Abstract:
A device and a method are provided for packaging flat objects into a packaging material web ( 110 ). The device includes a conveyor device ( 30 ) with an essentially plane conveyor surface ( 34 ) which is capable of conveying the flat objects ( 100 ) one after the other and distanced to one another in a conveyor direction (F). Moreover, at least one processing tool ( 10 ) with a processing-active zone ( 12 ) is present. The processing tool ( 10 ) is capable of processing the packaging material web ( 110 ) in the region between two objects ( 100 ) in a processing region (B) of the device ( 1 ). Thereby, the packaging material web ( 110 ) covers the objects ( 100 ) on both sides. The processing tool ( 10 ) is movable for processing at least perpendicularly to the conveyor surface ( 34 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention lies in the field of packaging technology and relates to a method and to a device for packaging flat objects, according to the preamble of the respective independent patent claims. The device according to the invention serves for packaging flat objects, for example printed products or of stack-like groups of printed products. Individual printed products or stacks of printed products and other flat objects, such as CDs, sample objects or sample sachets, may be packaged. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    It is known to package flat objects of the type mentioned above with the help of a quasi-endless packaging material web, e.g. plastic film fed from a roll, film from natural materials (eco-film) or paper. Thereby, such a packaging material web is applied around the objects which are conveyed one after the other in a row and distanced from one another, or a packaging material web is fed to such a row on both sides. Then, the packaging material web is closed in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the row or laterally thereof, in longitudinal seams, and between in each case two consecutive objects transversely to the longitudinal direction, in transverse seams. As the case may be, the objects which are enclosed by the packaging material on all sides in this manner are also separated from one another directly after creating the transverse seams or simultaneously with this. 
         [0005]    With the use of plastic film as a packaging material, the longitudinal seams and transverse seams are usually created by way of welding, wherein the separation of the packaged objects may be carried out simultaneously with the creation of the transverse seams. 
         [0006]    For processing operations such as welding, gluing etc., the objects are conveyed into a processing device and conveyed out of this again. The processing device is advantageously designed in a manner such that the conveying of the objects to be packaged does not need to be interrupted for the processing, but may be operated in a continuous manner. The objects therefore normally lie on a conveyor rest of a conveyor unit and on this, are moved into or through the processing region of the processing device. 
         [0007]    Corresponding processing devices are known from WO 2005/118402, WO 2007/147269 or WO 2009/039673. With the welding devices described there, the welding tools have downholders which are arranged laterally of the processing-active zone (of the hot welding bar). These serve for pressing the packaging material web against the conveyor surface, in the region between two adjacent objects which are, however, distanced from one another, and in the direct vicinity of the welding seam to be created. The downholders are set up such that the two regions of the material web to be connected are firstly pressed against one another on both sides of the envisaged welding seam, and against the conveyor surface. Only then is the hot processing-active zone lowered onto the material. The packaging material is held in a smooth manner directly before this welding process and the quality of the connection is improved by way of these packaging material web downholders. 
         [0008]    However, the following problem occurs with the known packaging material web downholders: The processing tool, for processing, exerts a certain force onto the packaging material web and thus indirectly onto the conveyor rest. The conveyor rest as a rule is yielding. For example, it is the case of a conveyor belt of a belt conveyor, which may yield under loading. The conveyor belt may also comprise a compressible layer. The compliance of the conveyor rest, above all with heavier objects, e.g. stacks of different printed products, leads to the objects being able to be displaced in the packaging material web, when the pressure due to the processing tool is relieved and the conveyor rest springs back. The fresh, still soft welding seam is loaded and possibly compromised by way of this. Thereby, it may come to pass that individual packaging units, thus individual objects packaged into bags of packaging material, are dislocated on the conveyor surface. This is disadvantageous, above all for the further processing steps, such as e.g. the gripping of the individual packaging units. 
