Abstract:
A method of producing a packaging container, in particular for providing a box with a binding comprising a thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging component, such as a band or the like, and for decorating the packaging container with a bow. In order to make the method more flexible, in particular in order to allow partial automation, according to the invention, first of all a carrier is prefabricated with the auxiliary packaging component, and then the auxiliary packaging mechanism is transferred from the carrier to the packaging apparatus.

Description:
This application is a National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP98/05981, which has an international filing date of Sep. 18, 1998 and which designated the United States of America. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method of producing a packaging container, in particular for providing a box with a binding comprising a thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means, such as a string, a band or the like, and for decorating the packaging container with a bow. The invention also relates to the technical means for implementing such a method. 
     2. Discussion 
     In addition to the function of protecting the packaged goods from losses in quality and of simplifying storage and transportation, packaging also makes possible a mass-produced get-up of the packaged product and provides possible ways of designing it for advertising purposes. One of these possible ways is not just to provide a packaging container with a binding, but also to decorate it with a bow. Such attractive packaging is important, in particular, for goods which are often intended as a gift, such as chocolate or chocolates. The latter are usually packaged in boxes which may be of different configurations but, in the simplest and most common cases, are of cuboidal design. Where foodstuffs or (semi-) luxury goods are concerned, metallic auxiliary means, such as staples or the like, must not be used for the packaging. 
     While, in order to make bindings for, for example, cuboidal packaging containers, automatic and semiautomatic binding machines, by means of which bands, wires, cords, etc. with lead seals, staples, twisting, knots and/or adhesive bonding are provided as closures, are known, the operation of tying a bow is more difficult to automate. The ends of a thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means, such as a string, a band or the like, have to be formed into loops, and intertwined in a certain way, in order to decorate a packaging container with a bow. In this case, it is essential, for attractive packaging, for the bow to be perfectly formed. The book “Geschenke liebevoll verpacken” [Gifts lovingly packed], Remseck, Stuttgart, 1997 gives, for example on pages 92-115, instructions which comprise individual working steps and are intended for different ways of positioning bands and for tying bows. This way of producing the packaging usually takes place—even if large numbers of packaging units are manufactured—manually and involves a considerable amount of work. For this purpose, the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means is, for example at the factory, cut to size from materials supplied by the meter, bound and tied into bows. For a high production throughput, a very large number of workers have to be involved with this work. 
     The object of the present invention is thus, while maintaining a high quality for the packaging container produced, to make a method of the type mentioned in the introduction more flexible in order thus, during manufacture, to achieve a cost advantage and/or to make it possible for the method to be partially automated. A further object of the invention is to provide the technical means for implementing such a method. 
     This object is achieved by a production method of the type mentioned in the introduction in the case of which first of all a carrier is prefabricated with the auxiliary packaging means, and then the auxiliary packaging means is transferred from the carrier to the packaging container. Also specified in order to achieve the object are a carrier according to the invention, a prefabricating arrangement according to the invention and a prefabricated unit according to the invention. 
     The technical solution according to the invention is based on the idea of achieving the sought-after flexibility by dividing up the production operation into individual sub-operations which can be carried out separately from one another in terms of space and time. In this case, the last sub-operation, the transfer of the binding with the bow from the carrier to the packaging container, can be automated more easily than the production process overall. 
     This produces the prefabricated unit according to the invention which is intended for the packaging container and comprises the carrier and the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means, it being the case that the latter, following the first production sub-operation, forming a binding and provided with a bow, is fastened on the carrier. Such a prefabricated unit can easily be transported and stored in a magazine for further processing at a later date. 
     In the case of the method according to the invention, an elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means can be used and, in order to transfer this auxiliary packaging means from the carrier to the packaging container, the carrier with the binding, which is formed by the prefabricating operation, is provided with the bow and comprises the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means, can be positioned on the top side or underside of the packaging container, with the packaging container being guided at least partially between the binding and the carrier, then the binding is slipped off from the carrier and, in its entirety, slipped over the packaging container and, finally, the carrier is removed from the binding and the packaging container. 
     In this case, the carrier can be prefabricated either just using the carrier or with the aid of an additional production arrangement according to the invention. Using a production arrangement brings about further material-saving advantages, in particular when a disposable carrier is used. 
     In order to implement the method according to the invention, a carrier which is constructed from, in particular, a flexible material and has a planar basic shape adapted to the packaging container is preferably suitable, it being the case that a height dimension of the carrier is smaller than a height dimension of the packaging container and, should a prefabricating arrangement be used, is preferably also smaller than a height dimension of the same. The height dimension of the carrier may preferably just be a fraction of the height dimension of the packaging container. At least one planar basic dimension of the carrier, such as length or width, should be obtained in each case, for example, from a corresponding planar basic dimension, such as length or width, of the packaging container plus at least in each case the height dimension of the packaging container. 
