DE102023110834A1 - Device and method for rotating packaging containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) and a method (300) for rotating packaging containers, in particular shipping bags (110), by a predetermined angle of rotation while the shipping bag (110) is moved forwards on a processing path (160). For this purpose, the shipping bag (110) is fixed by means of suction cups (152) on the turntable (150) of a transport carriage (140), which is connected to a mechanically driven transport track (130) that essentially encircles the device. When traveling through the processing path (160), the rotation of the shipping bag (110) parallel to the transport track (130) by an angle perpendicular to the transport direction is realized during the forward movement by guiding a lever arm (154) of the turntable (150) by a guide curve (190) of a mechanical curve plate (180). After the rotation has been completed and the fixation of the shipping bag (110) has been released, the transport carriage (140) travels through a return path (170) and is rotated back to the starting angular position. The proposed device (100) is suitable for use in the manufacturing process of shipping bags (110) or comparable flat goods.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for rotating packaging containers, in particular shipping bags.

Devices for producing packaging containers, in particular in the form of shipping bags, also called shipping pouches, are known in the art. The essentially flat shipping bags are usually produced on a processing line in individual steps by folding and gluing at different processing stations. The processing stations are set up one after the other along a constant transport direction. Since not every processing station can receive the intermediate product in the same orientation, it is necessary to rotate the shipping bags between the various individual steps. The rotation often takes place at an angle of 90°, for example in order to move from a longitudinal to a transverse orientation. This is the case, for example, between a separating station which separates individual pieces from long material webs and a folding station which folds the individual pieces. In order to ensure an essentially continuous or uniformly timed feed of the intermediate products, the shipping bags should be rotated during the forward movement between the individual stations.

In order to achieve a highly automated and efficient production with a high throughput rate, the reliable rotation of the mailing bags during the forward movement is particularly beneficial.

Task:

The object of the present invention is to reliably rotate shipping bags by a predetermined angle of rotation during the forward movement with a high throughput rate. For this purpose, a suitable device and a method that can be carried out with it are to be specified.

Solution:

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments of the subject matter of the independent claims are characterized in the subclaims. The wording of all claims is hereby made part of the content of this description by reference. The use of the singular is not intended to exclude the plural, which also applies in the opposite sense unless otherwise disclosed. Individual process steps are described in more detail below. The steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order given and the process to be described can also have further steps not mentioned.

With regard to the device, the object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features of claim 1. Accordingly, a device is provided which rotates packaging containers, in particular shipping bags, by a predetermined angle of rotation while the shipping bags are moved forward on a processing path, with a mechanical drive, wherein the mechanical drive drives a rotating transport track, and with a transport carriage which has at least two carriage axes and is mechanically connected to the transport track.

The device also has a turntable, the turntable being arranged rotatably on the transport carriage. The device also has a suction device, the suction device being designed to fix the shipping bag on the turntable, and also means for supplying negative pressure, the means for supplying negative pressure being designed to supply the suction device with negative pressure. The device also has a processing section, the shipping bag fixed on the turntable being moved on the processing section in the transport direction and thereby rotated. The device also has a return section, the turntables being moved on the return section in the opposite direction to the transport direction and thereby rotated back to the starting angular position.

In addition, the device has a mechanical cam plate, wherein the mechanical cam plate has a guide cam and wherein the turntable is guided by the guide cam of the mechanical cam plate. The mechanical cam plate is designed to cause a rotary movement of the turntable when traveling through the processing section in the predetermined direction of rotation. The mechanical cam plate is also designed to cause the turntable to rotate back to the starting angular position when traveling through the return section, wherein the rotation of the shipping bag takes place parallel to the transport path around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction while traveling through the processing section and the return section.

The axis of rotation is preferably located in a central area close to the center of gravity of the surface of the shipping bag that rests on the turntable, so that ideally a realignment or centering after rotation can be omitted. Since the rotation takes place during the movement in the transport direction, the axis of rotation also moves in the transport direction. hen with the shipping bag during rotation. The use of transport carriages with at least two carriage axes minimizes the tilting movements of the transport carriage during entry and exit.