         [0009]    It is therefore the object of the invention to specify a device and a method, with which the mentioned problems are avoided. In particular, a good control of the position of the objects is to be ensured at all times before, during and after the processing. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The device according to the invention, for packaging objects, in particular flat and/or flexible products, such as printed products, into a packaging material, comprises a conveyor unit with a conveyor rest which has an essentially flat conveyor surface. The conveyor unit is capable of conveying the flat objects, one after the other, and distanced from one another, in a conveyor direction. Moreover, at least one processing tool with a processing-active zone is present. The processing tool is capable of processing the packaging material web in a processing region of the device, in the region between two objects, in particular of creating connections between the lower and the upper region of the packaging material web, when the packaging material web covers the objects on both sides. Here, the region distant to the conveyor surface is indicated as the upper region, and the lower region lies on the conveyor surface. For processing, the processing tool is movable at least perpendicularly to the conveyor surface, preferably also with a movement component in the conveyor direction. According to the invention, at least one object downholder is provided. The object downholder is designed in a manner such that in the processing region, it may calm at least one of the objects which is adjacent the processing location, by way of holding down. It may press the object against the conveyor surface, at least if the distance of the object upper side which is distant to the conveyor surface, to the conveyor surface, or to the processing-active zone, exceeds a defined value, e.g. on exceeding a critical object thickness. The objet downholder may, thus, exert a counter-force onto at least one object as the case may be. This counter-force counteracts the springing-away of the objects from the conveyor surface, when the conveyor surface returns to its initial position or springs upwards beyond this. The force which is exerted by the deflected conveyor surface onto the objects may thus be compensated by the downholder. The objects are, thus, guided in a controlled manner or held on the conveyor rest by way of the object downholder. With thin objects, it may occur that the object downholder only acts on the object when the distance or the height difference between the object upper side distant to the conveyor surface and the conveyor surface or the processing-active zone exceeds a certain value. This predefined value for example corresponds to a critical object thickness, but may also be smaller or zero. 
         [0011]    The method according to the invention has the following steps: 
         [0012]    conveying the objects one after the other and distanced from one another, in a conveyor direction through a processing region, wherein the packaging material web covers the objects on both sides; 
         [0013]    moving the processing tool at least at a point of the processing region, perpendicularly to the conveyor surface; 
         [0014]    processing the packaging material web in the region between two objects, in particular manufacturing connections between an upper region distant to the conveyor surface and a lower region of the packaging material web, which faces the conveyor surface; 
         [0015]    calming at least one of the objects by way of holding-down with an object downholder, wherein the object is pressed against the conveyor surface on exceeding a critical object thickness or deflection. 
         [0016]    The objects or the finished packaging units are secured against being dislocated, in a simple manner and at every point in time of the processing, by way of the invention and in particular by way of the object downholders. Such dislocations may be caused due to a springing back of the conveyor surface which as a rule is yielding and is deflected and/or deformed by the tool when the processing pressure is relieved. The position of the objects may, thus, be easily controlled at every point in time of the processing. For example, in the case of welding, one also prevents the still soft welding seam from being loaded and being able to open again by way of this. 
         [0017]    The object downholder acts in the region of the objects and not in the packaging material web region between two objects, which is in contrast to the packaging material web dowriholders which are already known. The object downholder is, therefore, designed and arranged such that, seen in the conveyor direction, it is capable of cooperating with the object at a distance from the processing-active zone, which is greater than half the distance between two objects (measured between the trailing edge of an object and the leading edge of a subsequent object). 
         [0018]    It is not absolutely necessary for the object downholder to exert a force onto the objects on processing. It is sufficient if it prevents a springing-away of the object from the conveyor surface. Its active surface, e.g. its lower side facing the conveyor surface, in the loaded condition may, thus, have a predefined distance to the conveyor surface and oppose the further increase of this distance by way of a springing-back object with a certain resistance. This distance is preferably selected such that objects with a certain (standard) thickness are only just touched by the object downholder, but no mutual forces are exerted. 
