relative movement to a circumference of the rotary drive wheel 88a such that it drives the first pivot arm 20a in the first rotational direction 28a.

[0045] A further rotary coupling means 67a connects the mechanism element 60a in the region of the second return movement 64a to a region of the circuit of the second toothed belt 98a which is parallel to the return movement 64a and faces the advance side 68a. The toothed belt 98a is moved in said region on the advance side 68a consequently at a relative speed of the second return movement 64a and of the first return movement 56a, at which the carriage 50a is moved in the second displacement movement 40a. The toothed belt 98a forwards said relative movement to a circumference of the rotary drive wheel 90a such that it drives the second pivot arm 24a in the second rotational direction 36a.

[0046] The rotary movements 28a and 36a, in this case, are in each case synchronous with one another in the opposite direction. This is achieved, in particular, by the rotary coupling means 66a transmitting the relative movement of the second advance movement 62a from the advance side 68a of the second mechanism element 60a to the side of the circuit of the first toothed belt 96a facing the advance side 68a and the coupling means 67a transmitting the relative movement of the second return movement 64a from the return side 70a of the second mechanism element 60a to the side of the circuit of the second toothed belt 98a facing the advance side 68a. The coupling means 67a is realized for this purpose such that it extends from the return side 70a of the second mechanism element 60a up to the side of the second toothed belt 98a facing the advance side 68a. The identical effect can be achieved when the coupling means 67a connects the return side 70a of the second mechanism element 60a to the side of the circuit of the toothed belt 98a facing the return side 70a and the rotary coupling means 66a connects the advance side 68a of the second mechanism element 60a to the side of the circuit of the toothed belt 96a facing the return side 70a.

[0047] In order, when processing the packaging container 12a, to be able to move the fingers 84a, 86a into engagement with the tension element 14a and to withdraw the fingers 84a, 86a again after the processing, the pivot arms 20a, 24a are mounted so as to be displaceable in a lifting movement 100a parallel to the pivot arm rotational axes 30a, 38a. The lifting movement 100a is driven by two lift drives 114a which comprise in each case a pneumatic cylinder. As an alternative to this, it is also possible for one common lift drive to be provided for the purpose of driving the lifting movement 100a of both pivot arms 20a, 24a. The person skilled in the art will provide a suitable connecting element in this case in order to transmit the lifting movement 100a to both pivot arms 20a, 24a. At the end of the processing, the pivot arms 20a, 24a are moved away from the packaging container 12a in the lifting movement 100a and back into a starting position.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows three positions I-III of the pair of pivot arms 18a during a method for processing the one packaging container 12a for tensioning the one tensioning element 14a of the packaging container 12a, with the device 10a, with the one pair of pivot arms 18a which includes the one first pivot arm 20a and the one second pivot arm 24a which is arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the first pivot arm 20a with reference to the symmetry axis 22a which is perpendicular to the linear axis 16a, in the method the first pivot arm 20a being rotated in the first rotational movement 28a about the first pivot arm rotational axis 30a which is perpendicular to the symmetry axis 22a and being displaced in the first displacement movement 32a in the direction of the linear axis 16a and the second pivot arm 24a being rotated in the second rotational movement 36a about the second pivot arm rotational axis 38a which is perpendicular to the symmetry axis 22a and being displaced in the second displacement movement 40a in the direction of the linear axis 16a, the coupler mechanism 42a generating the first rotational movement 28a and the first displacement movement 32a of the first pivot arm 20a and the second rotational movement 36a and the second displacement movement 40a of the second pivot arm 24a from the first drive movement 44a and the second drive movement 46a, and the first rotational movement 28a and the second rotational movement 36a as well as the first displacement movement 32a and the second displacement movement 40a being in each case synchronous with one another in opposite directions. In position I, the fingers 84a, 86a are placed on the tensioning element 14a on a side facing the linear axis 16a. The tensioning element 14a is tensioned in combined rotational movements 28a, 36a and displacement movements 32a, 40a from position I via position II to position III such that products are able to be inserted into the packaging container 12a. The fingers 84a, 86a are then withdrawn in the lifting movement 100a such that the tensioning element 14a only exerts a tension force on the inserted products in the direction of a removal opening of the packaging container 12a.

