PH12015500558B1

PH12015500558B1 - Device for opening an end region of a tubular bag body

Info

Publication number: PH12015500558B1
Application number: PH12015500558A
Authority: PH
Inventors: Matthias Kowarik; Hannes Grill
Original assignee: Starlinger And Co Ges M B H
Priority date: 2012-09-24
Filing date: 2015-03-13
Publication date: 2015-05-11
Also published as: EP2711164B1; IN2015DN02703A; WO2014044532A1; ES2592534T3; EP2711164A1; CN104812561A; TWI477424B; PH12015500558A1; CN104812561B; TW201412608A

Abstract

A device (1) for opening an end region (10e) of a tubular bag body (10), which end region extends between an open tube body end (10k) and a floor centre line (10j), comprises a transporting means (2) on which the bag body (10) which contiguous tube walls (10a, 10b) is transported in a transporting direction (T) at a transport speed (V), with the bottom centre line (10j) being oriented in transporting direction (T). Furthermore, suction devices (13, 14) which can be reciprocated transversely to the transporting direction (T) are provided, which suction devices are movable toward each other until they rest against the tube walls (10a, 10b) of the bag body's (10) end region (10e) located therebetween and thereupon are movable away from each other, with suction force being exerted on the respective tube wall, whereby they pull the tube walls away from each other. In addition, the suction devices (13, 14) can be reciprocated by means of a retainer in an oblique directions (S), which is oriented, on the one hand, in the transporting direction (T) and, on the other hand, at an angle (a) to the bottom centre line (10j).

Description

In Figs. 4 to 6, a bottom opening unit as part of the opening device 1 according to the invention is indicated by reference numeral 20. Said bottom opening unit 20 is illustrated in

Fig. 4 in a perspective view, in Fig. 5 in a slightly simplified bottom view and in Fig. 6 ina schematic side view. For reasons of better clarity, only one (14) of the two suction devices is depicted in Fig. 5. In the bottom opening unit 20, the suction devices 13, 14 are, in each case, > arranged on a retainer 3 and turned toward each other. Since the bottom opening unit 20 is constructed largely symmetrically, the relevant components are mentioned below only once for the purpose of the specification. However, it is evident that components of the respective side which is not described are identical in construction and function.

The retainer 3 is hinged to first ends of two parallel swivel arms 4, 5, of which at least one (here swivel arm 4) is driven so as to be pivotable transversely to the transporting direction T.

The second ends of the swivel arms 4, 5 are hinged to a support carriage 7, which support carriage 7 is driven so that it can be reciprocated in the oblique direction S in a guide rail 22.

The bottom opening unit 20 is fastened to a support 30 in such a way that the guide rail 22 is oriented in the transporting direction T and in parallel to the oblique direction S (see Fig. 6).

The retainer 3, the two swivel arms 4 and 5 and the support carriage 7 form a parallelogram ; unit 8 in which the parallelogram configuration is maintained during pivoting. The result is that the retainer 3 and thus the suction device 13, 14 attached thereto keep their orientation with regard to the tube walls to be separated when the two swivel arms 4 and 5 are being pivoted, whereby a disadvantageous twisting of the tube walls 10a and 10b during opening is avoided.

In the device according to the invention as per Fig. 4, the pivoting of the swivel arms 4 and 5 occurs via an angle lever 23 attached to the swivel arm 4 and connected to a rod 9 which is hinged to a control carriage 21. The control carriage 21 is mounted in the guide rail 22 in such a way that it can be reciprocated. The support carriage 7 and the control carriage 21 are driven by means of a toothed belt drive 24, 25.

In Fig. 4, it can furthermore be seen that elongated holes 27 with indentations 28 are formed in the opening unit 22 for adjustably mounting the guide rail 22.