         [0019]    The object downholder is preferably resilient. It is, for example, resilient per se (e.g. shape elasticity, compressible material) and/or is attached on a holding element, e.g. the tool carrier in a resilient manner. Its spring constant is preferably smaller than that of the conveyor surface: The object downholder yields when an object is enclosed between the object downholder and the conveyor surface. On the other hand, the spring constant is preferably large enough to be able to reliably guide and position the object. 
         [0020]    The object downholder is preferably movable, and is introduced into the processing region during the processing of the packaging material web. The object downholder is moved for example synchronously with the processing tool, but otherwise independently of this. Its movement does not need to be in the conveyor direction; an introduction into the processing region from the side is also possible. 
         [0021]    Particularly preferably, the object downholder is fastened on the tool carrier and in this manner is moved synchronously with this. An individual drive for the object downholder is done away with by way of this. In the case that an additional packaging material web downholder is present (see below), then the object downholder may also be fastened on this. 
         [0022]    The processing tool is moved with at least one speed component perpendicularly to the conveyor direction (lowering onto the conveyor surface and lifting up again). Preferably additionally, yet a movement in the conveyor direction is present. For this, the processing tool or its processing-active zone is preferably moved along a closed revolving path, which runs in the processing region in the direct vicinity of the conveyor surface, preferably essentially parallel to this. The speed component in the conveyor direction is thereby preferably essentially as large as the conveyor speed of the objects. 
         [0023]    Particularly preferably, the orientation of the processing tool is controllable. Examples as to how this may be realised are described in the applications WO 2007/147269 and WO 2009/039673 which are mentioned above. Controllable processing tools have the advantage that they may be placed onto the material web in a targeted manner, also between thicker objects. For this reason, the object distance may be reduced, which permits a material saving, higher conveyor rates and/or reduced conveyor speeds. 
         [0024]    By way of a bent shape of the active surface of the downholder, it is possible for the downholder to roll on the object upper side or on a fictive surface which runs at a predefined distance to the conveyor surface, when the downholder makes a circular moment or a movement along a curved movement path. 
         [0025]    Preferably, also at least one packaging material web downholder is present in addition to the object downholder. This, in the region between two objects, acts on the packaging material web and presses its upper and lower regions against the conveyor surface, before the processing active zone of the processing tool presses onto the packaging surface. The packaging material web downholder is preferably designed such as described in WO 2005/118402. 
         [0026]    In a preferred variant of the invention, one prevents the packaging material web from remaining stuck on the processing tool after the processing. This may occur particularly on welding a packaging material web, if the web, due to an error in the object feed, does not enclose an object, thus empty pouches are formed. These are very light and may thus be taken along with the processing tool, even if they only slightly stick to this. The same may likewise happen to very light objects under certain circumstances. Errors are caused by way of this, for example if the empty pouches or light objects detach from the processing tool in an uncontrolled manner at a later stage. Parts of the packaging material web which possibly stick to the processing tool, e.g. to the packaging material web downholder, may be released again and moved against the conveyor path, in a mechanical manner, preferably by way of blowing compressed air into the processing region by way of a blow air feed. Empty pouches or very light, wrapped objects are conveyed further on the conveyor path in a secure manner by way of this. 
         [0027]    The compressed air exits (nozzles) are preferably arranged in or on the packaging material web downholder. They blow air preferably perpendicularly to the plane of the packaging material or to the conveyor surface. Mechanical release elements are also conceivable as alternatives. Preferably, the blow air is additionally also used for cooling the packaging material web downholder. This is because it has been found that the sticking of the downholder on the material web is reduced by way of cooling, particularly in the case of a film. The packaging material web downholder may comprise channels in its interior, through which the blow air is led, in particularly roughly in the direction of the active edge of the downholder, for the purpose of leading through or circulating the air. If two leading downholders or trailing downholders are present, the respective channels may be connected to one another by way of flexible tubing or other conduits, so that a common connection to the compressed air source is adequate. A part of the air is led through suitable openings (nozzles) onto the material web. Alternatively, the complete air flow may also exit. 