The rotation is preferably carried out by 90° in order to change from a lengthwise to a crosswise orientation for rectangular mailing bags. However, other angles can also be advantageous for non-rectangular formats. The rotation can be carried out by any other angle and from any orientation, both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

If several turntables are arranged at suitable intervals on the conveyor track, continuous transport of the shipping bags along the processing line is ensured. A toothed belt drive with two toothed belts is preferably used as the mechanical drive, although chain drives or toothed belt drives with a different number of toothed belts are also conceivable.

The means for supplying the suction cups with vacuum can provide a permanent or sporadic supply, whereby the strength and duration of the fixation can be specifically influenced in combination with an appropriate control system. The use of suction cups eliminates complex mechanics below the transport track and at the same time makes it easier to access, especially from above. The shipping bag can thus be reliably and quickly fixed on the turntable and the fixation can be removed again if necessary. This improves reliability and increases the speed of transfer from one processing station to the next. The compensation of different product thicknesses is also made easier, since the condition of the underside is primarily decisive for the fixation using vacuum and the product thickness only plays a subordinate role. The reliable fixation in conjunction with the repeatable rotational movement, which is achieved through the interaction of the turntable and the mechanical cam plate, also simplifies the rotation of soft products or makes it possible in the first place. In addition, it can be provided that the shipping bag is fixed on the turntable by a hold-down device that acts from above, possibly also from the side or from below.

If the device has a run-in section in front of the beginning of the processing section as seen in the transport direction and a run-out section behind the end of the processing section as seen in the transport direction, and the run-in and run-out sections are arranged in such a way that the end facing away from the processing section is at a lower height than the end facing the processing section, the angle at which the transport carriage appears is reduced. This minimizes tilting movements of the transport carriage and reduces the relative speed of the transport carriage compared to the shipping bag, which minimizes wear on the suction cups and ensures that the suction cups do not lift the shipping bag during transfer. This would be less precise and more prone to errors.

If the transport carriages preferably have two carriage axes, the tipping of the external suction cups over the transport track is avoided. If the preferably two carriage axes of the transport carriage are connected in the transport direction via preferably two linear joints or via two slidingly mounted rigid axes in such a way that the distance between the carriage axes, the so-called guide distance, is variable, the path difference between the transport track and the transport carriage can be compensated, especially at deflection points. Since at the concentric deflection points between the processing path and the return path the transport path describes an arc, but the transport carriage describes a chord, there is a path difference between the two. It is particularly advantageous for reliable and as uniform as possible operation to compensate for this path difference by the guide distance, which can be varied using linear joints or slidingly mounted rigid axes.

If the transport carriage is provided with a lever arm, which preferably has several cam rollers that can be guided along the guide curve of the mechanical cam plate, the reliability of the guide is increased and the rotational movement of the turntable is initiated particularly reliably and efficiently.

If the guide curve is designed in such a way that at least one cam roller is in contact with the guide curve on both outer walls at the same time, i.e. the guide is circulating, the repeatability of the movement caused by the lever arm is increased by this circulating guide. A combination of circulating guide and inner guide is particularly preferred, with a cam roller resting on the guide curve on both outer walls and at least one inner wall at the same time. Pure inner or outer guides and combinations of the guide types mentioned here are also conceivable.

If the angle of rotation corresponds to that set by two adjacent sides of the envelope, closed angle, a variety of different formats of mailing bags can be rotated without having to adjust or even replace the mechanical curve plate.