     In order to implement the method according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to use a prefabricating arrangement which is, in particular, constructed from a rigid material and has a planar basic shape adapted to the packaging container, it being the case that a height dimension of the prefabricating arrangement is smaller than a height dimension of the packaging container, and the planar basic dimensions, such as length and width, are obtained in each case, for example, from a corresponding planar basic dimension, such as length and width, of the packaging container plus at least in each case the height dimension of the packaging container. However, it is possible for the height dimension of the prefabricating arrangement to be greater than the height dimension of the carrier. 
     It is preferably possible to use such a carrier and such a prefabricating arrangement which, in their respective planar configuration, are congruent with one another in a sub-region. 
     In order to implement the method according to the invention, it is also possible to use a fabricating arrangement according to the invention which has a retaining arrangement for a packaging container and for a prefabricated unit and also has a plurality of movable grippers for gripping the binding. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following discussion and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box which has been virtually finished according to the invention and has a carrier used for production purposes; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a carrier according to the invention for implementing a method according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a prefabricating arrangement according to the invention for implementing a method according to the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a prefabricated unit according to the invention which, using a carrier according to FIG. 2, is provided with a binding, and decorated with a bow, according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the prefabricated unit according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of a production arrangement according to the invention for implementing a method according to the invention; and 
     FIGS. 7 to  10  are enlarged detailed views of the production arrangement according to the invention, and illustrated in FIG. 6, in different operating phases. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or uses. 
     FIG. 1 shows, as an example of a packaging container  1 , an essentially cuboidal box which has been virtually finished according to the invention and has a length L, a width B and a height H. The box comprises a base part  2 , on which a lid part  3  is positioned, and is enclosed by a sleeve  4  made of cellophane. The packaging container  1  is provided with a binding  5  by a thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , such as a string, a band, or the like and, for decorative purposes, has a bow  7 . In the present case, the auxiliary packaging means  6  is a string. The binding  5  is in the form of cross-binding. However, it could also be executed in the form of diagonal binding or triangular binding. 
     The bow  7  is tied using the auxiliary packaging means  6  serving for binding purposes. The bow  7  may be designed as a single or multiple bow, a decorative bow or a knotted bow. In the exemplary embodiment, the bow  7  is spaced apart from an end side  8  of the box by a distance X which is approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the length L of the box. Such a position X of the bow  7  corresponds to the so-called “golden section” and is particularly aesthetically pleasing. 
     A packaging container produced in such a way is manufactured according to the invention in that first of all a carrier  9 , as a single part by way of example in FIG. 2, is prefabricated with the auxiliary packaging means  6 , and then the auxiliary packaging means  6  is transferred from the carrier  9  to the packaging container  1 . 
     In order to transfer the auxiliary packaging means  6  from the carrier  9  to the packaging container  1 , the carrier  9  with the binding  5 , which is formed by the prefabricating operation, is provided with the bow  7  and comprises the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , may be positioned, for example, on the top side, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, or else on the underside of the packaging container  1 , with the packaging container  1  being guided at least partially between the binding  5  and the carrier  9 , then the binding  5  is slipped off from the carrier  9  and, in its entirety, slipped over the packaging container  1  and, finally, the carrier  9  is removed from the binding  5  and the packaging container  1 . This last step also has to be carried out with the carrier  9  illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to obtain a packaging container  1  which has been fully finished according to the invention. 
     As has already been mentioned, the carrier  9  may be prefabricated either just using the carrier  9  or else with the aid of an additional prefabricating arrangement  10 , as is illustrated as a single part by way of example in FIG.  3 . In this case, in order to prefabricate the carrier  9 , first of all the auxiliary packaging means  6 , in the same way as for the binding  5  provided with the packaging container  1  and illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1, is bound around the prefabricating arrangement  10 , provided with the bow  7  and then transferred from there to the carrier  9 . 
     In order to transfer the auxiliary packaging means  6  from the prefabricating arrangement  10  to the carrier  9 , the carrier  9  may be positioned on the top side or underside of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . In this case, the carrier  9  is guided at least partially between the binding  5  and the prefabricating arrangement  10 , then the binding  5  is slipped off from the prefabricating arrangement  10  and, in its entirety, slipped over the carrier  9  and fastened thereon. 
     Finally, the prefabricating arrangement  10  is removed from the binding  5  and the carrier  9 . 
     It is expedient here, for a good grip on the carrier  9 , for the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6  to be applied to the carrier  9 , or even to the prefabricating arrangement  10 , under prestressing. Use is thus made of an elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 . The elasticity of the auxiliary packaging means  6  also makes it possible for the packaging container to be guided between the binding  5  and the carrier  9  without difficulty. When the carrier  9  is removed from the binding  5 , which has already been slipped over the packaging container  1  and extended slightly by the prestressing, and from the packaging container  1 , the auxiliary packaging means  6  can contract elastically again and form a sufficiently firm binding  5  around the packaging container  1 . 
     If one takes as the departure point a box as the packaging container  1  as has been described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, then it is possible to estimate a preferably recommended percentage extendibility of the auxiliary packaging means  6 : assuming that, during the transfer of the finished binding  5 , provided with a bow  7 , from the carrier  9  to the packaging container  1 , the binding  5  is drawn over a comer  1 I of the packaging container, use should be made of an auxiliary packaging means  6  which has at least approximately a percentage extendibility by an amount F, which can be calculated as        F   =       (       z   y     -   1     )     *   100      %                            
     The variable Z here is an extended length of the auxiliary packaging means  6  and can be calculated as 
     
