Method and a device for changing carrier units with flat packaging material wound on supply rolls within a packaging machine

Abstract

The invention comprises a method and a device for changing removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with flat packaging material (10) wound on supply rolls (9), in particular, packaging film (11) within a packaging machine (3), which is equipped with devices for at least partially wrapping piece goods, containers, article groups, etc., with flat packaging material (10). With the method removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with new supply rolls (9) are fed in a series one after the other to a work area (AB) of a handling device (5), the work area (AB) of which extends into at least one position of the operating position of the removable carrier unit (8a, 8b) arranged in the packaging machine (3), which is equipped with a supply roll (9), so that it replaces removable carrier units (8a, 8b) located in the packaging machine (3) and used up supply rolls (9) with new removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with in each case a new supply roll (9). Here respective removable carrier units (8a, 8b) are inserted alternately in at least two different installation positions of the packaging machine (3) and its flat packaging material (10) is connected with the packaging material still located in the packaging machine (3).

Claims

1. A system for changing removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with flat packaging material (10) wound on supply rolls (9) within a packaging machine (3), which is equipped with devices for at least partially wrapping articles with packaging material (10, 10) with a feeding device (4) for the provision of removable carrier units (8a, 8b) carrying new supply rolls (9) in a series one after the other, which is assigned to a work area (AB) of a handling device (5), which extends into at least one position of the operating position of the removable carrier unit (8a, 8b) equipped with a supply roll (9) which is arranged in the packaging machine (3), so that removable carrier units (8a, 8b) located in the packaging machine (3) with used up supply rolls (9) can be replaced with new removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with new supply rolls (9) by the handling device (5), the packaging machine (3) including at least two different installation positions (EB1, EB2) and a corresponding holding mandrel (15, 15) at each of the at least two different installation positions (EB1, EB2), wherein each of the holding mandrels (15, 15) are aligned to connect with a respective new supply roll (9) when the removable carrier unit (8a, 8b) carrying the respective new supply roll (9) is inserted into the corresponding installation position (EB1, EB2), wherein the handling device (5) is configured to alternatively insert the respective new removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with the respective new supply roll (9) at the at least two different installation positions (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (3) such that the flat packaging material (10) of the respective new supply roll (9) can be connected with the packaging material (10) still located in the packaging machine (3).

2. The system according to claim 1, in which the removable carrier units (8a, 8b) with new supply rolls (9) are respectively prepared for the at least two different installation positions (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (3) at the latest upon entry into the work area (AB) of the handling device (5).

3. The system according to claim 1, in which the removable carrier units (8a, 8b) are respectively formed by cassettes having a frame which is designed for the supportive holding of the respective new supply roll (9) with its flat packaging material (10).

4. The system according to claim 3, in which the cassettes in each case have a supporting bar (19, 19) extending parallel to the supply roll, which, before connecting with the packaging material (10) located in the packaging machine, carries a beginning of the flat packaging material (10) wound on the new supply roll (9) of the respective cassette.

5. The system according to claim 4, in which the supporting bars (19, 19) of the cassettes are designed rotatable, so that flat packaging material (10) of the respective new supply roll (9) can be wound on the supporting bar (19, 19) of the respective cassette.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the packaging machine (3) has at least one first installation position (EB1) for first removable carrier units (8a) and at least one second installation position (EB2) for second removable carrier units (8b), which supporting bars (19, 19) of the first removable carrier units (8a) and the second removable carrier units (8b) are arranged on opposite sides, so that the supporting bars (19) of the first removable carrier units (8a) point in the direction of the second installation position (EB2) when inserted into the first installation position (EB1) and the supporting bars (19) of the second removable carrier units (8b) point in the direction of the first installation position (EB1) when inserted into the second installation position (EB2).

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each holding mandrel (15, 15) is designed to enlarge its cross-sectional diameter, so that by enlarging the cross-sectional diameter, the respective supply roll (9) can be fixed by clamping to the holding mandrel (15, 15).

8. The system according to claim 1, in which the handling device (5) is formed by a multiaxially movable handling robot (50), which both inserts new removable carrier units (8a, 8b) into the packaging machine (3) as well as removes removable carrier units (8a, 8b) and used up supply rolls (9) from it.

9. The system according to claim 1, comprising a discharge device (6) for removable carrier units (8a, 8b) removed by the handling device (5) from the packaging machine, wherein the discharge device (6) and the feeding device (4) are respectively formed by one or several horizontal conveyors (60, 40).

