Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for the clocked conveying of packaging containers in a filling machine for flowable products along a conveying line with a first and a second section, a first conveying means and a second conveying means being operated at different clock cycles in the first section of the conveying line and in the second section of the conveying line respectively, and a handling device arranged between the first and the second sections of the conveying line compensating for the different clock times between the first and second conveying means. The clock time for filling flowable products into the packaging containers can thus be sufficiently measured in the second section of the conveying line, without having to accept unnecessary dead time for performing a processing step in the first section of the conveying line. Further disclosed is a device for performing the method.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 of PCT/EP2013/076994 filed Dec. 17, 2013, which in turn claims the priority of DE 10 2012 112 792.1 filed Dec. 20, 2012, the priority of both applications is hereby claimed and both applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a method for the timed, stepwise conveyance of piece goods in a filling machine for liquid products along a conveying line with a first and a second section, comprising the steps of
         conveying the piece goods in the first section by means of a first conveying means and conveying the piece goods in the second section by means of a second conveying means;   unloading the piece goods from the first conveying means and loading the second conveying means with the piece goods.
 
The invention also pertains to a device for the timed, stepwise conveyance of piece goods in a filling machine for liquid products along at least one conveying line with a first and a second section, comprising a first conveying means with a timed, stepwise drive for conveying the piece goods in the first section and a second conveying means with a timed, stepwise drive for conveying the piece goods in the second section.
       

     Filling machines for filling packaging containers consisting of composite cardboard material with liquid products, especially liquid food products, are known from the prior art. Concerning the design of such a filling machine, reference can be made by way of example to DE 41 42 167 C2. 
     In a filling machine, a folded package jacket is picked up in a first section of a conveying line by a first conveying means. The first conveying means is usually configured as a mandrel wheel, rotating in stepwise fashion, which comprises several radially outward-projecting mandrels, which engage in the unfolded package jackets. While the mandrel wheel is in the idle interval of its timing step, an operation is carried out at the free ends of the package jackets. In particular, folding and pressing tools are used to produce the bottom of the package, so that a half-open packaging container is formed from the package jacket. As soon as the mandrel carrying the half-open packaging container is pointing vertically downward, the packaging container is unloaded from the mandrel wheel with the help of a stripper; the container then slides into a cell, oriented to align with the mandrel, of a second conveying means, in particular a conveying means configured as a link-belt conveyor. The packaging container, which is open at the top, stands upright in the cell and is conveyed through a sterile space, for example, of the filling machine, in which a filling station for the liquid products is located. While the second conveying means is in an idle interval of its timing step, another operation is carried out such as, in particular, the filling of the packaging container. 
     The first and second conveying means are operated with the same timing. The speed of the stepwise movement is based on the most time-consuming work operation to be performed on the conveying line. In the case of the known filling machines, this is the introduction of the liquid product into the packaging container. During this filling operation, the stepwise movement must be slow enough to prevent foam from forming and/or from the acceleration to become too great, since that could cause product which has been introduced into the packaging container to slosh about. In no case may any foam or liquid product spill onto the inside surfaces of the upper edge of the packaging container, because these areas must be kept liquid-free for the sake of the next work step, in which the top of the package is formed; otherwise, a satisfactory seal, produced by the application of heat and pressure, cannot be achieved. 
     The time required to fill a package exceeds the time required to produce the bottom of a package. 
     Because the half-open packaging container must be transferred from the mandrel wheel to the link-belt conveyor, however, the timing of the mandrel wheel and of the link-belt conveyor must agree. This means that, with respect to the goal of ensuring the greatest possible throughput of the filling machine, the time between the stepwise movements of the mandrel wheel is too long, and the time between the stepwise movements of the link-belt conveyor is at the lower limit of the technically feasible time window. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Against the background of this prior art, an object of the invention is to provide a method in which the time between the stepwise movements for critical processing operations in a second section of the conveying line, especially for the introduction of liquid products into the packaging containers, is sufficiently long but not so long that unnecessary dead times in the performance of a processing operation in the first section of the conveying line must be accepted. In addition, a device for carrying out the method is also to be described. 
     The object is achieved by operating the first conveying means in the first section of the conveying line with one timing and the second conveying means in the second section of the conveying line with a different timing, wherein a handling device arranged between the first and the second sections of the conveying line compensates for the difference between the timing of the movements of the first and second conveying means. 
     In one embodiment, the method of the invention includes:
         operating the first conveying means with a first timing, each step of which comprises an idle interval and a conveying interval;   operating the second conveying means with a timing different from the first timing, each step of which comprises an idle interval and a conveying interval, wherein each idle interval of the second timing overlaps in time at least two idle intervals of the first timing;   unloading one of the piece goods from the first conveying means during each idle interval of the first timing by means of a handling device arranged between the first and the second sections of the conveying line; and   loading, by means of the handling device, the second conveying means during an idle interval of the second timing with all of the piece goods unloaded from the first conveying means during this idle interval.       