       
           Z =(0.25 B   2   +L   2 ) 0.5 +[0.25 B   2 +( L−X ) 2 ] 0.5   +H   
       
     
     The variable Y here is an unextended length of the auxiliary packaging means  6  and can be calculated as 
     
       
           Y = 2   L−X+H   
       
     
     (For a somewhat rougher estimate of this extendibility, it is also possible to leave out the summand H from the above second and third equations). 
     FIG. 2 shows, in the plan view, a carrier  9  according to the invention for implementing a method according to the invention. The carrier  9  preferably consists of a flexible material and has a planar basic shape adapted to the packaging container  1 . Its height dimension (thickness D T —FIG. 1) is smaller than a height dimension (height H) of the packaging container  1 . If, as in the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, a prefabricating arrangement  10  is to be used, then the thickness D T  of the carrier  9  should preferably also be smaller than a corresponding height dimension of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . This height dimension of the prefabricating arrangement  10  is preferably the thickness (not illustrated in the drawing) of the prefabricating arrangement  10  shown in FIG.  3  and is designated D VK  hereinbelow. At least one planar basic dimension (length L T , width B T ) of the carrier  9  should be attained in each case, for example, from a corresponding planar basic dimension (length L, width B) of the packaging container  1  plus at least in each case the height dimension (height H) of the packaging container  1 . 
     If no prefabricating arrangement  10  is used, the two planar basic dimensions (length L T , width B T ) of the carrier  9  should be attained in each case, for example, from a corresponding planar basic dimension (length L, width B) of the packaging container  1  plus at least in each case the height dimension (height H) of the packaging container  1 . This means that, when a prefabricating arrangement  10  is used, the carrier  9  may be designed, in a material-saving manner, to be shorter in one of its planar basic dimensions (in the example described—in its length L T ). The carrier  9  described is characterized by a planar basic dimension, to be precise its largest planar basic dimension (length L T ), which is smaller approximately by a third than the corresponding planar basic dimension (length L, L VK ; width B, B VK ) both of the packaging container  1  (FIG. 1) and of the prefabricating arrangement  10  (FIG.  3 ). 
     In order to apply the elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6  to the carrier  9  under prestressing, but then to apply it to the packaging container  1  in a state in which it is subjected to virtually no stressing or barely any stressing, it is expedient if at least one planar basic dimension (length L T  and/or width B T ) is larger than the value specified above by the envisaged amount of extension of the elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 . If no prefabricating arrangement  10  is used, the two planar basic dimensions (length L T  and width B T ) should be larger than the value specified above by the envisaged amount of expansion of the elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 . In this case, the carrier  9  could be constructed, for example, in the same way as the prefabricating arrangement  10  described hereinbelow. 
     The carrier  9  according to the invention has, on one end side  12 , a groove-like cutout  13  for at least partially accommodating the auxiliary packaging means  6 . The cutout  13  is preferably designed as a round hole provided with a conically tapering slit. A groove-like cutout  16 ,  17  is also provided in each case on the two longitudinal sides  14 ,  15  of the carrier  9 . One of these cutouts  17  is likewise designed as a round hole provided with a conically tapering slit; the other cutout  16  has the contour of a semicircular surface. The groove-like cutouts  13 ,  16 ,  17  are intended for accommodating the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , which is gripped particularly well in the round holes provided with a slit in each case. 
     Recesses  18 ,  19  which are open obliquely in the direction of an end side  12  are also provided on the two longitudinal sides  14 ,  15  of the carrier  9 . These recesses  18 ,  19  are likewise intended for accommodating the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , but allow the latter to be slipped off particularly easily in the direction of the end side  12  of the carrier  9 , the recesses being opened in the direction of said end side. 
     The two longitudinal sides  14 ,  15  preferably run towards one another in the direction of an end side  12 , starting from their recesses  18 ,  19 . This configuration in which the carrier  9  tapers on one side likewise helps the binding  5 , which is formed from the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , to be slipped off easily in the direction of the end side  12  of the carrier  9 . 
     Since the longitudinal sides  14 ,  15  of the carrier  9  run towards one another, starting from the recesses  18 ,  19 , the recesses  18 ,  19  have an essentially obtuse-angled contour and thus form abutment edges for the auxiliary packaging means  6  over the height H T  of the carrier  9 . 
     The carrier  9  may advantageously be manufactured from cardboard or paperboard, preferably from a solid board having a height dimension (thickness D T ) of approximately 0.3 to 0.7 mm. It may also be manufactured from plastic. Using such materials also provides the possibility of reuse and of straightforward recycling. 
     FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a prefabricating arrangement  10  according to the invention for implementing a method according to the invention. Unlike the carrier  9 , the prefabricating arrangement  10  is constructed, in particular, from a rigid material. Like the carrier  9 , the prefabricating arrangement  10  also has a planar basic shape adapted to the packaging container  1 , it being the case that a height dimension (thickness D VK ) is smaller than a height dimension (height H) of the packaging container  1 . The planar basic dimensions (length L VK , width B VK ) are obtained in each case, for example, from a corresponding planar basic dimension (length L, width B) of the packaging container  1  plus at least in each case the height dimension (height H) of the packaging container  1 . 
     For the same reasons as have been explained above for the carrier  9 , it is also expedient in the case of the prefabricating arrangement  10  if at least one planar basic dimension (length L VK , width B VK ) is increased by an amount of extension of the elastically extendible thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 . 
     The prefabricating arrangement  10  has in each case one groove-like cutout  22 ,  23 , preferably notched in the form of a V, on its two end sides  20 ,  21 . These groove-like cutouts  22 ,  23  are intended for accommodating the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , which, on the one hand, is gripped well in the V-shaped notches, but, on the other hand, can also easily be removed again from the cutouts  22 ,  23  for transfer to the carrier  9 . During binding of the prefabricating arrangement  10 , the groove-like cutouts  22 ,  23  also ensure centering of the auxiliary packaging means  6 . 
     Furthermore, just as with the carrier  9 , recesses  26 ,  27  which are open obliquely in the direction of an end side  20  are provided on the two longitudinal sides  24 ,  25  of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . These recesses  26 ,  27  fulfil the same function as the recesses  18 ,  19  on the carrier  9 . 
     In a manner analogous to the carrier  9 , and with the same aim as described for the carrier  9  (making it easier to slip off the binding  5 ), the two longitudinal sides  24 ,  25  also run towards one another in the direction of an end side  20 , preferably starting from the recesses  26 ,  27 . 
     Here too, since the longitudinal sides  24 ,  25  of the prefabricating arrangement run towards one another, the recesses  26 ,  27  have an essentially obtuse-angled contour and form abutment edges for the auxiliary packaging means  6  over the height H VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . 
     It can be gathered from all of this that the carrier  9  and the prefabricating arrangement  10  are preferably each of a planar configuration, and these are essentially congruent to one another in a sub-region (with the exception of the shape of the cutouts  13  and  22 ). In this case, the congruent sub-region comprises at least in each case one end side  12  or  20  and the region where the longitudinal sides  14  and  24 ;  15  and  25  run towards one another in each case, including the recesses  18  and  26 ;  19  and  27 . This congruence specifically helps the transfer of the binding  5  from the prefabricating arrangement  10  to the carrier  9 . 
     As FIG. 3 illustrates, there is also provided on the prefabricating arrangement  10  an oblique side  28  which runs in the left-hand half of the prefabricating arrangement, as seen in the drawing, from an end side  21  to a longitudinal side  24 . In this case, the end side  21  in this half is preferably spaced apart, in the region of its edge  29  with the oblique side  28  to the groove-like cutout  23  located in it, from the other end side  20  by a distance A VK  which is shorter than the overall length L VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10  approximately by half the depth of the cutout  23 . This design means that the binding  5  formed on the prefabricating arrangement  10  can be slipped off from the prefabricating arrangement  10  with just a small number of movements, and without the auxiliary packaging means being over-extended, in order to transfer it to the carrier  9 . For this purpose, said binding can easily be removed from the groove-like cutout  23  and guided, over that part of the end side  21  which is spaced apart by a smaller distance, to the edge  29  with the oblique surface  28 , and then over the oblique surface  28  itself. 
     If it is intended to produce, as packaging containers  1 , boxes having a height of approximately 30 mm, the prefabricating arrangement  10  may advantageously be manufactured from a plastic having a height dimension (thickness D VK ) preferably in the range of approximately 3 to 7 mm. If the plastic used is a preferably transparent plastic, such as PMMA or POM, this additionally makes it easier to see the respective position of the auxiliary packaging means  6  on the front side and rear side of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show the front side and rear side of a prefabricated unit  30  according to the invention for a packaging container  1  as is produced following transfer of a binding  5 , including the bow  7 , from a prefabricating arrangement  10  to a carrier  9 . The prefabricated unit  30  comprises the carrier  9  and the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6  (string). The auxiliary packaging means  6 , forming the binding  5  and provided with the bow  7 , is fastened on the carrier  9 . 