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each removable carrier unit (8a, 8b) carries its corresponding new supply role (9) such that, when the supply role (9) is connected with the holding mandrel of the machine (3), the supply role (9) disengages contact with its removable carrier unit (8a, 8b) as the packaging material (1) is unwound.

Description

(1) In the following, embodiments should explain in detail the invention and its advantages by means of the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements in relation to each other in the figures does not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are simplified and other forms are enlarged in proportion to other elements for better illustration.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment for a device according to the present invention for changing removable carrier units.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an additional schematic perspective view of the device from FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the embodiment of a device for changing magazines from FIGS. 1 and 2.

(5) FIG. 4 shows in detail a part of the device for changing removable carrier units from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a removable carrier unit with new supply rolls, as they can be used for diverse embodiments of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 shows in detail a handling device, as it can be used for diverse embodiments of the device according to the present invention.

(8) For similar or similarly operating elements of the invention identical reference signs are used. Furthermore, for the sake of providing an overview only reference signs are presented in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The embodiments depicted constitute only examples of how the device according the present invention or the method according to the present invention can be arranged and do not represent a final limitation.

(9) The schematic perspective view of FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 according to the present invention for changing removable carrier units 8a or 8b. As part of the method the removable carrier units 8a or 8b are removed from the packaging machine 3 and replaced by removable carrier units 8a and 8b with new supply rolls 9. Packaging material 10, in the present case packaging film 11, is wound up and stored on the new supply rolls 9.

(10) The packaging machine 3 comprises in practice several devices, which are designed for wrapping articles with the flat packaging material 11. For reasons of clarity the devices are not depicted in the figures of the present patent application.

(11) As can be seen from FIG. 1, removable carrier units 8a and 8b with in each case a new supply roll 9, on which packaging film 11 is stored, are guided one after the other on a feeding device 4, which is designed as a horizontal conveyor 40, in the transport direction TR1 or fed to the packaging machine 3. The new supply rolls 9 are oriented here parallel to each other and aligned such that their respective longitudinal axis runs perpendicular to the transport direction TR1 of the horizontal conveyor 40.

(12) In addition, a handling device 5 is depicted, which is designed as a multi-axial movable handling robot 50 and possesses a work area AB, within which it can remove removable carrier units 8a and 8b from the horizontal conveyor 40 and can insert the respective removable carrier units 8a and 8b into one of the assigned installation positions EB1 or EB2 (see FIG. 4) of the packaging machine 3. If supply rolls 9 are located in both of the installation positions EB1 and EB2, then the supply rolls 9 can have a parallel orientation to each other.

(13) The feeding device 4 or the horizontal conveyor 40 extends into the work area AB of the handling device 5 and conveys removable carrier units 8a or 8b one after another into the work area AB.

(14) As can be seen in FIG. 1, several removable carrier units 8a and 8b, which are not located in the work area AB, stand up with their undersides in each case on the horizontal conveyor 40. Thus, the horizontal conveyor 40 is designed as a buffer system. If the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50 receives one or several removable carrier units 8a or 8b from the horizontal conveyor 40 for a changing process, the corresponding number of removable carrier units 8a or 8b can be carried on to the work area AB of the handling robot 50 by the horizontal conveyor 40. Since the horizontal conveyor 40 in the present case carries removal carrier units 8a or 8b with new supply rolls 9 on to the work area AB of the handling device 5 only as required, it is operated intermittently. The respective feeding of removable carrier units 8a or 8b to the work area AB or the intermittent operation of the horizontal conveyor 40 can be preset via a control unit S, which in addition is coupled to the handling device 5 or to the handling robot 50. Thus, the horizontal conveyor 40, for example, when a removable carrier unit 8a or 8b is received by the handling device 5, can at least approximately at the same time carry an additional removable carrier unit 8a or 8b on to the work area AB. In the present case the discharge device 6, which is subsequently described in detail, is also coupled to the control unit S for the intermittent operation and for the discharge of removable carrier units 8a and 8b.

(15) In addition, FIG. 1 shows that the work area AB of the handling device 5 extends into a position of the operating position of the removable carrier unit 8a arranged in the packaging machine 3, which is equipped with a supply roll 9. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the packaging machine 3 possesses a second installation position EB2, in which a removable carrier unit 8b with supply roll 9 can also be inserted. The working area AB also extends into the operating position of the removable carrier unit 8b of the second installation position EB2. Thus, removable carrier units 8a or 8b can be inserted into their respective installation positions EB1 or EB2 via the handling device 5 (see FIG. 4).