         [0028]    The air-cooled packaging material web downholder which is described here, with which the air exits completely or partly and is used for detaching the packaging material web, is advantageously applicable also with processing tools without object downholders. In particular, the air used for cooling is advantageously applied for a double use, specifically simultaneously also for pushing away the web. 
         [0029]    The processing tools may be attached on a rigid rotation body, e.g. a wheel, and be moved along a circular path. However, a revolving system with an infinitely shaped revolving path is also possible. Thereby, the processing tools may also be driven individually, in order to realise different path speeds and processing distances. 
         [0030]    The conveyor rest may serve as a counter-tool. Alternatively, one may also apply a stationary or co-moved counter-tool (e.g. along a mirror-symmetrical revolving path). The conveyor rest may be interrupted in the processing region or be led around the counter-tool. 
         [0031]    The processing tools may be welding bars for thermal welding or ultrasound welding, pressing brackets for connecting pre-glued locations, an embossing device or a separating device for separating packaging units. The packaging material web, for example, is a plastic film, a film of natural material, or paper. 
         [0032]    The thickness of the object is an important factor which determines the weight of the objects. A resilient and/or resiliently mounted object downholder exerts a counter-force onto the objects, which is proportional to its deflection and thus is thickness-dependent. Therefore, compensation of the forces acting on the object may be achieved with a suitable dimensioning of the object downholder. 
         [0033]    The object downholders may be subdivided transversely to the conveyor direction into individual resilient components, e.g. several resilient rolls lying next to one another, instead of a resilient roller, or several resilient fingers lying next to one another, instead of a uniform bent resilient element. Thickness variations within the same object may be compensated by way of this. 
         [0034]    The packaging material web is conveyed with the objects in a synchronous manner by way of a suitable conveyor and turn-over device, and applied around the objects into a bag-tubing. Alternatively, two or more packaging material web parts are led to the objects from the top and the bottom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    Examples of the invention are represented in the drawings and hereinafter. In a purely schematic manner, there are shown in: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  a packaging device in a view transverse to the conveyor direction, wherein the processing tools of the device comprise packaging material web downholders and object downholders fastened thereon, in the form of bent elements; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  a packaging device similarly to  FIG. 1 , wherein the processing tools are controllable with regard to their orientation; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3   a  a perspective view of the device according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3   b  a sectioned view of a packaging material web downholder from  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0040]      FIG. 4  a detail of a device according to  FIG. 2 , with two views of a processing tool on processing; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  a further example of a processing tool with an object downholder in the form of a bent element, which is fastened on the tool carrier; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  a further example of a processing tool with an object downholder in the form of a resiliently mounted roller or several rolls lying next to one another; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  a further example for a processing tool with an object downholder in the form of a resiliently mounted punch; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]      FIG. 1  shows a view of a packaging device  1  transverse to the conveyor direction F.  FIGS. 2 and 3   a+b  show a slightly modified device  1  in a lateral view and in a perspective view respectively. The common factors of both devices  1  are described hereinafter: 
         [0045]    The device,  1  by way of example, comprises four processing tools  10 , which are attached on a rotation body  2  and are moved along a circular revolving path U 1  about a rotation centre M. The processing tools  10  in  FIG. 1  are aligned radially to the rotation centre M. With  FIGS. 2 and 3   a+b , the orientation of the processing tools  10  may be changed relative to the radial direction. The processing tools  10  in each case comprise a processing-active zone  12 , here for example a welding bar, which is mounted on a tool carrier  13 . They further comprise in each case two packaging material web downholders  14 , which in each case are arranged laterally of the processing zone  12  and are movable in a resilient manner (springs  15 ,  FIG. 3 ) in the radial direction relative to this zone or to the tool carrier  13 . In the unloaded condition, the packaging material web downholders  14  project in the radial direction beyond the processing-active zone  12  (situation at 12, 3 and 9 o&#39;clock in FIGS.  1 + 2 ). Under load (counter-pressure by way of the conveyor surface  34 ), they spring back so far that the processing-active zone  12  is located in the plane of their radially outer lying edges  14   a  or projects beyond these (situation at 6 o&#39;clock in FIGS.  1 + 2 ). 