If the device has an upper guide and the upper guide has a surface parallel to the processing path, which is positioned such that a shipping bag moving underneath it comes into contact with the parallel surface as soon as the shipping bag bulges, excessive deformation of the shipping bags is prevented, which would make it difficult to rotate the shipping bag safely.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum supply to the suction devices is carried out via a toothed belt with a flattened area in which suction holes are located and vacuum cams on the carriage axes of the transport carriage. This is carried out from a vacuum source that is connected to at least one control valve, via a vacuum rail, whereby the vacuum rail is provided with at least one preferably slot-shaped supply hole. The supply hole is connected to the control valve. The vacuum rail is preferably arranged below the toothed belt. During operation, the toothed belt is preferably guided tightly over the vacuum rail so that the suction holes are at least temporarily located above the supply hole of the vacuum rail.

Starting from the vacuum source, a continuous air channel is formed via the control valve, the supply hole in the vacuum rail and the suction holes in the flattened part of the toothed belt when the suction hole is located above the supply hole. At this moment, a continuous air channel is created between the stationary part of the device (vacuum rail, etc.) and the linearly moving subsystem (toothed belt, transport carriage, etc.).

This air channel extends further via a passage in the vacuum cam on a carriage axis, which is preferably designed as a hollow shaft, through the carriage axis itself, to a hollow cylinder in the turntable, which is located in the center of the turntable and is aligned parallel to its axis of rotation. The hollow cylinder in turn has several recesses. These recesses are arranged all around so that, regardless of the orientation of the turntable, there is always a continuous connection between the hollow cylinder of the turntable and the hollow carriage axis. Finally, the individual suction cups are each connected to the hollow cylinder itself via their own air channel. If a suction hole is located above a supply hole, the resulting air channel connects the stationary part of the device to the linearly moving subsystem via the vacuum cam and the linearly moving subsystem to the rotating suction cups via the recesses in the hollow cylinder. In practice, the pressure level on the suction cups covered with paper is preferably around 200-300 mbar. Lower or higher pressures are also conceivable. The leakage volume flow resulting from this structure at the contact between the timing belt and the vacuum rail also cools the timing belt.

By positioning the supply holes and valve control accordingly, the vacuum supply can be specifically influenced at any point along the processing line. This means that the fixation of the shipping bag during processing can be influenced variably, precisely and reliably.

The object is further achieved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim 10, according to which the shipping bag is first fixed on the turntable of a transport carriage by means of negative pressure, then the transport carriage is moved through a rotating processing section and the shipping bag is rotated parallel to the transport path by a predetermined angle of rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction while traveling through it and the turntable is rotated back to the starting angular position when traveling through a return section.

Moreover, the features and advantages relating to the device can be transferred to the method, and vice versa, so that further repetition can be dispensed with at this point.

Further details and features emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the figures. The respective features can be implemented alone or in combination with one another. The possibilities for solving the problem are not limited to the embodiment. For example, range information always includes all - not mentioned - intermediate values and all conceivable sub-intervals.

• 1 eine Ansicht von schräg oben auf die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Drehen von Verpackungsbehältnissen;
• 2 eine Ansicht von schräg oben auf einen Transportschlitten der Vorrichtung aus 1;
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf die Bearbeitungsstrecke der Vorrichtung aus 1;
• 4 eine Detailansicht des Querschnitts der Bearbeitungsstrecke der Vorrichtung aus 1 betreffend die Anlauf- bzw. Auslaufstrecke;
• 5 eine Detailansicht des Querschnitts der Vorrichtung aus 1 betreffend die Führung des Drehtellers, und
• 6 eine Detailansicht von schräg oben auf die Vorrichtung aus 1 betreffend die Unterdruckversorgung der Sauger.

The embodiment is shown schematically in the figures. The same reference numbers in the individual figures designate the same or functionally equivalent elements or elements that correspond to one another in terms of their functions. In detail:

• 1 a view obliquely from above of the device according to the invention for rotating packaging containers;
• 2 a view from above of a transport carriage of the device 1 ;
• 3 a top view of the processing section of the device 1 ;
• 4 a detailed view of the cross-section of the processing section of the device 1 concerning the approach and exit sections;
• 5 a detailed view of the cross-section of the device 1 concerning the guidance of the turntable, and
• 6 a detailed view from above of the device 1 concerning the vacuum supply of the suction cups.