(16) In order to be able to receive the respective removable carrier units 8a or 8b from the horizontal conveyor 40 and to insert them into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2, the handling device 5 designed as a handling robot 50 is rotatable about a vertical axis V. The freedom of movement of an exemplary handling device 5, as it is also used in FIG. 1, is depicted and described in detail in FIG. 7.

(17) In addition, the work area AB of the handling device 5 is designed such that the handling device 5 can remove used up supply rolls 9 without packaging film 11 from the packaging machine 3. FIG. 1 shows here a process step, in which a used up supply roll 9 without packaging film 11 was already removed from the packaging machine 3 and is carried by the handling device 5. Within the work area AB of the handling device 5 a storage module 13 is arranged, in which the handling device 5 puts down the used up supply roll 9. The used up supply rolls 9 are recyclable, so that packaging film 11 can be stored again on the used up supply role 9 and the used up supply roll 9 can be reassigned as supply roll 9 to a removable carrier unit 8a or 8b with additional packaging film 11 or with additional packaging material 10.

(18) If a removable carrier unit 8a or 8b with new supply roll 9 is inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 of the packaging machine 3, then the new supply roll 9 is placed on a holding mandrel 15 or 15 (see FIG. 4) and firmly connected by clamping to the holding mandrel 15 or 15. In addition, the packaging film 11 is connected with packaging film 11 still remaining in the packaging machine 3 or with packaging material 10 (see FIG. 4) still remaining in the packaging machine 3. The connection occurs by means of welding of both packaging films 11 and 11.

(19) After a certain share of packaging film 11 has been unwound from the new supply roll 9 in the packaging machine 3, the respective new supply roll 9 is no longer in surface contact with the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b. After that the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b assigned to the new supply roll 9 can be removed by the handling device 5 from the packaging machine 3. Advantageously, the new supply roll 9 is here fixed via the respective holding mandrel 15 or 15 shown in FIG. 4, so that in addition a shift of the supply roll 9 on the holding mandrel 15 or 15 can be excluded by the clamping.

(20) Since the work area AB of the handling device 5 extends into the positions of the operation position of removable carrier units 8a or 8b, the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50 can remove removable carrier units 8a or 8b from the packaging machine 3. If a removable carrier unit 8a or 8b was removed from the packaging machine 3, then the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b can be put down by the handling device 5 on the discharge device 6 or on the horizontal conveyor 60.

(21) The discharge device 6 or the horizontal conveyor 60 possesses a transport direction TR2 for the removable carrier units 8a or 8b, which runs parallel to the transport direction of the feeding device 6 designed as a horizontal conveyor 60. The discharge device 6 leads the removable carrier units 8a or 8b in the direction of an equipment section 17 (see FIG. 2), in which removable carrier units 8a and 8b are prepared with new supply rolls 9.

(22) As can be seen in FIG. 1, first removable carrier unit 8a and second removable carrier unit 8b are transported on the feeding device 4. The first removable carrier units 8a are provided in order to be inserted in the first installation position EB1. The second removable carrier units are provided in order to be inserted into the second installation position EB2. Since the insertion of removable carrier units 8a or 8b with respective supply rolls 9 into the first installation position EB1 and into the second installation position EB2 occurs alternately, first removable carrier units 8a and second removable carrier units 8b are also arranged alternately on the horizontal conveyor 40. The handling device 5 can thus receive the removable carrier units 8a and 8b arranged in each case right at the front on the horizontal conveyor 40 and inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2. Through the prepared first and second removable carrier units 8a and 8b on the horizontal conveyor 40 in alternating arrangement a complex sensor can be dispensed with for differentiating between first and second removable carrier unit 8a and 8b for the respective receipt by the handling device 5. Thus, the first removable carrier units 8a and the second removable carrier units 8b are already prepared by the alternating arrangement on the horizontal conveyor 40 during the feeding to the work area AB for the insertion into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2. In addition, the removable carrier units 8a and 8b are pre-oriented on the horizontal conveyor 40, so that the handling device 5 can receive the removable carrier units 8a and 8b and can insert the removable carrier units 8a and 8b into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 without rotation.