         [0046]    For each processing tool  10 , at least one object downholder  20  is present, which here by way of example, leads the processing-active zone  12  in the revolving direction. Preferably additionally, a trailing object downholder  20  is present (drawn in a dashed manner). The object downholder  20  in this example consists of an element  21  which in the lateral view is bent in a channel-like manner and is concavely bent with respect to the conveyor device  30 . The element  21  is fastened on the leading or trailing packaging material web downholder  14 . By way of this, it may be displaced with this in the radial direction relative to the processing-active zone  12  when the packaging material web downholder  14  springs in. 
         [0047]    As  FIGS. 2 and 3   a+b  schematically show, the packaging material web downholders  14  comprise several compressed air nozzles  16 . The nozzle openings  16   a  are arranged along the edges  14   a  of the packaging material web downholders  14 . The compressed air is led in the interior of the packaging material web downholder  14  in channels  16   b , which here by way of example run parallel to the active edge  14   a  of the downholder. The packaging material web downholder  14  is simultaneously cooled by way of this. The air channels  16   b  in the two leading and trailing packaging material web downholders  14  of a tool are connected to one another by way of flexible tubing  17 , so that a common compressed air feed is sufficient. 
         [0048]    The entry location of the compressed air, by way of example, here is in the region of the tool which is at the right in the conveyor direction F, and the exit is at the opposite location. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3   b  shows a section along the line A-A in  FIG. 3   a . The outflow direction of the air is in the plane of the packaging material web downholder  14  and essentially perpendicular to the packaging material web  110 . 
         [0050]    A conveyor device  30 , here in the form of a belt conveyor, is located below the rotation body  2 . It comprises a conveyor belt  32  which is deflected around at least two rollers  36 . Its upper face defines a largely plane conveyor surface  34  for objects  100  lying thereon. They are moved in the conveyor direction F. The conveyor belt  32  is yielding in the region between the rollers  36 , i.e. may sag under loading. The conveyor belt  32  may also be deformable per se, for example, by way of it having a compressible damping layer. The conveyor belt  32  or the conveyor surface  34  acts as a counter tool for the processing tools  10 . It is orientated tangentially to the movement path U 1  of the processing-active zone  10 . The region of the greatest approach between the movement path U 1  and the conveyor surface  34  is called the processing region B. 
         [0051]    Objects  100  are conveyed lying behind one another in a row on the conveyor belt  32 . The distance between two consecutive objects  100  (thus the gap between two objects  100 ) is indicated at D. The objects  100  are covered at their upper and lower side  102 ,  104  by a material web  110 . They are, for example, inserted into a flexible bag-like tubing of a material web  110  enveloped in the conveyor direction, or covered by two part material webs. The processing tools  10  are designed such that connections S between the upper region and the lower region  112 ,  114  of the material web  110  may be created in the region between the two objects  100 . The connections S here are orientated transversely to the conveyor direction F, but could however also have a different orientation, e.g. in the longitudinal direction. It is particularly the case of welding seams. The packaging units may be separated along the connections S directly after or on connecting the upper and the lower material web regions  112 ,  114 . 
         [0052]    The region of the bent part  21 , whose distance to the rotation centre M is the greatest, is indicated at area  21   a . The radial distance between the plane through the edges  14   a  and the region  21   a  is indicated at b 1 . It corresponds in this example roughly to a critical object thickness b 2  or is larger than an object thickness b 2 . The packaging material web downholders  14  together with the object downholder  20 , may spring back with respect to the processing-active zone  12 . 