     The timing of the second conveying means is determined in such a way that each idle interval of the second timing overlaps timewise with at least two idle intervals of the first timing. As a result, it is possible, during an idle interval of the first timing, to unload at least two packaging containers from the first conveying means, which are then available for the performance of the parallel processing operation, in particular the simultaneous filling of the two packaging containers during an idle interval of the second timing in the second section of the conveying line. The duration of a step of the second timing is preferably a whole-number multiple of the duration of a step of the first timing. As a result, the idle and conveying intervals of the first and second conveying means can be easily synchronized. 
     For the filling of the packaging containers, it is advantageous for the loading of the second conveying means with the piece goods, in particular with the half-open packaging containers, to take place at several set-down positions arranged with a certain offset from each other in the direction of the conveying line. The packaging containers are then already arranged on the second conveying means in a way which is adapted to the automated filling of the half-open packaging containers. 
     To ensure short transport distances for the piece goods and a high unloading and loading speed for the handling device, each piece is unloaded from the first conveying means into an unloading position, which is located between two set-down positions on the second conveying means. After it has been unloaded from the first conveying means and before it is loaded onto the second conveying means, each piece is transported from this unloading position to one of the set-down positions. 
     According to the invention, it is advantageous for both the first and the second section of the conveying line, the set-down positions on the second conveying means, and the unloading position located between two set-down positions to all be situated in a common vertical plane. As a result, the floor space required for the conveying operations and therefore the necessary set-up area for a filling machine with a device for the timed, stepwise conveyance of piece goods can be kept as small as possible. In contrast, conveyors with conveying lines with parts extending in horizontal planes and parts extending in vertical planes demand much larger amounts of floor space and set-up areas. In particular, it is a practical impossibility to realize a filling machine with several conveying lines extending only in horizontal planes. 
     In that each piece, after it has been unloaded from the first conveying means and before it is loaded onto the second conveying means, is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the piece, the piece can be oriented in the handling device in a manner suitable for the following processing operations. Especially for the formation of the top of a packaging container, it is advantageous for the gable flaps of the package top which are to be welded together to be oriented in the direction of the conveying line. The welding cheeks required to do the welding are arranged parallel to the conveying line and thus do not interfere with the transport of the packaging containers. So that the handling device can carry out the unloading and loading operations at high speed, each piece is preferably rotated as it is being transported from the unloading position to one of the set-down positions. 
     To increase the throughput of the filling machine, the piece goods are conveyed in timed steps through the filling machine along several parallel conveying lines, wherein the arrangement and timing of the first and second conveying means and the arrangement of each handling device are the same in all of the conveying lines. Because of the parallel arrangement and parallel timing, the drives of the first and second conveying means can be combined. For example, several transport wheels can be mounted on a single shaft and rotated by a single drive. In similar fashion, the holders of every second conveying means, which holders are arranged next to each other in a row in the direction of the conveying line, can be arranged on a common link belt of a link-belt conveyor. A single handling device can be arranged between the first and second sections of the parallel conveying lines to unload and to load the piece goods. Alternatively, a handling device can be assigned to only a subset of the parallel conveying lines. 
     A preferred handling device between the first and second sections of the conveying line comprises means for unloading the piece goods from the first conveying means into an unloading position, means for transporting the piece goods from the unloading position to the set-down positions, and means for loading the second conveying means with the piece goods at the set-down positions. The unloading position is located a certain distance away from the set-down positions for the piece goods on the second conveying means, these positions being arranged with an offset from each other in the direction of the conveying line. To keep the transport distances to the set-down positions short, the unloading position is preferably located between two of the set-down positions offset from each other in the direction of the conveying line. 