In the view according to Fig. 5, it can be seen that the support carriage 7 and the control carriage 21 can be driven along the guide rail 22 independently of each other by means of two toothed belt drives 24 and 25. With an appropriate control, the parallelogram units 8, on which the suction devices 14 and 13 (not illustrated) are arranged, can be displaced in the direction of the double arrow 26, the arrow T again indicating the transporting direction of

Figs. 1 to 3. Via a corresponding relative motion between the support carriage 7 and the control carriage 21, which, as already mentioned, is translated into a swivelling motion of the swivel arms 4 and 5 via the rod 9 and the angle lever 23, an opening and closing motion can thereby be performed. In Fig. 5, it is particularly clear that, even in case of the swivel arms 4 and 5 being pivoted, the retainer 3 and thus the suction device 14 remain steadily oriented with regard to the rail level due to the pivoting in terms of a parallelogram.

In the schematic side view of Fig. 6, it can be seen that at least two angular positions of the bottom opening unit 20 relative to the bottom centre line 10j or, respectively, the transport level €l at which the bottom centre line 10j is located are provided. In the illustration of Fig. 6, the bottom opening unit 20 is screwed tightly with its lower recesses 28 to the support 30, whereby two bearing points are defined, which are interconnected by line Al. Line Al is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide rail 22 and parallel to the oblique direction S, whereby the guide rail 22 is moved at an angle a toward the bottom centre line 10j or the level el, respectively, together with the control carriage 21, the support carriage 7, the rod system 9, the parallelogram units 8 and the suction devices 13 and 14, respectively, arranged on the latter, which permits the precise opening of bag bodies 10 of different widths. In this connection, it is important that the guide rail 22 is located in parallel to the oblique direction is S. In order to change the angle o, the bottom opening unit 20 is screwed tightly with its upper recesses 28 to the support 30, whereby two bearing points are defined, which are interconnected by line A2. The angle a of the longitudinal axis of the guide rail 22 and hence also of the oblique direction S toward the bottom centre line 10j, which angle arises during said mounting, is smaller by an angle fp than during the first mounting. Despite different angular adjustments, it continues to be ensured that the bottom opening unit 20 opens the end region 10e independently of the above described adjustment of the angle a in such a way that it is transferred to the subsequent widening tools without an unguided or, respectively, undefined state.

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Device for Opening an End Region of a Tubular Bag Body Te ER 1

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The invention relates to a device and a method for opening an end region of a tubular bag body, which end region extends between an open tube body end and a bottom centre line, comprising a transporting means on which the bag body with contiguous tube walls can be transported in a transporting direction at a transporting speed, with the bottom centre line : being oriented in the transporting direction, and comprising suction devices which are driven so that they can be reciprocated transversely to the transporting direction, which suction devices are movable toward each other until they rest against the tube walls of the bag body’s end region located therebetween and thereupon are movable away from each other, with suction force being exerted on the respective tube wall, whereby they pull the tube walls away from each other, wherein , the suction devices can be reciprocated in an oblique direction, which is oriented at an angle to the bottom centre line.

Such devices are known from documents DE 974 780 C and DE 10 91 422 B.

Box bags, which are also referred to as cross bottom bags, are bags of a cuboid shape which are produced in bag assembling facilities in that tubular bag bodies are provided the end regions of which are opened and folded into cross bottoms. During folding, the bag bodies are guided in a flat manner through the assembling facility so that the tubé walls of the tubular ! bag body will rest against each other, in particular also at the end regions of the tubular bag body. For forming the bottom, the two tube walls are separated from each other at the end regions of the tubular bag body and are folded down by 180° with regard to each other, wherein at least one of the two tube walls is folded back onto itself as a side flap by means of a widening tool, whereby an open bottom is formed in which the other tube wall forms a second side flap. By folding down one tube wall at the end region of the tubular bag body, a triangular flap is produced at the front and rear parts of said end region, respectively. In technical language, this process is also referred to as “drawing up”. In the following, valve patches can be inserted for manufacturing box valve bags, which valve patches are formed into a valve by further folding operations, through which the bags are fillable by means of a filling nozzle. The final bottom configuration is created by folding in the bottom side flaps in an overlapping manner. The overlapping bottom side flaps are glued or welded to each other, depending on the material. Alternatively or additionally, bottom cover sheets can be placed onto the overlapping bottom side flaps and glued or welded thereto.