1 shows a device 100 according to the invention for rotating mailing bags 110. The device 100 has a mechanical drive 120 which drives a circulating transport track 130 by means of two toothed belts 230. The transport track 130 (in 1 not explicitly labeled) is formed by the toothed belts 230 and guided over two deflection rollers. The transport track 130 corresponds essentially to the area enclosed by the toothed belts, but can extend beyond the area enclosed by the toothed belts. The transport carriages 140 are mechanically connected to the transport track 130, more precisely to the toothed belts 230, and are moved on the transport track 130 in a rotating manner around the device 100. Rotating plates 150 are arranged rotatably on the top of the transport carriages 140. The device 100 also has suction cups 152 which fix the shipping bag 110 on the rotating plate 150 (means for supplying vacuum 200 not in 1 shown). On the upper side of the device 100, a processing section 160 is formed by the transport path 130, preferably in a horizontal position.

The transport carriages 140 are moved within the processing path 160 in the transport direction (in this example from right to left), with the processing path 160 being aligned along the longitudinal direction of the device 100, preferably in a horizontal position. On the underside of the device 100, a return path 170 is formed by the transport path 130. The transport carriages 140 are moved within the return path 170 against the transport direction, with the return path 170 being aligned along the longitudinal direction of the device 100, preferably in a horizontal position. A mechanical cam plate 180 with a guide cam 190 is arranged below the transport path 130. The mechanical cam plate 180 is preferably designed to be circumferential and positioned below the transport path 130. The guide cam 190 is preferably designed to be uninterrupted. It is also conceivable that the guide curve 190 is not realized as a continuous body over the entire processing path 160, but has interruptions.

The turntables 150 are guided by the guide curve 190 when passing through the transport path 130, preferably with the help of cam rollers (cf. 2 ). The translational movement of the transport carriage 140 is converted into a rotary movement of the rotary table 150. When traveling through the processing section 160, the rotary table 150 and the shipping bag 110 fixed on the rotary table 150 are thereby rotated in a predetermined direction of rotation and by a predetermined angle of rotation. When traveling through the return section 170, the rotary tables 150 are rotated back to the starting angular position. The rotation takes place parallel to the transport path 130 about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction. The axis of rotation is preferably located in a central area near the center of gravity of the surface of the shipping bag 110 that rests on the rotary table 150.

The start, end, direction, extent and timing of the respective rotary movement are determined by the interaction of the rotary table 150 with the course of the guide curve 190. In this way, the rotation of the shipping bag 110 on the processing path 160 can be individually adjusted. Due to the circumferential design of the transport path 130 and the mechanical curve plate 180, the rotary tables 150 are ready to receive the next shipping bag 110 after being rotated back to the starting angle position on the return path 170. In this way, the rotation of the shipping bag 110 can be carried out with high repeatability and a high throughput rate.

2 shows a transport carriage 140 of the device 100. The turntable 150 is rotatably mounted on the top of the transport carriage 140. The turntable 150 is preferably connected to a lever arm 154, which preferably has two cam rollers 156. The cam rollers 156 are attached to the two outermost corners of the lever arm 154, which are furthest away from the axis of rotation of the turntable 150. The cam rollers 156 have a fixed distance. The guide curve 190 is adapted in its extension orthogonal to the transport direction to the distance of the cam rollers 156 and the respective angular position in the individual sections, in particular in those which are intended to cause the shipping bag to rotate. The cam rollers 156 rest at least temporarily simultaneously on opposite walls of the guide curve 190 and can roll on them. The extension of the guide curve 190 orthogonal to the transport direction is therefore not constant. The individual cam rollers 156 can be designed as eccentric rollers or as fixed rollers, for example. The use of eccentric rollers makes it possible to position the outer surface of the corresponding cam roller 156 specifically against the surface of the inner or outer wall of the guide curve 190. In this way, larger manufacturing tolerances, e.g. in the guide curve 190, are compensated. The turntable 150 also has four suction cups 152, which hold the shipping bag 110 (not in 2 shown) on the rotary table 150 by applying negative pressure. The suction cups 152 are arranged with the suction surface facing upwards on the top of the transport carriage 140 on a circle whose center lies in the axis of rotation and whose diameter is less than or equal to the distance between the carriage axes 142. The suction cups 152 are arranged in such a way that a rectangle with sides of different lengths is formed by the suction cups 152, the short sides of the rectangle being many times shorter than the long sides of the rectangle. The center of the rectangle is ideally located near the center of gravity of the area of the shipping bag 110 (not in 2 shown), which rests on the turntable 150.