     Insofar as the first conveying means comprises a transport wheel comprising several radially outward-projecting, parallel holding fixtures, each of which accommodates one of the pieces, the means for unloading the handling device is preferably configured as a stripper, which can be brought up to rest against one edge and/or surface of the piece. By means of the stripper, the half-open packaging container can be pushed from the radial holding fixture into an unloading position. 
     Insofar as the second conveying means comprises an endless link-belt conveyor, which comprises holders arranged next to each other in the direction of the conveying line, each holder accommodating one of the piece goods, preferably at least two pusher elements are provided as loading means, each of which can be brought into contact with one edge and/or surface of the piece. The pusher elements are preferably oriented in such a way that, after one of the piece goods has been transported from the unloading position to a set-down position, one of the pushers can push the piece into the holder on the link-belt conveyor located in the associated set-down position. 
     So that it is possible both to unload one of the piece goods from the first conveying means and to load the second conveying means with at least two piece goods with only one stroke, both the means for unloading the handling device and the means for loading it are preferably mounted on a single-axis positioning system. 
     The transverse transport of the piece goods from the unloading position to the set-down positions is preferably accomplished by means of a linear slide, which is free to move from the unloading position to the set-down positions, and on which at least two holders, arranged with an offset to each other in the direction of the conveying line, are arranged to hold the piece goods. In particular, the holders encompass the outer edges of the half-open packaging containers in such a way that the packaging containers can be pushed vertically into the holder by the stripper and pushed vertically out of the holders by the pusher elements. 
     The movement of the linear slide in the horizontal direction can bring each of the holders on the linear slide, as desired, either into the unloading position or into alignment with one of the set-down positions. In the unloading position, the stripper can unload the packaging container from the downward-pointing holding fixture of the stationary transport wheel into whichever one of the two holders is located in the unloading position. By means of the subsequent transverse movement of the holders by means of the movable linear slide to one of the set-down positions, the holder holding one of the packaging containers can be brought into alignment with one of the set-down positions, so that the second, idle conveying means can be loaded. For this purpose, the associated pusher element of the handling device moves vertically downward and thus pushes the package jacket vertically out of the holder into one of the holders of the link-belt conveyor, namely, the holder located in the set-down position in question. 
     Insofar as the holders for holding the piece goods are supported rotatably on the linear slide, the movement of the linear slide and the rotation of the holders can be linked to each other by connecting each holder to the stand of the handling device or to the machine stand by means of a coupling linkage, which causes the holders to rotate when the linear slide is moved. 
     The method and the device according to the invention for cycled conveyance is explained in greater detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is an elevation view of a device for conveying goods with a handling device located between a first conveyor and a second conveyor in a first step of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a plan view of the handling device and the second conveying device of the device of  FIG. 1   a.    
         FIG. 1 c    is a detailed plan view of the handling device and the second conveying device of  FIG. 1   b;    
         FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    are an elevation view and a plan view as in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in a second step of the method; 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are an elevation view and a plan view as in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in a third step of the method; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are an elevation view and a plan view as in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in a fourth step of the method; 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are an elevation view and a plan view as in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in a fifth step of the method; and 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are an elevation view and a plan view as in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    in a sixth step of the method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1 a    shows an upright package jacket  1 , which has already been provided with a resealable opening aid  2 . The package jacket  1  for the production of a packaging container is pushed in the direction of the arrow  3  onto a radially outward-projecting holding fixture  4  of a first conveying means in the form of a transport wheel  5 . On a second holding fixture  6 , adjacent in the clockwise direction, is a package jacket  7 ; the bottom of the package is formed from the free end  8  of the jacket projecting beyond the holding fixture  6 . On the third holding fixture  9  is a packaging container  11  with a closed bottom  10 . On the fourth holding fixture  12 , pointing vertically downward, is a packaging container  13  in an upright position ready to be unloaded from the transport wheel  5  into a first holder  14  of a handling device  15 . The handling device  15  is arranged between a first section of a conveying line  46 ,  47  extending around the transport wheel  5  and a second section of the conveying line  46 ,  47  extending along a second conveying means in the form of a link-belt conveyor  32 . 
     A single-axis positioning system  16  of the handling device  15  comprises a transverse rod  21 , the two ends of which are mounted in bushings  25 , so that rod can move downwards along perpendicular guide rods  26 ,  27 , in the direction of the arrow  28 , and also upwards in the direction of the arrow  30  (see  FIG. 2 a   ) back to the starting position. A stripper  18  projects vertically upward from the transverse rod  21 . To the left and right of the stripper  18 , there is in each case a pusher element  19 ,  20 , which extends vertically downward from the transverse rod  21 . The stripper  18  serves the purpose of stripping the packaging container  13  from the downward-pointing holding fixture  12  and into the holder  14 ,  33 , which is located in an unloading position. The stripper  18  rests continuously and elastically on the sides of the holding fixture  4 ,  6 ,  9 ,  12  in question, so that the packaging container located in the lower position of the transport wheel  5  can be reliably gripped at its upper package edge  29  and stripped off. To ensure that the stripper  18  makes satisfactory contact, the sides of the holding fixtures  4 ,  6 ,  9 ,  12  and the center part  31  of the transport wheel  5  form a continuous contact surface. 
     The handling device  15  also comprises a linear slide  37 , configured as a linear table, to transport the packaging containers from the unloading position to the two set-down positions, which are located on the second conveying means, i.e., on the link-belt conveyor  32 , underneath the pusher elements  19 ,  20 . The linear slide  37  is moved back and forth in the direction of the link-belt conveyor  32  by means of a drive (not shown) acting on two horizontal guide rods  38 ,  39 , which slide in bushings  40 . Arranged on the linear slide  37  is the first holder  14  and a second holder  33 , offset in the direction of the conveying line  46 ,  47 , for the packaging containers, each holder comprising four angle brackets  34  for gripping the package edges of the packaging containers. Each of the holders  14 ,  33  is mounted, with freedom to rotate 90° back and forth, on a rotary table  35 ,  36 ,  35 ′,  36 ′ (see  FIG. 1 b   ) on the linear slide  37 . 
       FIG. 1 b   , an enlarged version of which appears in  FIG. 1 c   , shows a top view of the handling device  15 , from which it can be seen that the illustrated device comprises two parallel conveying lines  46 ,  47 , wherein the arrangement and timing of the first and second conveying means in the two conveying lines  46 ,  47  are the same. The first conveying means, i.e., the two transport wheels  5 , one for each first section of each conveying line  46 ,  47 , are arranged on a common drive shaft. As a result, the complexity of the drive and the amount of space it occupies are reduced, and the synchronous operation of the two first conveying means is ensured. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the transport wheel serving as the first conveying means in each conveying line with its own independent drive. 
     The link-belt conveyor  32  is used as the second conveying means for the two conveying lines  46 ,  47 . So that both conveying lines  46 ,  47  can be operated with only a single link-belt conveyor  32 , each link  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ of the link-belt conveyor  32  comprises one cell unit  51 ,  51 ′ comprising four individual cells  52 ,  52 ′,  52 ″. The cells  52 ,  52 ′,  52 ″ are arranged next to each other in the direction of the conveying lines  46 ,  47 , which, in the second section, extend in a straight line; each cell is intended to serve as a holder for one packaging container. The packaging containers are pushed into the cells  52 ,  52 ′,  52 ″ in the two set-down positions of each conveying line  46 ,  47 . Of course, it also lies within the scope of the invention to provide each conveying line  46 ,  47  with its own independent conveyor to serve as the second conveying means. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown here, there is also only one handling device  15  arranged between the two first sections of the two conveying lines  46 ,  47  and the two second sections of the two conveying lines  46 ,  47 . So that both conveying lines  46 ,  47  can be operated with only one handling device  15 , the rotary tables  35 ,  36 , which are arranged on the linear slide  37  with an offset from each other in the direction of the second section of the first conveying line  46 , are supplemented on the slide by two additional rotary tables  35 ′,  36 ′, also arranged with an offset in the direction of the second section of the second conveying line  47 . 