         [0053]    Seen in the conveyor direction F or peripheral direction of the rotation body  2 , the region  21   a  has a distance d to the processing-active zone  12 . The distance d is larger than half the distance D between the objects  100 . By way of this, one ensures that the object downholder  20  indeed cooperates with the object  100  and not only with the material web  110  in the region between the objects  100 . 
         [0054]    The device functions as follows: The rotation body  2  and the conveyor device  30  are driven in a mariner such that the objects  100  on the conveyor belt  32  and the processing-active zones  12  of the processing tools  10  are moved with the same path speed. The processing tools  10  meet the gaps between two objects  100 . The edges  14   a  of the packaging material web downholders  14 , which project beyond the revolving path U 1 , in the processing region B firstly hit the upper region  12  of the material web  110 , then the lower region  114 . By way of this, the material web  110  is smoothed between the two downholders  14  and at least above the leading object  100 . By way of counter-pressure of the conveyor surface  34 , the packaging material web downholders  14  spring in, the processing-active zone  12  hits the material web  110  and the connection S is created. The conveyor rest  34  also moves somewhat downwards, i.e. away from the rotation centre M, by way of the pressure of the processing tool  10 . On rotating further, the processing-active zone  12  detaches from the material web  110 , the packaging material web dlownholders  14  spring into their initial position, and the pressure on the conveyor rest  34  is relieved. The conveyor rest  34  likewise returns into its initial position. 
         [0055]    The release of the packaging material web  110  from the packaging material web downholders  14  is encouraged by way of the blow air exiting from the nozzles  16 . It is ensured by way of this that very light, enveloped objects or empty pouches detach from the processing tool in a reliable manner and are not moved further with these. The blow air feed may be continuous or also in intervals by way of a suitable control. The blow air is fed directly after the processing at least in the processing region. 
         [0056]    The object downholders  20  are shaped such that they may press the object  100  against the conveyor rest  34  when the conveyor rest  34  springs back into its initial condition and gives the object  100  an impulse to the top or towards the rotation body  2 . The object downholders  20  for this are resilient per se or are mounted in a resilient manner, and in particular are formed by the elastic element and may yield towards the rotation centre M. 
         [0057]    The radial distance b 1  to the ends  14   a  of the downholders  14 , remains constant by way of the object downholder  20  being connected to the respective packaging material web downholder  14  in a fixed manner. 
         [0058]    The fixed connection to the packaging material web downholder  14  has the following effect: When the tool  10  approaches the processing region B, the object downholders  20  are still in a position, in which they are maximally distanced to the rotation centre M. They may therefore roll on the object  100  when the tool  10  moves into the processing region B. By way of the counter-pressure of the conveyor rest  34 , the packaging material web downholders  14  and thus object downholders  20  are pressed towards the rotation entre M. The region  21   a  is therefore distanced to the object  100  or to the material web  110  lying thereon. A pulling tight of the material web  110  is not inhibited by the object downholder  20 . On further rotation, the processing-active zone  12  detaches from the material web  110  and the pressure on the packaging material web downholders  14  reduces and the packaging material web downholders are moved outwards again with the object downholders  20 . The object downholders  20  may then contact the objects  100  again and position them in a secure manner. Additionally, the object downholders  20  guide the objects  100  with the reduction of the processing pressure and, thus, prevent the objects  100  from lifting from the conveyor surface  34 . The force which is exerted by the upwardly resilient conveyor rest  34  and which acts upwards, is at least partly compensated by the object downholders  20 . 