The carriage axes 142 of the transport carriage 140 are arranged parallel to each other at opposite ends of the transport carriage 140 and are each mechanically connected to both toothed belts 230. The carriage axes 142 are preferably designed as rotatably mounted hollow shafts (cf. 6 ). The turntable 150 is rotatably mounted on the surface between the carriage axes 142. The carriage axes 142 are preferably connected by a linear joint 144, whereby the linear joint 144 can be realized, for example, by a spring. This makes the distance between the carriage axes 142, the so-called guide distance, variable. When traveling along the transport path 130, the rear part of the carriage is pulled apart or together at the deflections, i.e. the sections between the processing section 160 and the return section 170. Since the transport path 130 describes an arc at the concentric deflection points between the processing section 160 and the return section 170, but the transport carriage 140 describes a chord, there is a path difference between the two. If this path difference is not compensated, the connection between the carriage axis 142 and the transport path 130 can, for example, break. The guide distance, which can be changed by means of the linear joint 142, makes it possible to compensate for this path difference. In order to achieve a comparable effect, a construction with a connection of the slide axes 142 by means of a rigid axis is also conceivable, which is slidably mounted, for example in a cam that connects the slide axes 142 to the transport track 130.

3 shows the processing section 160 of the device 100. The start-up section 162 is located before the beginning of the processing section 160 as seen in the transport direction (here in the example from right to left), the outlet section 164 is correspondingly located after the end of the processing section 160. In relation to a device for producing packaging containers, the start-up section 162 is used to take over the intermediate product from a previous processing station and the outlet section 164 in turn is used to transfer it to a subsequent processing station.

The mechanical cam plate 180 has a guide cam 190 with a preferred course, which causes the shipping bag 110 to rotate 90° in a counterclockwise direction when traveling through the processing section 160. The shipping bag 110 is aligned lengthways to the transport direction at the start of the processing section 160 and is rotated until it is aligned transversely to the transport direction.

4 shows the start-up section 162 of the device 100. The start-up section 162 is inclined relative to the processing section 160, which is implemented by additional deflection or guide rollers, whereby the end facing away from the processing section 160 is at a lower height than the end facing the processing section 160. When traveling through the start-up section 162 in the transport direction (in this example from right to left), the end of the transport carriage 140 trailing in the transport direction is initially below the level of the leading end. Only after traveling through the start-up section 162 are both ends at the same level. By this "emerging" of the transport carriage 140 at a shallow angle, the relative speed of the transport carriage 140 relative to the shipping bag 110 perpendicular to the transport direction is minimized. The transport carriage 140 is moved gently towards the shipping bag 110 and a knocking of the suction cups 152 (not in 4 shown) against the shipping bag 110.

The run-off stretch 164 (not in 4 shown) is inclined relative to the processing section 160 in a similar way to the start-up section, whereby the end facing away from the processing section 160 is at a lower height than the end facing the processing section 160.