     The binding  5  has been executed on the prefabricating arrangement  10 , in the same way as is provided at a later stage for the packaging container  1 , in the form of cross-binding, provided with the bow  7  and then transferred to the carrier  9  in the manner described. In this case, that part of the binding  5  which runs along the length L VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10  was transferred, on an end side  20  or  12 , from the cutout 22 of the prefabricating arrangement  10  to the cutout  13  of the carrier  9 . That part of the binding  5  which runs along the width B VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10  was transferred from the recesses  26 ,  27  of the prefabricating arrangement  10  to the respectively congruent recesses  18 ,  19  and is retained between these recesses  18 ,  19  on the prefabricated unit  30 , under slight prestressing. 
     As has already been mentioned, the carrier  9 , in its length L T , is smaller by at least approximately a third than the length L VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10 . That part of the binding  5  which runs, through the cutout  23  on the bottom end side  21 , as seen in FIG. 3, of the prefabricating arrangement, along the length L VK  of the prefabricating arrangement  10  thus cannot be brought into a corresponding cutout of the carrier  9 . Instead, a section of this part, once it has been slipped off from the prefabricating arrangement  10 , on the one hand, is displaced laterally towards the longitudinal side  14  (which is on the left in FIG. 4) of the carrier  9  and is guided through the cutout  16  with the semicircular contour located there. On the other hand, a second section of this part is formed into a loop  31  which is fitted into the cutout  17  on the longitudinal side  15  (which is on the right in FIG. 4) of the carrier  9 . This results in the string being guided on the front side of the carrier as is illustrated in FIG.  4 . In order to transfer the binding  5  from the carrier  9  to the packaging container  1 , the loop  31  can easily be removed again from the cutout  17 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the course taken by the binding on the rear side of the carrier  9 . The binding  5 , which is formed from the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6  (string), is also retained under slight prestressing on the rear side of the carrier, running over the width B T  of the carrier  9  between the two recesses  18 ,  19 . That part of the cross binding of the string which later runs along the length L of the packaging container  1  instead runs obliquely over the rear side of the carrier—beginning in the cutout  13  on the end side  12  (which is at the top in FIG. 5) and ending in the groove  16  with the semicircular contour on the longitudinal side  14  (which is on the right in FIG. 5) of the carrier  9 . 
     In order to ensure that the binding  5  can be displaced more easily, those parts of the cross-binding which later run along the length L of the packaging container  1  and along the width B of the same are not intertwined at their crossover point  32  on the rear side of the carrier  9 . 
     Moreover, it is also possible to see—as well as a section of that part of the cross-binding of the string which later runs along the length L of the packaging container  1 —on the other longitudinal side  15  (which is on the left in FIG. 5) of the carrier  9 , the loop  31 , of the binding  5 , which is fitted in the cutout  17  located there. 
     As FIGS. 4 and 5 show, the course of the auxiliary packaging means  6  on the prefabricated unit  30  is advantageously selected such that one side, namely the end side  33 , of the carrier  9  remains free of the binding  5 . For production purposes, the packaging container  1  can easily be guided between the binding  5  and the carrier  9  via said free end side  33 . 
     Starting from this prefabricated unit  30 , which can easily be transported, stored on an intermediate basis and kept in stock for as long as desired, it is possible, with just a small number of movements, to finish off a packaging container  1 , but it is also possible, on the other hand, to use, for this purpose, a production apparatus  100  according to the invention, of which the construction and operation are described hereinbelow. You are referred here, by way of example, to the above described prefabricated unit  30 , although a production apparatus  100  according to the invention may also be designed such that it is possible to use prefabricated units of a different shape and which take a different course and in which the binding  5  is fastened on the carrier  9  in some other way. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the basic construction of the production apparatus  100  according to the invention. As the parts which are most important from a functional point of view, the production apparatus has, on the one hand, a retaining arrangement  101  for the packaging container  1  and for a prefabricated unit  30  and, on the other hand, a plurality of movable grippers  102  for gripping and spreading apart the binding  5 . In this case, the prefabricated unit  30  comprises—as has been illustrated by way of example in FIGS.  4  and  5 —a carrier  9  and a binding  5 , which is provided with a bow  7  and is formed from a thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 . 