(23) As can also be clearly seen in FIG. 4, the first removable carrier units 8a and the second removable carrier units 8b in each case possess a supporting bar 19 or 19. The supporting bar 19 of the first removable carrier units 8a is here arranged on a first side of the first removable carrier unit 8a, while the supporting bar 19 of the second removable carrier unit 8b is arranged on a second side of the second removable carrier unit 8b. If first removable carrier units 8a and second removable carrier units 8b are received by the handling device 5 and inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2, then with regard to the feeding of the first and the second removable carrier units 8a and 8b the first side is opposite to the second side. Also, in feeding the removable carrier units 8a and 8b on the horizontal conveyor 40 to the work area AB, the supporting bar 19 or 19 of the first removable carrier units 8a and the second removable carrier units 8b are located on opposite sides. The removable carrier units 8a and 8b are thus prepared on the horizontal conveyor 40 with regard to their alignment for insertion into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2.

(24) Since the removal of first and second removable carrier units 8a or 8b from the packaging machine 3 also occurs alternately, the removable carrier units 8a or 8b are also arranged alternately on the discharge device 6 or the removable carrier units 8a or 8b are transported away alternately by the discharge device 6.

(25) FIG. 2 shows a further schematic perspective view of device 1 from FIG. 1 as well as the packaging machine 3. In FIG. 2 an equipment section 17 can clearly be seen, in which removable carrier units 8a and 8b are received, equipped with a new supply roll 9 and are moved as removable carrier units 8a and 8b on the feeding device 4 or the horizontal conveyor 40 in the direction of the work area AB. In the present case a manually operable preparatory instrument 21 is provided for this. In other embodiments, however, it is also conceivable that the removable carrier units 8a and 8b are automatically formed with their respectively new supply roll 9 and are put down on the feeding device 4 or the horizontal conveyor 40. In addition, FIG. 2 shows that the transport of the removable carrier units 8a and 8b by the horizontal conveyor 40 begins in the equipment section 17, while the transport of removable carrier units 8a and 8b via the discharge device 6 ends in the equipment section 17. The transport direction TR1 of the feeding device 4 and the transport direction TR2 of the discharge device 6 are continuously oriented parallel to each other.

(26) In addition, a schematic top view of the embodiment of a device 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2 is depicted in FIG. 3. Once again a possible formation of the work area AB of the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50 can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, which work area AB extends radially about a rotational axis V (see FIG. 1) of the handling device 5. It is clear to the person skilled in the art addressed on the subject, that the dimensioning as well as the position of the work area AB in the figures of the present patent application should be understood merely as exemplary. In practice, the work area can also have larger or smaller dimensionings, in order to receive the respective removable carrier units 8a and 8b from the feeding device 4 and to be able to insert into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 or in order to remove the respective removable carrier units 8a and 8b from the packaging machine 3 with the used up supply rolls 9.

(27) FIG. 4 shows in detail a part of the device 1 from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG. 4 the installation positions EB1 and EB2 of the packaging machine 3 can now be seen. The first installation position EB1 is provided exclusively for the insertion of first removable carrier units 8a with new supply rolls 9, while the second installation position EB2 is provided exclusively for the insertion of second removable carrier units 8b with new supply rolls 9. Removable carrier units 8a or 8b are inserted alternately into the installation positions EB1 and EB2 with new supply rolls 9.

(28) After insertion of the respective removable carrier units 8a or 8b with new supply rolls 9 a holding mandrel 15 or 15 grasps through the respective supply roll 9 which cannot be seen in FIG. 4. The holding mandrel 15 of the first installation position EB1 is oriented parallel to the holding mandrel 15 of the second installation position EB2.

(29) In addition, FIG. 4 shows a guide element 29, which is designed vertically movable for connecting the packaging film 11 with the packaging film 11 still remaining in the packaging machine 3. If only a little or no packaging film 11 is arranged on the supply roll 9 of an installation position EB1 or EB2, the guide element 29 is lowered vertically, wherein the packaging film 11 is applied to the packaging film 11 remaining in the packaging machine 3 or to the flat packaging material 10 remaining in the packaging machine 3. In FIG. 4, a removable carrier unit 8a with new supply roll 9 was inserted into the first installation position EB1, so that during the vertical lowering of the guide element 29 the packaging film 11 of the new supply roll 9 is applied to the packaging film 11 sill remaining in the packaging machine 3 or to the packaging film 11 of a supply roll 9 arranged in the second installation position EB2. The guide element 29 is designed such that it is brought into contact with the packaging film 11 in its vertical guidance downwards over the entire width of the packaging film 11.