5 shows the guide of the turntable 150. The turntable 150 is rotatably mounted on the transport carriage 140 and with a lever arm 154 which preferably has two cam rollers 156. The guide curve 190 on the mechanical cam plate 180 preferably consists of a closed housing or of solid material, wherein preferably two outer walls running in the transport direction are available for an inner guide of the turntable 150. In such a preferred inner guide, the cam rollers 156 are positioned so that at least one cam roller 156 is in contact with an outer wall of the guide curve 190, preferably at least shortly before the start area of the run-up section 162 (not in 5 shown) and shortly after the end of the run-off section 164 (not in 5 shown) both outer walls are in contact with at least one cam roller 156. An external guide for the rotary table 150 is also conceivable, in which the guide curve 190 does not consist of a closed housing or solid material, for example in a U-shape that opens upwards. This means that internal surfaces are available along which cam rollers 156 can travel. Combinations of the guide types described are also conceivable.

6 shows the vacuum supply of the suction cups 152. The suction cups 152 are supplied via a control valve 210 which is connected to a vacuum source (not in 6 shown). The control valve 210 further comprises a vacuum rail 212 with a plurality of slot-shaped supply bores 220 located at the top, the supply bores 220 being connected to the control valve 210. The vacuum rail 212 is arranged below the toothed belt 230. The toothed belt 230 comprises a flattened region 240 with suction holes 250. Each suction hole 250 is connected to a passage in a vacuum cam 260. The vacuum cam 260 is a projection fastened to the top of the toothed belt 230 or formed by the belt itself. The vacuum cam 260 has a recess into which a carriage axis 142 extends and is fastened in this position in the vacuum cam, the recess simultaneously being connected to a suction hole 250. In this way, a continuous air channel is formed from the suction hole 250 to the interior of the carriage axis 142, which is designed as a hollow shaft.

During operation, the toothed belt 230 is guided in a tight fit over the vacuum rail 212 such that the suction hole 250 is at least temporarily located above the supply holes 220 so that a continuous air channel is created from the suction device 152 to the control valve 210. The air channel can be conceptually divided into two parts: In the stationary part of the device 100, it runs from the vacuum source through the control valve 210 and further through the slot-shaped supply holes 220 in the vacuum rail 212. In the subsystem that moves linearly over the vacuum rail 212, it runs through the suction hole 250 in the flattened part of the toothed belt 230, the vacuum cam 260 and the corresponding hollow carriage axis 142 of the transport carriage 140 to the suction device 152. If the suction hole 250 is located above a supply hole 220 during operation, the two air channels described form a single continuous air channel.

In this way, the suction cups 152 on the processing line 160 can be supplied with negative pressure in a targeted manner. The shipping bag 110 (not in 6 shown) can thus be securely fixed on the rotary table 150 and the fixation can be removed again if necessary. In the simplest case, the fixation can be removed by no longer having a supply bore 220 and thus no continuous air channel can be formed to supply the suction devices 152. This can be the case in particular at the end of the processing section 160. However, the strength of the fixation can also be regulated or the fixation can be removed completely by deliberately reducing the negative pressure applied to the corresponding supply bores 220 using the control valve 210.

list of reference symbols

100

device

110

shipping bag

120

Mechanical drive

130

transport track

140

transport carriage

142

carriage axis

144

linear joint

150

turntable

152

Mammal

154

lever arm

156

cam roller

160

processing line

162

run-up track

164

run-off stretch

170

return path

180

mechanical cam plate

190

guide curve

200

means of negative pressure supply

210

control valve

212

vacuum rail

220

supply well

230

timing belt

240

flattened area

250

suction holes

260

vacuum cams

270

air duct

300

Proceedings

Claims (9)