[0049] Four further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. The following description and the drawings are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, it being possible with reference to identically designated components, in particular with reference to components with identical reference symbols, also to refer to the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 4. To differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is placed after the reference symbols of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3. The letter a is replaced by the letters b to e in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a device 10b in a second exemplary embodiment. The device 10b differs from the device 10a of the first exemplary embodiment in particular by a plurality of pairs of pivot arms 18b′, 18b″, in the case shown the two pairs of pivot arms 18b′, 18b″, each with a first pivot arm 20b′, 20b″ and a second pivot arm 24b′, 24b″, each pair of pivot arms 18b′, 18b″ being arranged symmetrically to a symmetry axis 22b′, 22b″ and being provided for processing a packaging container 12b′, 12b″.

[0051] The pairs of pivot arms 18b′, 18b″, as shown in the previous example, are driven by a coupler mechanism 42b which includes two circulating mechanism elements 52b, 60b formed by toothed belts. The first pivot arms 20b′, 20b″, in this case, are driven synchronously with one another in a first rotational movement 28b and a first displacement movement 32b in the direction of a linear axis 16b and are driven synchronously in the opposite direction with the second pivot arms 24b′, 24b″ which are driven in a second rotational movement 36b and a second displacement movement 40b. The coupler mechanism 42b comprises coupling means 58b′, 58b″, 59b′ and 59b″ which are provided for the purpose of transmitting a first advance movement 54b to the two first pivot arms 20b′, 20b″ and a first return movement 56b to the second pivot arms 24b′, 24b″. The coupler mechanism 42b further comprises rotary coupling means 66b′, 66b″, 67b′, 67b″ which are provided for the purpose of generating the first rotational movement 28b from a relative movement of a second advance movement 62b with reference to first pivot arm rotational axes 30b′, 30b″ and generating the second rotational movement 36b from a relative movement of a second return movement 64b with reference to a second pivot arm rotational axis 38b′, 38b″.

[0052] Two packaging containers 12b′, 12b″ can be processed at the same time by the two pairs of pivot arms 18b′, 18b″ which are driven together by the coupler mechanism 42b. The device is driven in addition by a first and a second drive movement 44b, 46b.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a device 10c for processing two packaging containers 12c′, 12c″ in a third exemplary embodiment. The device 10c differs from the device 10b of the second exemplary embodiment in particular in that in an operating state a second pivot arm 24c″ of a pair of pivot arms 18c″ and a first pivot arm 20c′ of a further pair of pivot arms 18c′ adjacent in the direction of a linear axis 16c are arranged so as to cross over. The pivot arms 20c′, 24c′ and 20c″ and 24c″ are arranged in each case symmetrically to a symmetry axis 22c′, 22c″. The pivot arms 20c′, 24c′, 20c″, 24c″ are in each case mounted so as to be rotatable about a pivot arm rotational axis 30c′, 30c″, 38c′, 38c″. The pivot arms 20c′, 24c′, 20c″, 24c″ comprise in each case an active means which is realized as a finger 84c, 86c′, 84c″, 86c″. This is achieved by a distance between the pairs of pivot arms 18c′, 18c″ in the direction of the linear axis 16c being reduced in relation to the second exemplary embodiment until the pivot arms 24c″, 20c′ cross, proceeding from their pivot arm rotational axes 38c″, 30c′ toward their fingers 84c′, 86c″, when viewed from a direction which is perpendicular to the linear axis 16c and to the symmetry axes 22c′, 22c″ of the pairs of pivot arms 18c′, 18c″. The pivot arms 24c″, 20c′, in this case, are arranged perpendicular to the drawing plane offset somewhat in their height in order to avoid a collision between the pivot arms 24c″, 20c′. The first pivot arms 20c′, 20c″, as in the preceding example, are driven synchronously with one another in the direction of the linear axis 16c in a first rotational movement 28c and a first displacement movement 32c and are driven synchronously in opposite directions to the second pivot arms 24c′, 24c″ which are driven in a second rotational movement 36c and a second displacement movement 40c.