     The retaining arrangement  101  comprises a top retaining plate  103  and a bottom retaining plate  104 . The two plates  103  and  104  are arranged essentially horizontally one above the other, it being possible to adjust their distance from one another. For this purpose, the top retaining plate  103  is fastened on an essentially vertical linear guide (movement direction in accordance with arrow RI). The two retaining plates  103 ,  104  can be rotated or pivoted together in the plane in which they extend by means of a rotary drive  106  (movement direction in accordance with arrow R 2 ). The packaging container  1  or the prefabricated unit  30  may be secured (clamped) between the retaining plates  103 ,  104 , it being possible, since the distance of the retaining plates  103 ,  104  from one another can be adjusted, to carry out an adaptation to the height H of the packaging container  1  or to the thickness D T  of the carrier  9 . 
     In order that there is sufficient free space available for the binding  5  and for the bow  7  when the prefabricated unit  30  is secured in the retaining arrangement  101 , it is preferably possible to provide, on the mutually facing sides of the plates  103 ,  104 , channels and a cutout which correspond respectively to the course taken by the binding  5  and the position of the bow  7  on the prefabricated unit  30 . For the same purpose, it is also possible for the carrier  9  to have a through-passage at the location where the bow  7  comes to rest in the prefabricated unit  30 . 
     The number of movable grippers  102  for gripping the binding  5  may differ as required. In the refinement illustrated, seven grippers  102  are provided for gripping the cross-binding, to be precise a first gripper module  107  of three grippers  102  in the region of the top retaining plate  103 , a second gripper module  108  of three grippers  102  in the region of the bottom retaining plate  104  and a third gripper module  109  of one gripper  102  in a region outside the retaining plates  103 ,  104 . The grippers  102  of the first module  107  and of the second module  108  are positioned in accordance with the course taken by the binding  5  on the prefabricated unit  30 . They grip through the retaining plates  103 ,  104  from above and beneath and can be moved together with the retaining plates  103 ,  104 . In addition to their capacity for executing the gripping movement, they may thus have a maximum of two degrees of freedom of movement—a degree of freedom for translatory movement R 1  (effected by the linear guide  105 ) and a degree of freedom for the rotary movement R 2  (effected by the rotary drive  106 ). In order to adjust the distance between the plates  103 ,  104 , it is sufficient here if just one retaining plate (e.g., as is illustrated the top retaining plate  103  including the grippers  102 ) can be displaced to different heights, with the result that, in this case, the number of degrees of freedom in the bottom gripper module  108  is reduced by 1. 
     The gripper  102  of the third gripper module  109  can be moved such that, in addition to its possible gripping movement, it can execute an advancement movement to the prefabricated unit  30  positioned in the retaining arrangement  101  and a rotary movement about an essentially horizontal axis. It thus has three degrees of freedom of movement, to be precise for translatory movements in two directions (effected, on the one hand, by an essentially horizontal linear guide  110 —movement direction in accordance with arrow R 3 —and, on the other hand, by an essentially vertical linear guide  111 —movement direction in accordance with arrow R 4 ) and for the rotary movement (effected by a rotary drive  112 —movement direction in accordance with arrow R 5 ). 
     A framework  113 —as FIG. 6 shows—serves for fastening the above described individual parts of the production arrangement according to the invention. 
     FIGS. 7 to  10  illustrate the functioning of the production arrangement according to the invention. 
     The production essentially comprises, in order to transfer the auxiliary packaging means  6  from the carrier  9  to the packaging container  1 , a prefabricated unit  30 , which comprises the carrier  9  and the binding  5 , which is provided with the bow  7  and is formed from the thread-like or strip-like auxiliary packaging means  6 , being fed to the production apparatus  100  and fixed in the retaining arrangement  101 , the binding  5  first of all being gripped by the movable grippers  102  and then being raised up from the carrier  9  by the height H of the packaging container  1 . Thereafter, the carrier  9  is removed and the packaging container  1  is brought between the (spread-apart) binding  5  which has been gripped by the grippers  102  and raised up. The binding  5  is then positioned correctly on the packaging container  1  and, finally, the binding  5  is released from the grippers  102 , with the result that the finished packaging container  1  can be removed from the production apparatus  100 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a first operating step for this. First of all, the prefabricated unit  30  (FIG. 4) is positioned on the bottom retaining plate  103 . That end side of the carrier  9  which is designated  12  in FIG. 4 comes to rest on the side of the framework  113 , as is illustrated in FIG. 7; the opposite end side, which is designated  33  in FIG. 7, is illustrated as projecting out between the two retaining plates  103 ,  104 . 
     Thereafter, by virtue of a movement of the vertical linear guide  105 , the top retaining plate  103  is moved down in the direction of the bottom retaining plate  104  (arrow C) until the two plates  103 ,  104  are located one upon the other and thus fix the carrier  9 . During this linear movement, the grippers  102  of the first and second gripper modules  107 ,  108  are opened, in order then, in the next operating step, to be able to grip the binding  5  at the envisaged positions from above and from beneath. 