Such a bag assembling facility is described in AT 408 427 B. However, it has become apparent that said known bag assembling facility has the disadvantage of a necessary clocked

: 2 TY operation which places high demands on the drives and limits the throughput of bag bodies to be processed. The expenditure of time for drawing up the bottoms in a clocked fashion, including the required fixation of the drawn-up bottoms, may even constitute an upper limit for the performance of the entire device for manufacturing bags. > This disadvantage has been overcome by the device for forming open bottoms of bag bodies as disclosed in EP 2 441 574 Al, wherein the bag body sections are conveyed continuously.

According to this document, the bottom opening device by means of which the two layers are separated from each other at the end region of the tubular bag body is designed as a pneumatic bottom opening device, wherein suction devices are provided which are located opposite to each other with regard to the material layers to be separated and engage the tube walls of the bag body and, subsequently, are moved apart, whereby the tube walls are separated from each other so that the widening tool can intervene therebetween. However, no details as to the design of the bottom opening device can be gathered from this document.

In DE 10 2008 017 445 Al, a pneumatic bottom opening facility is described in which the suction beams are adjustable in height along a horizontal guide in parallel to the transport level and, thus, can be adapted to the various widths of the bag bodies.

For opening the tubular bag bodies it would be desirable to perform a linear opening motion in order to achieve a separation of the tube walls in front of and behind the suction devices which is as uniform as possible, which ensures that, subsequently, a widening tool can easily be inserted into the opened end region of the tubular bag body. This applies in particular to the drawing-up of particularly wide bottoms, wherein an irregular opening motion of a simple swivel arm results in a pronounced twisting of the material layers and thus substantially hampers the insertion of widening tools. The devices according to the above mentioned documents DE 974 780 C and DE 10 91 422 B do not move the suction devices in straight direction, but either in a combined linear and pivoting direction or circularly.

Known bottom opening devices, which can be seen, for example, in AT 408 427 B, are relatively large-built constructions wherein a linear opening motion is implemented by means of cylinder/piston units. It is apparent that such a solution is comparatively bulky and costly as well as high-maintenance.

Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of indicating a bottom opening device for bag assembling facilities by means of which a continuous operation of the facility is reliably ensured at a high production rate, wherein the bottom opening device should be constructed in a simple, cost-efficient and robust way and should be as resistant to wear as possible. Furthermore, the bottom opening device should also enable the secure opening of

\ | 3 bottoms of different widths and a proper transfer to the subsequent processing station and, of course, should be suitable for a continuous operation.

The present invention achieves this object by developing further the initially mentioned device and the initially mentioned method for opening an end region of a tubular bag body in that the suction devices are designed so that they can be reciprocated also in an oblique direction, which is oriented, on the one hand, in the transporting direction and, on the other hand, at an angle to the bottom centre line, in addition to its transverse mobility, wherein the suction devices located opposite to each other are each arranged on a retainer which is hinged to first ends of two parallel swivel arms, of which at least one is driven so as to be pivotable transversely to the transporting direction, with second ends of the swivel arms being hinged to a support carriage, which support carriage is driven so that it can be reciprocated in the oblique direction in a guide rail. Due to this movement of the suction devices in the oblique direction, the point of engagement of the suction devices at the tube walls can be controlled with regard to the bottom centre line and adjusted even during operation, whereby the opening device can be adapted to end regions of different lengths, which are formed into bag bodies of different widths. Furthermore, it is possible with the opening device according to the invention to adjust the points of engagement of the suction devices at the tube walls to be separated in such a way that they will be located as closely as possible to the outer end of the bag body, as a result of which the precision of the opening process is increased. The device according to the present invention provides robustness, rapidness and multiple adjustment options during operation, wherein, suitably, one of each swivel arms is driven so as to be pivotable via an angle lever. The device according to the invention offers the advantage besides a relatively simple cost-efficient design, that, due to the parallelogram geometry of the design made of retainer, swivel arms and support carriage, the orientation of the suction devices with regard to the tube walls to be separated from each other is maintained during the pivoting of said parallelogram unit in the course of the opening process so that a secure and distortion-free opening and separation of the tube walls lying against each other occurs and the widening tools can reliably intervene during the subsequent processing even in case of relatively wide end regions being drawn up. :