[0054] The device is consequently more compact, pivot arm rotary bearings 26c′, 26c″ and pivot arm rotary bearings 34c′, 34c″, in particular, are arranged adjacent in the direction of the linear axis 16c. This allows the two first pivot arms 20c′, 20c″ to be rotatably mounted on one common carriage 48c which is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16c and the two second pivot arms 24c′, 24c″ to be rotatably mounted on a further common carriage 50c which is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16c. The pivot arms 20c′, 20c″, 24c′, 24c″ comprise rotary drive wheels 88c′ 88c″, 90c′, 90c″ which are arranged in each case so as to be non-rotatable about their pivot arm rotary bearings 26c′, 26c″, 34c′, 34c″. A toothed belt 96c is arranged in a circuit about the rotary drive wheels 88c′, 88c″ and a toothed belt 98c is arranged in a circuit about the rotary drive wheels 90c′, 90c″. Tension rollers as in the preceding example can consequently be omitted and the pairs of pivot arms 20c′, 20c″ and 24c′, 24c″ can be driven via the toothed belts 96c, 98c in each case by common coupling means 58c, 59c and rotary coupling means 66c, 67c, which, as in the preceding examples, transmit advance and return movements 54c, 56c, 62c, 64c from an advance side 68c and a return side 70c from mechanism elements 52c, 60c of a coupler mechanism 42c. The mechanism elements 52c, 60c are driven with drive movements 44c 46c. There is a saving in components in comparison with the second exemplary embodiment.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a device 10d with two pairs of pivot arms 18′, 18d″ for processing two packaging containers 12d′, 12d″ in a fourth exemplary embodiment. The device 10d differs from the device 10c of the third exemplary embodiment in particular in that rotary coupling means 66d′, 66d″, 67d′, 67d″ are formed by lever mechanisms. The device 10d, as the devices 10a to 10c of preceding exemplary embodiments, comprises a coupler mechanism 42d with a first mechanism element 52d and a second mechanism element 60d. The mechanism elements 52d, 60d are driven with drive movements 44d, 46d. The mechanism elements 52d, 60d generate in the known manner oppositely synchronous first advance and return movements 54d, 56d and second advance and return movements 62d, 64d. Two first coupling means 58d′, 58d″ connect the mechanism element 52d in the region of the first advance movement 54d to carriages 48d′, 48d″ on which in each case first pivot arm rotary bearings 26d′, 26d″ are mounted with a first pivot arm 20d′, 20d″ so as to be displaceable on a linear axis 16d. The pivot arms 20d′, 24d′ and 20d″ and 24d″ are in each case arranged symmetrically to a symmetry axis 22d′, 22d″. Two second coupling means 59d′, 59d″ connect the mechanism element 52d in the region of the first return movement 56d to carriages 50d′, 50d″ on which in each case second pivot arm rotary bearings 34d′, 34d″ are mounted with second pivot arms 24d′, 24d″ so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16d. The first advance movement 54d is consequently transmitted as first displacement movement 32d to the first pivot arms 20d′, 20d″ and the first return movement 56d is consequently transmitted as second displacement movement 40d to the second pivot arms 24d′, 24d″. The rotary coupling means 66d′, 66d″ comprise in each case a carriage 110d′, 110d″ which is displaceably mounted on the linear axis 16d with in each case a rotary bearing 104d, 104d″. The carriages 110d′, 110d″ are in each case connected in a positive locking manner via a connecting element 112d′, 112d″ to an advance side 68d of the second mechanism element 60d which is realized as a toothed belt such that the carriages 110d′, 110d″ are driven with the rotary bearings 104d′, 104d″ with the second advance movement 62d. The coupling means 67d comprise in each case a carriage 111d′, 111d″, which is mounted so as to be displaceable on the linear axis 16d, with in each case a rotary bearing 105d′, 105d″. The carriages 111d′, 111d″ are connected in a positive locking manner in each case via a connecting element 113d′, 113d″ to a return side 70d of the second mechanism element 60d which is realized as a toothed belt, such that the carriages 111d′, 111d″ are driven with the rotary bearings 105d′, 105d″ with the second return movement 64d.

[0056] The first pivot arms 20d′, 20d″ and the second pivot arms 24d′ 24d″ of the two pairs of pivot arms 18d′, 18d″ comprise pivotally mounted bearings 106d′, 106d″, 107d′, 107d″ in each case at identical distances from their pivot arm rotational axes 30d′, 30d″, 38d′ 38d″. The distances between the pivotally mounted bearings 106d′, 106d″, 107d′, 107d″ and the respective pivot arm rotational axes 30d′, 30d″, 38d′ 38d″ will be established in a suitable manner by the person skilled in the art. A lever 102d′, 102d″ is flexibly mounted in each case between the pivotally mounted bearings 106d′, 106d″ of the first pivot arms 20d′, 20d″ and the rotary bearings 104d′, 104d″ of the carriages 110d′, 110d″. A lever 103d′, 103d″ is flexibly mounted in each case between the pivotally mounted bearings 107d′, 107d″ of the second pivot arms 24d′, 24d″ and the rotary bearings 105d′, 105d″ of the carriages 111d′, 111d″. Relative speeds of the second advance and return movements 62d, 64d with reference to the first advance and return movements 54d, 56d bring about in each case relative speeds of the rotary bearings 104d′, 104d″, 105d′, 105d″ with the pivot arm rotational axes 30d′, 30d″, 38d′, 38d″. On account of the coupling of the pivot arms 20d′, 20d″, 24d′, 24d″ with the rotary bearings 104d′, 104d″, 105d′, 105d″ via the levers 102d′, 102d″, 130d′, 103d″, the first pivot arms 20d′, 20d″ are driven in a first rotational movement 28d and the second pivot arms 24d′, 24d″ are driven in a second rotational movement 36d.