(30) In addition, the reference number 23 refers to an actuating element for a welding bar not depicted in FIG. 4. By means of the actuating element 23 a welding bar can, for example, be moved horizontally and a welding of the packaging films 11 and 11 undertaken. The welding occurs, after the guide element 29 has brought the packaging films 11 and 11 in contact with each other. Since uninterruptible packaging film 11 or 11 is removed from supply rolls 9, in the present case the supply roll 9 of the first installation position EB1 is set into rotating motion immediately after welding. Here the quantity of the packaging film 11 stored on the supply roll 9 of the first installation position EB1 decreases, wherein the supply roll 9 with its packaging film 11 loses contact with the removable carrier unit 8a.

(31) By means of an enlargement of the cross-sectional diameter of the holding mandrel 15 the supply roll 9 can be held by clamping in the first installation position EB1, whereupon the removable carrier unit 8a or the magazine 8a is removed from the first installation position EB1 and is set down on the discharge device 6 by means of the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50 (see FIGS. 1 to 3). The removal occurs preferably after the supply roll 9 with its decreasing packaging film 11 has lost contact with the removable carrier unit 8a.

(32) After the packaging film 11 was separated from the supply roll 9 arranged in the second installation position EB2 and after the removable carrier unit 8a or the magazine 8a was removed from the first installation position EB1, by means of the handling device 5 the supply roll 9 of the second installation position EB2 was removed from the holding mandrel 15 and by means of the handling device 5 set down in a storage module 13 (see FIG. 1). If a clamping connection exists between the holding mandrel 15 and the supply roll 9, this clamping connection must be previously released.

(33) A second removable carrier unit 8b with new supply roll 9 can then be placed by means of the handling device 5 into the second installation position EB2. The insertion of a removable carrier unit 8a or 8b thus occurs, while packaging film 11 or 11 is unwound from a supply roll 9 of the first installation position EB1 or the second installation position EB2. Thus, during the uninterrupted operation of the packaging machine 3 a supply roll 9 is arranged permanently at one of the two installation positions EB1 or EB2, from which packaging film 11 or 11 is unwound.

(34) The removable carrier units 8a and 8b are in each case designed as cassettes, which have a frame, which is designed for supportive holding of the respective new supply roll 9 and its packaging film 11. The frame has two bore holes 25 and 25, into which gripper fingers 31 (see FIG. 6) of the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50 intervene to receive the removable carrier unit 8a or 8b from the feeding device 4. If the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b was inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2, the gripper fingers 50 can leave the bore holes 25 and 25.

(35) In addition, the removable carrier units 8a and 8b possess in each case main pillars 27 and 27, by means of which they stand up on the feeding device 4 or on the horizontal conveyor 40 as well as on the packaging machine 3 in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2. Furthermore, in each case they possess a block 33, at which the respective supply roll 9 lines up via its packaging film 11 on the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b. Advantageously the respective supply roll 9 can be held laterally via the block, so that a lateral slipping of the supply roll 9 off of the removable carrier unit 8a or 8b is prevented particularly during insertion into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2.

(36) In addition, the supporting bar 19 is depicted, which carries a beginning of the packaging film 11 before vertical lowering of the guide element 29. If the removable carrier unit 8a or 8b is located in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2, the supporting bar 19 or 19 is oriented parallel to the holding mandrel 15 or 15. The supporting bar 19 or 19 is connected to a wheel 35, via which the supporting bar 19 or 19 can be moved in a rotary manner. With rotation of the supporting bar 19 or 19 the packaging film 11 is wound up on the supporting bar 19 or 19.

(37) If the packaging film 11 has optical markings, a connection to the packaging film 11 still remaining in the packaging machine 3 at defined locations can be desirable. For the position specification for the welding the packaging film is wound up via the wheel 35 on the supporting bar 19. In the present case the wheel 35 is actuated manually, in other embodiments an actuation by machine is conceivable with position specification of the packaging film 11 or of the packaging material 10 for the welding. Advantageously the position specification of the packaging film 11 for the welding already occurs before placing the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b on the feeding device 4, however, at latest before the entry of the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b in the work area AB (see FIGS. 1 to 3) of the handling device 5 or the handling robot 50.