     The rotational movement of the rotary table  35  is achieved by means of a coupling linkage, which rotates the table when the linear slide  37  is moved. For this purpose, one joint  43  of the connecting rod  41  is fixed to the machine stand  44 , whereas the other joint  45  articulates the connecting rod  41  to the rotary table  35  via the connecting rod  42 . In addition, the connecting rod  42  is rigidly connected to one of the four angle brackets  34  arranged on the rotary table  35 . The rotary drive of the rotary table  36  adjacent to the rotary table  35  on the conveying line  46  is achieved by means of a connecting rod  49 ′, which is articulated in the manner of a parallel shaft transmission to one of the angle brackets  34 ′ on the rotary table  36 ′ in the parallel conveying line  47  and to one of the angle brackets  34  on the rotary table  36 . 
     The drive of the rotary table  36 ′ is built as a mirror image of the drive of the rotary table  35 : The rotational movement of the rotary table  36 ′ is achieved in that a connecting linkage rotates the table when the linear slide  37  moves. For this purpose, one joint  43 ′ of the connecting rod  41 ′ is fixed to the machine stand  44 , whereas the other joint  45 ′ articulates the connecting rod  41 ′ to the rotary table  36 ′ by way of the connecting rod  42 ′. In addition, the connecting rod  42 ′ is rigidly connected to one of the four holding brackets  34  arranged on the rotary table  36 ′. The rotary drive of the rotary table  35 ′ adjacent on the conveying line  47  to the rotary table  36 ′ is achieved by means of a connecting rod  49 , which, in the manner of a parallel shaft transmission, is articulated to an angle bracket  34 ′ on the rotary table  35 ′ and to an angle bracket  34  on the rotary table  35  in the parallel conveying line  46 . 
     Each rotary table  35 ,  35 ′,  36 ,  36 ′ comprises a square through-opening  48  in the center, which corresponds essentially to the square cross section of the packaging container to be transported. It can be seen that each opening  48  also comprises an additional rectangular recess  53  on one side. 
     The way in which the device described above works is explained below on the basis of  FIGS. 1 a   - 6   b.    
     Because of the time it takes to fill the packaging containers in the second section of each conveying line is longer than the time it takes to produce the package bottom in the first section of each conveying line, two package bottoms are produced over the course of two timed steps of the transport wheel  5  of each conveying line  46 ,  47 , during which two packaging containers are filled simultaneously in one timed step of the link-belt conveyor  32 . Therefore, an idle interval of the link-belt conveyor  32  for the filling operation overlaps two idle intervals of the transport wheel  5  for the forming of the package bottom and the stripping of the packaging container  13  from the transport wheel  5 . The handling device  15  compensates for the difference between the timing of the transport wheel  5  and the timing of the link-belt conveyor  32 . 
       FIG. 1 a    shows the following situation: In a preceding cycle of the link-belt conveyor  32 , the left cell  52  of the cell unit  51  was loaded with a packaging container  58 . Toward the right in the conveying direction  55 , packaging containers  57  are also present in the adjacent cell unit  56 . In addition, one packaging container  54  is located in the handling device  15 , namely, in the right holder  33 ; this is the container which, during the preceding step of the transport wheel  5 , was stripped from the holding fixture  4 , which is now in the left horizontal position, where it can accept the next package jacket  1 . After the stripping operation during the preceding cycle of the transport wheel  5 , the packaging container  54  received by the holder  33  is pushed by the linear slide  37  out of the unloading position into the position shown in  FIG. 1 a   , as a result of which the right rotary tables  36 ,  36 ′ are turned 90° clockwise by the coupling drive  41 ′,  42 ′,  49 ′ (compare  FIG. 1 c   ). 
     It can be seen in  FIG. 1 a    that the opening aids  2  are oriented in the conveying direction on the transport wheel  5 . For technical reasons, the introduction and welding of the opening aid  2  into a package jacket  1  can be done only with this orientation. Because, after the packaging container is filled, the top of each container is welded as it passes through the line, each packaging container must be rotated 90° by the rotary tables  35 ,  35 ′,  36 ,  36 ′ before it is inserted into one of the cells  52 ,  52 ′ of the link-belt conveyor  32 , as a result of which the opening aids  2  become aligned transversely to the conveying direction. 