[0057] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a device 10e for processing two packaging containers 12e′, 12e″ in a fifth exemplary embodiment. The device 10e is provided for use in a packaging container 72e. The device 10e differs from the device 10c of the third exemplary embodiment in particular in that toothed rods 108e′, 108e″, 109e′, 109e″ are provided for the purpose of driving pivot arms 20e′, 20e″, 24e′, 24e″ of second pairs of pivot arms 18e′, 18e″ in a first and a second rotational movement 28e, 36e about pivot arm rotational axes 30e′, 30e″, 38e′, 38e″. The pivot arms 20e′, 24e′ and 20e″ and 24e″ are in each case arranged symmetrically to a symmetry axis 22e′, 22e″. The device 10e, as the devices 10a to 10d of the preceding exemplary embodiments, comprise a coupler mechanism 42e with a first mechanism element 52e and a second mechanism element 60e. The mechanism elements 52e, 60e are driven with drive movements 44e, 46e. The mechanism elements 52e, 60e generate in the known manner first advance and return movements 54e, 56e and second advance and return movements 62e, 64e which are synchronous in opposite directions. Two first coupling means 58e′, 58e″ connect the mechanism element 52e in the region of the first advance movement 54e to carriages 48e′, 48e″, on which in each case first pivot arm rotary bearings 26e′, 26e″ are mounted so as to be displaceable with the first pivot arm 20e′, 20e″ on a linear axis 16e. Two second coupling means 59e′, 59e″ connect the mechanism element 52e in the region of the first return movement 56e to carriages 50e′, 50e″, on which in each case second pivot arm rotary bearings 34e′, 34e″ are mounted so as to be displaceable with the second pivot arms 24e′, 24e″ on the linear axis 16e. The first advance movement 54e is consequently transmitted as first displacement movement 32e onto the first pivot arms 20e′, 20e″ and the first return movement 56e is consequently transmitted as second displacement movement 40e onto the second pivot arms 24e′, 24e″. The toothed rods 108e′, 108e″, 109e′, 109e″ are mounted in each case on an end region in each case on carriages 110e′, 110e″, 111e′, 111e″ which are mounted on the linear axis 16e. The carriages 110e′, 110e″ 111e′, 111e″ are connected to rotary coupling means 66e′, 66e″, 67e′, 67e″. The rotary coupling means 66e′, 66e″ are provided for the purpose of transmitting the second advance movement 62e to the carriages 110e′, 110e″ and the rotary coupling means 67e′, 67e″ are provided for the purpose of transmitting the second return movement 64e to the carriages 111e′, 111e″.

[0058] The pivot arms 20e′, 20e″ comprise in each case a rotary drive wheel 88e′, 88e″ which is realized as a toothed wheel and is arranged about its pivot arm rotary bearing 26e′, 26e″, in which rotary drive wheel a toothed rod 108e′, 108e″ which is moved with the second advance movement 62e engages in each case. The pivot arms 24e′, 24e″ comprise in each case a rotary drive wheel 90e′, 90e″ which is realized as a toothed wheel and is arranged about its pivot arm rotary bearing 34e′, 34e″, in which rotary drive wheel a toothed rod 109e′, 109e″ which is moved with the second return movement 64e engages in each case.

[0059] Relative speeds between the first and second advance movement 54e, 62e as well as the first and second return movement 56e, 64e consequently bring about the first rotational movement 28e and the second rotational movement 36e of the pivot arms 20e′, 20e″, 24e′, 24e″. The design is particularly compact as it is possible to dispense with tension rollers and a circuit of toothed belts as in the first three exemplary embodiments.