         [0059]    The objects  100  shown here have a thickness b 2 , which is smaller than b 1 . The object downholder  20  then in the processing region B only exerts a pressure onto the objects  100  if these spring back too greatly towards the rotation centre M. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 2 and 3   a+b  show one variant of the device  1  of  FIG. 1 , with which the orientation of the tools  10  relative to the rotation body  2  may be controlled with a control device  40 . For this, the tools  10  are arranged on the rotation body  2  in a pivotable manner. The pivot axis  41  in each case goes through the processing-active zone  12 . The orientation is set by way of the tools  10  being connected to levers  42 . The orientation of the levers  42  may be varied by way of a stationary control cam  46 , by way of cam rollers  44  connected to the levers  42  rolling on the control cam  46 . The cam guide revolving path U 2  is fixed by the control cam  46 . The control cam  46  is shaped such that the processing-active zone  12  of the tools  10  in front of the processing region B in the revolving direction is orientated in a leading manner with respect to the tool carrier  13 , and in a trailing manner after the processing region B. The tool  10  may be well placed onto the material web even between thicker objects  100  by way of this. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  shows a detail of the device according to  FIGS. 2 and 3   a  during processing. The position of the tool  10  directly at the beginning of the processing is shown in unbroken lines. The position of the tool  10  towards the end of the processing is shown in dashed lines. One recognises that the tool  100  rolls on the processing location. The release of the material web from the downholder  14  is encouraged by the feed of blow air. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  shows the processing region B in another design variant. The tools  10  including the packaging material web downholders  14  and the object downholders  20  are in principle constructed in the same manner as in the preceding figures, with the following difference: The object downholders  20  are not fastened on the packaging material web downholders  14 , but directly on the tool carrier  13  of the processing-active zone  12 . Their distance to the processing-active zone  12  is therefore constant, and the distance to the packaging material web downholders  14  is variable on account of their resilient mounting. 
         [0063]    The shape and the position of the object downholders  20  relative to the tool carrier  13  is designed such that objects  100  of a critical thickness b 2  (here, two individual products lying over one another, with a total thickness b 2 ) in the processing region B may be slightly pressed against the conveyor rest  34 , without the object downholder  20  being greatly deformed. Thinner objects  100  in this case are likewise held in a guided manner, when they spring back from the conveyor surface  34 . Even thicker objects  1090  may likewise be received and positioned between the object downholder  20  and the conveyor surface  34 , wherein the object downholder  20  deforms accordingly. 
         [0064]      FIG. 6  shows a further variant of the processing tools  10  or the object downholders  20 . The object downholders  20  here are designed as freely rotatable rollers  22 . These are mounted in a pivotable manner, directly or indirectly on the tool carrier  13  of the processing-active zone  12  by way of a lever  33 . The packaging material web downholder  14  is resilient relative to this. Here, a yoke  25  is present, which is firmly connected to the tool carrier  13  and serves as a mounting for the lever  23 . The lever  23  is resilient; a spring  24 , e.g. a leaf spring or spiral spring serves for pressing the roller  22  towards the processing-active zone  12  in the unloaded condition. The lever  23  under a force effect may be pushed by way of an object  100  against this spring force, in the direction of the bent arrow. In the unloaded condition, in turn, a distance between the processing-active zone  12  and the roller  22  is set, which corresponds roughly to the critical object thickness. The leading object downholder  20  is shown additionally in the unloaded condition (drawn dashed). 
         [0065]    This variant has the advantage that the object downholder  20  may roll on the object  100  or on the upper material web part  112 . The object  100  or the upper material web part  112  is therefore not displaced in the conveyor direction or compromised in any other manner by way of the friction with the object downholder  20 , when the tool  10  moves into the processing region B or on leaving the processing region B. 
         [0066]    In the present case, the objects  100  are small stacks, here from three individual products. 
         [0067]      FIG. 7  shows a further example for object downholders  20 , here in the form of compressible punches  26  which are mounted via an extension piece  27 , likewise on a yoke  25 . The packaging material web downholders  14  are movable relative thereto. The compressible punch  26  consists for example of foam. It has a plane lower side with which it lies in a large-surfaced manner on the object or on the upper material web region  112 . Such object downholders  20  are very simple with regard to design and load the object in a relatively uniform manner on account of the surfaced effect. 
         [0068]    The object downholders  20  seen in the conveyor direction also act a distance d to the processing-active zone  12  in the cases of  FIG. 5-7 , wherein d&gt;D/2 (half the object distance).