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for processing bag bodies from a fabric of stretched plastic tapes and/or a plastic film, with the synthetic material preferably being selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and/or PET. Composites of the above mentioned materials may also be processed, and the bag bodies may be provided with a synthetic coating. For example, the fabric of stretched plastic tapes may be furnished with a synthetic coating in order to obtain the density of the fabric, to improve printability and to 30 . . . . . adjust other desired properties. Bags made of fabrics of stretched plastic tapes have a strength which is superior to that of paper or plastic film bags, but tend to slip during the

CT ——————————————————————————————eee 4 manufacturing process and are also harder to fold than, for example, paper. Therefore, itis a particular advantage that, by means of the present invention, also those bag bodies are manageable.

Depending on the demands made on the bags to be produced, bottoms can be formed at both end regions of the tubular bag body, which end regions are located opposite to each other, or a bottom can be formed only at one end region.

Further embodiments, advantages and features of the invention become apparent from the claims and the subsequent description of exemplary embodiments.

If, as in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angle of the oblique direction toward the bottom centre line or, respectively, the imaginary extension of the bottom centre line beyond the bag body is adjustable, the opening device according to the invention can be adapted particularly easily for the drawing-up of bottoms of different widths and bag bodies of different widths. In doing so, a flat angle against the bottom centre line is chosen for narrow bottoms, and a steeper angle can be adjusted for wider bottoms. The precision of the opening process is increased if the angle of the oblique direction toward the bottom centre line is smaller than 45°, preferably smaller than 30°. With such a design, it is furthermore ensured that the opening device will properly transfer the opened end region to a subsequent processing station, in particular to widening tools, independently of the above- described adjustment of the angle, without the need to put up with an unguided or, respectively, undefined state between the opening of the end region and its further processing.

In order to prevent the tube walls of the end region of the bag body from being distorted during the opening process, it is advantageous if the suction devices are moved during their contact with the tube walls in the oblique direction at a speed the velocity component of which in the transporting direction is equal to the transporting speed.

Robust and low-maintenance embodiments of the opening device according to the invention are achieved if the suction devices are moved transversely to the transporting direction using transverse guiding means, the transverse guiding means preferably comprising rails, swivel arms and/or piston-cylinder assemblies arranged transversely to the transporting direction and having suction devices arranged at the free ends of the pistons. For the same purpose, it is advantageous to implement the movement of the suction devices in the oblique direction using oblique guiding means, the oblique guiding means preferably comprising rails, swivel arms and/or piston-cylinder assemblies arranged in the oblique direction and having suction devices arranged at the free ends of the pistons.

Since the swivel arms carrying the retainers with the suction devices are fastened to a common support carriage which is movable in the oblique direction, the swivel arms are displaceable together in the oblique direction and, therefore, can be moved along with the continuously conveyed bag bodies in an easy fashion during the opening process in a c continuous operation of a bag assembling facility.

As a result of the fact that the support carriage can be reciprocated in the oblique direction in a guide rail, a faultless guidance along displacement paths of virtually any length is achieved with high displacement speeds of the support carriage on the guide rail. Thus, precise opening operations can be performed also with appropriately high conveying speeds of the bag bodies in the bag assembling facility.

Basically, the swivel arms of the respective parallelogram unit can be driven in any desired way. In this connection, it is conceivable to operate the swivel arms by means of servomotors or motor/gear units, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder-piston units or also via cable controls.

However, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is envisaged that, in each case, one swivel arm is driven via an angle lever and via rods connected to the angle levers and hinged to a control carriage. Due to the parallelogram arrangement of the swivelling levers it suffices to operate only a single swivel arm of a parallelogram unit at a time, since the remaining elements of the parallelogram are guided restrictedly. This preferred design of the drive comprising an angle lever, rods and control carriages is robust and maintenance-free. The pivoting of the swivelling levers by means of a control carriage, which is displaceable independently of the support carriage, constitutes a linear displacement operation.