     The next step shown in  FIG. 2 a    now consists in that, simultaneously with the stripping-off of the packaging container  13  by the stripper  18  from the holding fixture  12  into the holder  14  located in the unloading position, the packaging container  54  is pushed by the right pusher element  19  out of the holder  33  into the cell  52 ′ underneath, which is located in the right set-down position. It can be seen in  FIG. 2 a    that now the cells  52 ,  52 ′ on the chain link  50  are completely loaded with the packaging containers  58 ,  54 . During this loading step, the package jacket  1  has also been pushed completely onto the empty holding fixture  4  of the transport wheel  5 . 
       FIG. 2 b    shows that the rotary tables  35 ,  35 ′ rotate 90° in the clockwise direction, and the rotary tables  36 ,  36 ′ rotate 90° in the counterclockwise direction. Rotation begins as soon as the linear slide  37  is moved toward the left, i.e., in the direction of the arrow  59 , into the position shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
     In  FIG. 3 a   , the loaded link-belt conveyor  32  has not yet moved, because the process of filling the packaging containers is still going on in the filling machine. The transverse rod  21  of the positioning system  16  has been moved upward, in the direction of the arrow  30 , from the lower position shown in  FIG. 2 a    into the starting position shown in  FIG. 3 a   , so that the transport wheel  5  with the holding fixture  9  can rotate by 90° into the lower position in the direction of the rotary arrow  60 . After this rotation, the next packaging container  11  is located in the position shown in  FIG. 4 a   , in which the holding fixture  9  is pointing downward, so that the container can then be stripped from the holding fixture  9 . 
     After that, the linear slide  37  is pushed from the right position shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    in the direction of the arrow  59  into the left position shown in  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b   . During this movement of the linear slide, the rotary tables  35 ,  35 ′ and  36 ,  36 ′ are turned 90° to the right and left, respectively, as can be seen in  FIG. 3   b.    
     As a result of the movement of the linear slide  37 , the left holder  14  is now above the left cell  52  of the left chain link  50 ′, which is located in the left set-down position. The holder  14  has been rotated 90° in the clockwise direction. The transport wheel  5  is now rotated 90° in the clockwise direction as shown by the rotary arrow  60 , so that the next package jacket  1  can be stripped from the holding fixture  9 . This rotation of the transport wheel  5  has been completed in  FIG. 4 a   . Now it is possible for the package container  11  to be stripped from the holding fixture  9  into the holder  33  and simultaneously for the packaging container  13  to be pushed out of the holder  14  into the cell  52  in the direction of the arrow  28 . The completed vertical movement of the packaging containers  11 ,  13  is shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
     During the previously described loading of the cell units  51  with the two packaging containers  13 ,  54  per conveying line  46 ,  47 , the filling operation has been carried out and completed. Now the link-belt conveyor  32  is moved onward by the length of one chain link  50 ′,  50  during a conveying interval in the direction of the rotary arrow  61 , and the transverse rod  21  of the positioning system  16  is moved out of the lower position in  FIG. 5 a    in the direction of the arrow  62  back into the starting position shown in  FIG. 6 a   , so that the cell  52 ″ can now be loaded with the packaging container  11 . After the transverse rod  21  has been moved into the starting position, the linear slide  37  is pushed out of the position shown on the left in  FIG. 5 b    toward the right, in the direction of the arrow  59 ′, into the position shown in  FIG. 6   a.    
     The transport wheel  5  rotates another 90° in the clockwise direction, as a result of which the holding fixture  6  arrives in a downward-pointing position above the unloading position for the packaging container  7 . Thus the device is again in the starting position for timed, stepwise conveyance, as shown in  FIGS. 1 a    and  1   b.    
     At this point, one timed, stepwise movement of the link-belt conveyor  32  has occurred, wherein two packaging containers have been filled in each conveying line  46 ,  47  during the stationary interval of the step. During the idle interval of the link-belt conveyor  32 , two packaging containers  13 ,  11  per conveying line  46 ,  47  have been unloaded from the transport wheel  5  by the handling device  15 , and the link-belt conveyor  32  has been loaded with the two packaging containers  13 ,  11 . As a result, during the operation of the device according to the invention, two idle intervals of the transport wheel  5 , during each of which a packaging container  13 ,  11  is unloaded, overlaps with one idle interval of the link-belt conveyor  32 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 List of Reference Numbers 
               