     This has taken place in the operating phase shown in FIG.  8 . Since the binding  5  is still fastened on the carrier  9 , and it is thus the case that no opening has formed for accommodating the packaging container  1 , then, with the aid of the two linear guides  110 ,  111  for the gripper  102  of the third gripper module  109 , the latter moves to a position of the binding  5  which is located approximately in the center of the carrier  9  (according to FIG. 4 in the section which is located between the two lateral cutouts  16  and  17 ). At the same time, the gripper  102  of the third gripper module  109  is opened. 
     The auxiliary fastening means  6  (the string) is then gripped simultaneously at seven points by all the grippers  102 . The top retaining plate  103  is then moved upwards approximately by the height H of the packaging container  1  and the binding  5  is thus spread apart. At the same time, the gripper  102  of the third module  109  moves to the side and is rotated approximately through 90° by the rotary drive  112 . The binding  5  is thus opened such that the packaging container  1  can be conveyed in, as FIG. 9 shows. The carrier  9  is removed before this takes place. 
     Once the packaging container  1  has been positioned between the two plates  103 ,  104 , said packaging container is already enclosed by the binding  5  on three sides (as seen in plan view), e.g. on an end side  8  and on two longitudinal sides. The rotary drive  106  then causes the bottom and the top retaining plates  103 ,  104  to be rotated along with the packaging container  1  located between them, such that that section of the auxiliary fastening means  6  which is retained by the gripper  102  of the third module  109  is drawn over the last side, which is not yet enclosed by the binding  5 . 
     In order to remove the finished packaging container  1 , and in order to allow the above described steps to be repeated for the purpose of producing a new packaging container  1 , a last operating step of the production apparatus  100  according to the invention involves the grippers  102  opening and moving into their starting position. 
     Rather than being restricted to the exemplary embodiment described, the invention also covers all the refinements which act equivalently within the meaning of the invention. For example, the planar contour of the packaging containers  1  may also be of triangular, hexagonal, octagonal or round, rather than rectangular, design. As has already been mentioned, it is also possible to execute another form of binding  5 , e.g. diagonal binding or triangular binding, without going beyond the scope of the invention. 
     In these cases, the configuration of the corresponding carriers  9 , of the prefabricating arrangement  10 , including the position of the cutouts and recesses possibly provided therein, and the number and position of grippers  102  of the production apparatus  100  are then to be adapted correspondingly to the shape of the packaging container and/or to the form of binding  5 . 
     The bow  7 , rather than having to be tied using the auxiliary packaging means  6 , may also be applied subsequently to the auxiliary packaging means  6  or fastened thereon. If it is not intended to use any string for the binding  5 , the cutouts  13 ,  16 ,  17  provided on the carrier  9  may advantageously be adapted to the shape and thickness of the corresponding auxiliary packaging means  6 . 
     In order for that section of the auxiliary fastening means  6  which is retained by the gripper  102  of the third module  109  to be drawn over the last side, which is not yet enclosed by the binding  5 , it is not absolutely necessary for the bottom and the top retaining plates  103 ,  104  to be rotated with the packaging container  1  located between them; rather, it would also be possible for the grippers  102  of the third gripper module  109  to be rotated or pivoted. Correspondingly, it would then be possible to dispense with the rotary drive  106  for the plates  103 ,  104 , although it would then be necessary to provide a rotary drive for rotating the gripper  102  about an essentially vertical axis. However, the above described variant is preferred because it is distinguished by a higher level of movement stability and thus ensures a constantly high quality in production, which is to be ensured, in general, by the production apparatus  100  according to the invention. 
     In order to provide for the feed and removal (not described specifically above) of the packaging container  1  and for the feed of the prefabricated unit  30  and removal of the carrier  9 , it is possible to use various technical solutions in the production apparatus  100  according to the invention. For example, a pneumatic sucker may be provided in order to remove the packaging container  1 . The feed of the prefabricated unit  30  and of the packaging container  1 , and the removal of the carrier  9 , may advantageously be carried out in each case via gripper arms of corresponding feed and removal apparatuses. It is favorable in manufacturing terms here if there are provided a plurality of production apparatuses  100  which can execute the above described operating steps in cyclically-staggered manner and can thus be served alternately in each case by the gripper arms of the feed and removal apparatuses. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 List of designations 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  1 
                 Packaging container 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 Base part of 1 
               