In order to reduce the number of components in the device according to the invention, it is convenient if the support carriage and the control carriage are guided on a common guide rail.

Because of their reliability and low susceptibility to wear, revolving drives, in particular toothed belt drives, are preferred as drives for the support carriage and the control carriage.

Toothed belt drives are known to be reliable also in case of long operating times and can be replaced quickly as needed without any specially trained personnel being required therefor.

Alternatively thereto, the displacement of the support carriage and the control carriage might also be performed by means of cylinder/piston drives, spindle drives or servomotors.

In particular if a bottom opening device is to be installed in a bag assembling facility for bag bodies made of air-permeable fabrics, the risk arises that an intake of air through the tube walls occurs when the suction devices are applied to the tube walls, whereby the suction

; = devices will suck in not only the tube wall allocated to them, but also the tube wall located behind it and, hence, a separation of layers will not occur. In order to prevent this, the present invention is preferably developed further to the effect that suction devices located opposite to each other are arranged offset from each other, whereby they engage the tube walls to be separated while being offset from each other. With such a positioning of the suction devices > relative to each other, a reliable separation of the tube walls can successfully be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide rail is orientable in the oblique direction toward the bottom centre line with an adjustable angle by means of an adjustable bearing. If the adjustable bearing comprises elongated holes with bearing points defined by recesses, a rapid change between different adjustments of the angle relative to the bottom centre line is possible. The change between the positions can be effected with simple tools and optionally by a single person.

However, a particularly advantageous embodiment can be achieved if the bearing of the guide rail is adjustable by means of a motor drive. In this case, the adjustment of the angle can be accomplished without the use of tools, wherein it is also possible to perform the adjustment to the desired bottom width in a computer-controlled fashion also during the operation of the bag . assembling facility.

Hereinbelow, the invention is explained in further detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawings.

Figs. 1 to 3 schematically show sections of a bag assembling facility in which the device according to the invention for opening an end region of a tubular bag body is used.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an opening unit of the opening device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a bottom view of the opening unit.

Fig. 6 schematically shows a side view of a section of the bag assembling facility with an integral opening unit.

The device 1 according to the invention and the method according to the invention for opening an end region 10e of a tubular bag body 10 in the course of the formation of a bottom on the tubular bag body are now explained based on Fig. 1 to Fig. 6. For reasons of better clarity, the essential features of the device 1 according to the invention are illustrated in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 only schematically. :

The device 1 comprises a transporting means 2 in the form of a conveyor belt which moves continuously in a transporting direction T at a transporting speed V. Tubular bag bodies 10 lie in a flat state on the transporting means 2 with their longitudinal extension L transversely to the transporting direction T. On the conveyor belt, the bag bodies 10 are secured against slipping by holding means which are not illustrated.

The tubular bag bodies 10 are manufactured, for example, from fabrics of stretched plastic tapes. The plastic tapes may comprise a polyethylene or polypropylene or PET material.

Optionally, the fabric comprises a coating of a synthetic material. Alternatively, the tubular bag bodies 10 may be produced from a plastic film.

The tubular bag body 10 has two open end regions 10e, 10f which are opposite to each other.

The end region 10e extending between an open tube body end 10k and a bottom centre line 10j is to be formed into a cross bottom. In a subsequent treatment, the end region 10f can also be formed into a cross bottom in the same way as the end region 10e, whereby a box bag or a box valve bag is produced.

In Fig. 1 it can be seen that, initially, the tubular bag body 10 rests flatly on the transporting means 2 at a first level €1. In this state of lying flat, a first and a second tube wall 10a, 10b 1s abut each other. Then, the end region 10e of the tubular bag body 10 is taken along a bottom centre line 10j from the first level 1 of the flatly lying bag body into a second level £2, which runs essentially orthogonally thereto, using a bottom centre folding rail 12 and baffle plates 11a, 11b. In this connection, it should be mentioned that the formation of the bottom is possible also without this folding process.