             
          
           
               
                 No. 
                 Designation 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 package jacket 
               
               
                 2 
                 opening aid 
               
               
                 3 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 4 
                 first holding fixture 
               
               
                 5 
                 transport wheel 
               
               
                 6 
                 second holding fixture 
               
               
                 7 
                 package jacket 
               
               
                 8 
                 free end 
               
               
                 9 
                 third holding fixture 
               
               
                 10 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 11 
                 packaging container 
               
               
                 12 
                 fourth holding fixture 
               
               
                 13 
                 packaging container 
               
               
                 14 
                 first holder 
               
               
                 15 
                 handling device 
               
               
                 16 
                 positioning system 
               
               
                 17 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 18 
                 stripper 
               
               
                 19 
                 pusher element 
               
               
                 20 
                 pusher element 
               
               
                 21 
                 transverse rod 
               
               
                 22 
                 vertical rod 
               
               
                 23 
                 vertical rod 
               
               
                 24 
                 vertical rod 
               
               
                 25 
                 bushing 
               
               
                 26 
                 left vertical guide rod 
               
               
                 27 
                 right vertical guide rod 
               
               
                 28 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 29 
                 edge of package 
               
               
                 30 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 31 
                 center part of transport wheel 
               
               
                 32 
                 link-belt conveyor 
               
               
                 33 
                 second holder 
               
               
                 34 
                 angle bracket 
               
               
                 35 
                 left rotary table 
               
               
                 36 
                 right rotary table 
               
               
                 37 
                 linear slide 
               
               
                 38 
                 guide rod 
               
               
                 39 
                 guide rod 
               
               
                 40 
                 bushing 
               
               
                 41 
                 connecting rod 
               
               
                 42 
                 connecting rod 
               
               
                 43 
                 joint 
               
               
                 44 
                 machine stand 
               
               
                 45 
                 joint 
               
               
                 46 
                 conveying line 
               
               
                 47 
                 conveying line 
               
               
                 48 
                 through-opening 
               
               
                 49 
                 connecting rod 
               
               
                 50 
                 chain links 
               
               
                 51 
                 cell unit 
               
               
                 52 
                 cell 
               
               
                 53 
                 recess 
               
               
                 54 
                 packaging container 
               
               
                 55 
                 conveying direction 
               
               
                 56 
                 cell unit 
               
               
                 57 
                 packaging container 
               
               
                 58 
                 packaging container 
               
               
                 59 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 60 
                 rotary arrow 
               
               
                 61 
                 rotary arrow 
               
               
                 62 
                 arrow