Device (100) for rotating packaging containers, in particular shipping bags (110), by a predetermined angle of rotation while the shipping bags (110) are moved forward on a processing path (160), the device (100) having the following components: 1.1 a mechanical drive (120), the mechanical drive (120) driving a circulating transport track (130); 1.2 a transport carriage (140), 1.2.1 the transport carriage (140) having at least two carriage axes (142) and being mechanically connected to the transport track (130); 1.3 a turntable (150), 1.3.1 the turntable (150) being arranged rotatably on the transport carriage (140); 1.3.2 a suction device (152), the suction device (152) being designed to fix the shipping bag (110) on the rotary table (150); 1.4 means for supplying negative pressure (200), the means for supplying negative pressure (200) being designed to supply the suction device (152) with negative pressure; 1.5 a processing path (160), the shipping bag (110) fixed on the rotary table (150) being moved in the transport direction on the processing path (160) and being rotated in the process; 1.6 a return path (170), the rotary table (150) being moved on the return path (170) against the transport direction and being rotated back to the starting angular position; 1.7 a mechanical cam plate (180), 1.7.1 the mechanical cam plate (180) having a guide curve (190); and 1.7.2 the rotary table (150) is guided by the guide curve (190) of the mechanical cam plate (180); and 1.7.3 the mechanical cam plate (180) is designed to cause a rotary movement of the rotary table (150) when traveling through the processing section (160) in the predetermined direction of rotation; and 1.7.4 the mechanical cam plate (180) is designed to cause the rotary table (150) to rotate back to the starting angular position when traveling through the return section (170); and 1.8 the rotation of the shipping bag (110) while traveling through the processing section (160) and the return section (170) takes place parallel to the transport path (130) about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction. Device (100) according to claim 1 , with a start-up section (162) in front of the beginning of the processing section (160) as seen in the transport direction and an outlet section (164) behind the end of the processing section (160) as seen in the transport direction, wherein the start-up section (162) and the outlet section (164) are arranged such that the end of the start-up or outlet section facing away from the processing section (160) is at a lower height than the end facing the processing section (160). Device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 2 , wherein the slide axes are connected to one another via at least one linear joint (142) or via at least one slidingly mounted rigid axis such that the distance between the slide axes (142) is variable. Device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the transport carriage (140) has at least one lever arm (154); and wherein the lever arm (154) has at least one cam roller (156) which is designed to be guided along the guide curve (190) of the mechanical cam plate (180). Device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the angle of rotation corresponds to the angle enclosed by two adjacent sides of the shipping bag (110). Device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the device (100) has an upper guide and wherein the upper guide has a surface parallel to the processing path (160) which is positioned such that a shipping bag (110) moving underneath it comes into contact with the parallel surface as soon as the shipping bag (110) bulges. Device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the mechanical drive (120) is a toothed belt drive and the device (100) has means for supplying vacuum (200), and wherein the means for supplying vacuum (200) have the following components: - a toothed belt (230), wherein the toothed belt (230) has a flattened region (240) and wherein the flattened region (240) has at least one suction hole (250); and - a vacuum source; - a control valve (210), wherein the control valve (210) is connected to the vacuum source; - a vacuum rail (212), wherein the vacuum rail (212) has at least one supply bore (220), and wherein the supply bore (220) is connected to the control valve (210); and wherein the toothed belt (230) is guided over the vacuum rail (212) such that the suction hole (250) is temporarily located above the supply bore (220) of the vacuum rail (212). Device (100) according to claim 7 , wherein - the device (100) has a vacuum cam (260) on at least one carriage axis (142) of the transport carriage (140), wherein the vacuum cam (260) has a passage for negative pressure and is connected to a suction hole (250); and wherein a continuous air channel (270) is formed from the control valve (210) to the suction device (152) when the suction hole (250) is located above the supply bore (220). Method (300) for rotating packaging containers, in particular shipping bags (110), by a predetermined angle of rotation while the shipping bag (110) is moved forward on a rotating processing path (160), in particular with a device (100) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 until 8 , in which 9.1 the shipping bag (110) is first fixed on a turntable (150) of a transport carriage (140) by means of negative pressure; 9.2 the transport carriage (140) is moved through a processing section (160); 9.3 and the shipping bag (110) is rotated parallel to the transport path (130) during the passage through a predetermined angle of rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction; 9.4 and the turntable (150) is rotated back to an initial angular position during the passage through a return section (170), wherein the initial angular position corresponds to the orientation of the turntable (150) which existed before the rotation in step 9.3.

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