Fig. 2 shows the bag body 10 with the end region 10e completely folded upwards (into the second level £2) along the bottom centre line 10j in an orthogonal direction. The bottom centre folding rail 12 continues in the transporting direction T and, in co-operation with the baffle plate 11a, now has the task of keeping the end region 10e of the bag body 10, which has been folded up into the second level £2, in this angular position relative to the first level €1 at which the bag body 10 lies. The opening device 1 furthermore comprises two suction devices 13, 14 which can be reciprocated on transverse guiding means 15, 16, which are shown symbolically, transversely to the transporting direction T. The transverse guiding means 13, 16 may be designed, for example, as rails or swivel arms. Alternatively, the transverse guiding means 15, 16 are piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein the suction devices 13, 14 are located at the free ends of the pistons and, in this way, can be reciprocated transversely to the transporting direction T. The transverse guiding means 15, 16 can be reciprocated in an oblique direction S, which is oriented, on the one hand, in the transporting direction T and, on the other hand, at an angle a toward the bottom centre line 10j or the imaginary extension of the bottom centre line, using oblique guiding means 17, 18. The bottom centre line 10j or its imaginary extension, respectively, is oriented at level €1 in the transporting direction T. The oblique guiding means 17, 18 may also be designed, e.g., as rails, swivel arms or piston- cylinder assemblies.

In Fig. 2, a process step is illustrated wherein the two suction devices 13, 14 have been contacted with the first tube wall 10a and the second tube wall 10b, respectively, from opposite sides in the end region 10e. A vacuum is generated at the suction devices 13, 14 so that the first suction device 13 sucks in the first tube wall 10a and the second suction device 14 sucks in the second tube wall 10b. It is to be noted that the suction devices 13, 14, when in contact with the tube walls 10a, 10b, are moved in the oblique direction S at a speed the velocity component of which in the transporting direction T is equal to the transporting speed

V so that distortions of the tube walls 10a, 10b cannot occur. Then, the two suction devices 13, 14 begin to move away from each other transversely to the transporting direction V (arrows P1 and P2, respectively), in doing so, they each drag along one tube wall 10a, 10b, thereby opening the end region 10e of the tubular bag body 10. Due to the movement of the suction devices 13, 14 in the oblique direction S, the point of engagement of the suction devices 13, 14 at the tube walls 10a, 10b can be controlled with regard to the bottom centre line 10j and can be adjusted even during operation, whereby the opening device 1 is adaptable

Is to end regions of different lengths, which are formed into bag bodies of different widths.

Furthermore, it is possible with the opening device 1 according to the invention to adjust the points of engagement of the suction devices 13, 14 at the tube walls 10a, 10b to be separated in such a way that they will be located as closely as possible to the outer end of the bag body, as a result of which the precision of the opening process is increased. In doing so, it is irrelevant as to whether, prior to opening, the end region 10e is folded along the bottom centre line 10j with regard to the remaining bag body 10 (as it is illustrated here) or not. If the end region 10e was not folded yet during opening, that is, was still located at level €1, the opening device would be arranged so as to be rotated in such a way that the suction devices will engage from above and below. It merely would have to be ensured that at least a portion of the end region 10e is exposed.

Fig. 3 shows the end region 10e of the tubular bag body 10 in the opened state in which a clearance 10g is formed between the tube walls 10a, 10b. In this illustration, it can also be seen that the vacuum has meanwhile been deactivated by the suction devices 13, 14 and the two suction devices 13, 14 have disengaged themselves from the engagement with the tube walls 10a, 10b and, therefore, can be moved back in the oblique direction S in order to be brought into position for opening the end region of the subsequent bag body. The further treatment of the end region 10e for forming the bottom takes place at a processing station downstream of the bottom opening device, which is generally indicated by 19 in a schematic way in Fig. 3 and is not a subject matter of the present invention.