(38) In the first removable carrier units 8a, as shown in FIG. 4, the flat packaging material 10 or the packaging film 11 points away from the supporting bar 19 and diagonally downwards. In the second removable carrier units 8b, contrary to this, the flat packaging material 10 or the packaging film 11 points away from the supporting bar 19 and diagonally upwards.

(39) In addition, the supporting bars 19 or 19 pass by the flat packaging material 10 or the packaging film 11 underneath the guide element 29 on the guide element 29, so that by means of its vertical movement downwards the guide element 29 can come into contact with the respective packaging film 11 and for the purpose of its welding guide the packaging film 11 with the guide element 29 downwards and towards the packaging film 11 still remaining in the packaging machine 3 or towards the flat packaging material 10 still remaining in the packaging machine 3.

(40) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a removable carrier unit 8b with new supply roll 9, as they can be used for diverse embodiments of the present invention.

(41) Analogous to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 again shows the two main pillars 27 and 27 of the removable carrier unit 8b as well as the supporting bar 19. The second removable carrier unit 8b depicted in FIG. 5 is provided for insertion into the second installation position EB2 of the packaging machine 3. For this reason, the flat packaging material 19 or the packaging film 11 points away from the supporting bar 19 and diagonally upwards. In addition, the supporting bar 19 of the second removable magazine from FIG. 5 is arranged on a side opposite to the supporting bar 19 depicted in FIG. 4 of the first removable carrier unit 8a.

(42) In addition, FIG. 5 shows one support rod 12, of which the removable carrier units 8a or 8b in each case have two and by means of which the respective new supply roll 9 is carried. The support rods 12 extend here parallel to the respective supporting bar 19 or 19 and have a longitudinal extension, which is designed at least approximately identical to the longitudinal extension of the supply rolls 9. In addition, the respective supply rolls 9 are oriented parallel to the support rods 12.

(43) FIG. 6 shows in detail a handling device 5, as it can be used for diverse embodiments of the device 1 according to the present invention. The handling device 5 is designed analogously to the handling device of the previous FIGS. 1 to 3 as a handling robot 50 and is rotatable about the vertical axis V. Furthermore, the handling device 5 has an arm 38, which can be pivoted completely about the first horizontal axis H1. Furthermore, the arm 38 for enlarging its freedom of movement consists of two segments 61 and 61, which can be pivoted counter to each other about the second horizontal axis H2. A gripping head 39 as well as a gripper hand 41 are arranged on the free end of the arm 38. The gripping head 39 is designed for receiving removable carrier units 8a and 8b as well as removable carrier units 8a and 8b and for this purpose comprises several gripper fingers 31 and 31, which when receiving the respective removable carrier unit 8a and 8b or the respective removable carrier unit 8a or 8b dip into bore holes 25 and 25 (see FIG. 4).

(44) In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the gripping head 39 of the handling device 5 is designed rotatable about a third horizontal axis H3, which runs parallel to the first horizontal axis H1 as well as parallel to the second horizontal axis H2.

(45) In addition, a gripper hand 41 is arranged on its free end 38, which is provided for the receipt of used up supply rolls 9 from the respective installation position EB1 or EB2. The gripper hand 41 is also designed rotatable about a fourth horizontal axis H4. The fourth horizontal axis H4 runs perpendicular to the third horizontal axis H3.

(46) By means of the handling device 5 depicted by way of example in FIG. 6 or by means of the handling device 5 depicted by way of example in FIG. 6, a receipt of removable carrier units 8a and 8b is made possible with subsequent insertion into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2, without the removable carrier units 8a and 8b having to rotate for this purpose.

(47) The invention was described by reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art, that variations or modifications of the invention can be made, without thereby departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(48) 1 device 3 packaging machine 4 feeding device 5 handling device 6 discharge device 8a first removable carrier unit 8b second removable carrier unit 8a first removable carrier unit 8b second removable carrier unit 9 supply roll 9 used up supply roll 10 flat packaging material 11 packaging film 12 support rod 13 storage module 15 holding mandrel 17 equipment section 19 supporting bar 20 guide element 21 preparatory instrument 23 actuating element 25 bore holes 27 main pillars 29 guide element 31 gripper finger 33 block 35 wheel 38 arm 39 gripping head 40 horizontal conveyor 41 gripper hand 50 handling robot 60 horizontal conveyor 61 segment AB work area EB1 first installation position EB2 second installation position H axis S control unit TR1 transport direction of the feeding device TR2 transport direction of the discharge device V axis