               
                   
                  3 
                 Lid part of 1 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 Sleeve around 1 
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 Binding comprising 6 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 Auxiliary packaging means 
               
               
                   
                  7 
                 Bow 
               
               
                   
                  8 
                 End side of 1 
               
               
                   
                  9 
                 Carrier 
               
               
                   
                  10 
                 Prefabricating arrangement 
               
               
                   
                  11 
                 Corner of 1 
               
               
                   
                  12 
                 End side of 9 
               
               
                   
                  13 
                 Cutout in 12 
               
               
                   
                  14 
                 Longitudinal side of 9 
               
               
                   
                  15 
                 Longitudinal side of 9 
               
               
                   
                  16 
                 Cutout in 14 
               
               
                   
                  17 
                 Cutout in 15 
               
               
                   
                  18 
                 Recess in 14 
               
               
                   
                  19 
                 Recess in 15 
               
               
                   
                  20 
                 End side of 10 
               
               
                   
                  21 
                 End side of 10 
               
               
                   
                  22 
                 Cutout in 20 
               
               
                   
                  23 
                 Cutout in 21 
               
               
                   
                  24 
                 Longitudinal side of 10 
               
               
                   
                  25 
                 Longitudinal side of 10 
               
               
                   
                  26 
                 Recess in 24 
               
               
                   
                  27 
                 Recess in 25 
               
               
                   
                  28 
                 Oblique side between 21 and 24 
               
               
                   
                  29 
                 Edge between 21 and 28 
               
               
                   
                  30 
                 Prefabricated unit comprising 9, 5 and 7 
               
               
                   
                  31 
                 Loop of 5 
               
               
                   
                  32 
                 Crossover point of 5 
               
               
                   
                  33 
                 End side of 9 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 Production apparatus 
               
               
                   
                 101 
                 Retaining arrangement of 100 
               
               
                   
                 102 
                 Gripper 
               
               
                   
                 103 
                 Top retaining plate 
               
               
                   
                 104 
                 Bottom retaining plate 
               
               
                   
                 105 
                 Vertical linear guide for 103 
               
               
                   
                 106 
                 Rotary drive for 103, 104 
               
               
                   
                 107 
                 First gripper module 
               
               
                   
                 108 
                 Second gripper module 
               
               
                   
                 109 
                 Third gripper module 
               
               
                   
                 110 
                 Horizontal linear guide for 109 
               
               
                   
                 111 
                 Vertical linear guide for 109 
               
               
                   
                 112 
                 Rotary drive for 109 
               
               
                   
                 113 
                 Framework of 100 
               
               
                   
                 A VK   
                 Shortened distance between 20 and 21 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 Width of 1 
               
               
                   
                 B T   
                 Width of 9 
               
               
                   
                 B VK   
                 Width of 10 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 Opening movement of 101 
               
               
                   
                 F 
                 Extendibility of 6 
               
               
                   
                 D T   
                 Thickness of 9 
               
               
                   
                 D VK   
                 Thickness of 10 
               
               
                   
                 H 
                 Height of 1 
               
               
                   
                 L 
                 Length of 1 
               
               
                   
                 L T   
                 Length of 9 
               
               
                   
                 L VK   
                 Length of 10 
               
               
                   
                 R1 
                 Translatory movement for 105 
               
               
                   
                 R2 
                 Rotary movement for 106 
               
               
                   
                 R3 
                 Translatory movement for 110 
               
               
                   
                 R4 
                 Translatory movement for 111 
               
               
                   
                 R5 
                 Rotary movement for 112 
               
               
                   
                 X 
                 Position of bow (distance between 7 and 8) 
               
               
                   
                 Y 
                 Unextended length of 6 
               
               
                   
                 Z 
                 Extended length of 6