Claims

RECEvED Orrieg Claims ~

1. A device (1) for opening an end region (10e) of a tubular bag body (10), which end c region (10e) extends between an open tube body end (10k) and a bottom centre line (10), comprising a transporting means (2) on which the bag body (10) with contiguous tube walls (10a, 10b) is transported in a transporting direction (T) at a transporting speed (V), with the bottom centre line (10j) being oriented in the transporting direction (T), and comprising suction devices (13, 14) which are driven so that they are reciprocated transversely to the transporting direction (T), which suction devices are movable toward each other until they rest against the tube walls (10a, 10b) of the bag body’s (10) end region (10e) located there between and thereupon are movable away from each other, with suction force being exerted on the respective tube wall, whereby they pull the tube walls away from each other, wherein in addition, the suction devices (13, 14) are reciprocated in an oblique direction (S), which is oriented at an angle (a) to the bottom centre line (10j), characterized in that the oblique direction (8) is oriented in the transporting direction (T) and in that the suction devices (13, 14) located opposite to each other are each arranged on a retainer (3) which is hinged to first ends of two parallel swivel arms (4, 5), of which at least one is driven so as to be pivotable transversely to the transporting direction (T), with second ends of the swivel arms (4, 5) being hinged to a support carriage (7), which support carriage (7) is driven so that it is reciprocated in the oblique direction (8) in a guide rail (22).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that one swivel arm (4, 5) of each is driven so as to be pivotable via an angle lever (23).

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle levers (23) are deflected via rods (9) by a control carriage (21) which is reciprocated in a guide rail (22).

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the angle levers (23) are deflected via rods (9) by a control carriage (21) which is reciprocated in a guide rail (22), and wherein the support carriage (7) and the control carriage (21) are guided on a common guide rail (22).

- ’ . \ ! - ’ 12

5. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the support carriage (7) and the control carriage (21) are reciprocated by means of revolving drives.

6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support carriage (7) or the control carriage (21) is reciprocated by means of a revolving drive. oo

7. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the support carriage (7) and the control carriage (21) are reciprocated by toothed belt drives (24, 25).

8. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the support carriage (7) or the control carriage (21) is reciprocated by a toothed belt drive (24, 25).

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide rail (22) is orientable by hand or by motor in the oblique direction (S) toward the bottom centre line (10j) with an adjustable angle (a) by means of an adjustable bearing.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustable bearing comprises elongated holes (27) with bearing points defined by recesses (28).

11. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (a) of the oblique direction (8S) is adjustable toward the bottom centre line 10p).

12. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (a) of the oblique direction (S) toward the bottom centre line (10j) is smaller than 45°.

13. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (a) of the oblique direction (S) toward the bottom centre line (10j) is smaller than 30°.

14. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction devices (13, 14), when in contact with the tube walls (10a, 10b), are moved in the oblique direction (S) at a speed the velocity component of which in the transporting direction (T) is equal to the transporting speed (V).

. EE ——————————————————————————— . . * . : ‘ , . + ] “13

15. A device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14, characterized in that the suction devices (13, 14) are movable transversely to the transporting direction (T) using transverse guiding means (15, 16).

16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the transverse guiding means (15, s 16) are comprising rails, swivel arms and piston-cylinder assemblies arranged transversely to the transporting direction (T) and having suction devices (13, 14) arranged at the free ends of the pistons.

17. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the transverse guiding (15, 16) means are comprising rails, swivel arms or piston-cylinder assemblies arranged transversely to the transporting direction (T) and having suction devices (13, 14) arranged at the free ends of the pistons.

18. A device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14, characterized in that the suction devices (13, 14) are movable in the oblique direction (S) using oblique guiding means (17,

18).

19. A device according to claim 18, characterized in that the oblique guiding means (17, > 18) are comprising rails, swivel arms and piston-cylinder assemblies arranged in the oblique direction (S) and having suction devices (13, 14) arranged at the free ends of the pistons.

20. A device according to claim 18, characterized in that the oblique guiding means (17, 18) are comprising rails, swivel arms or piston-cylinder assemblies arranged in the oblique : direction (S) and having suction devices (13, 14) arranged at the free ends of the pistons.

21. A device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 14, characterized in that suction devices (13, 14) located opposite to each other are arranged offset from each other.