Apparatus and method for producing packaging

A method for producing packaging having a cross-sectional area that decreases in the pour-out direction, the packaging comprising a sleeve having a gable region having a plurality of gable faces and a pouring element having a flange in the form of a truncated pyramid, on a rotatable mandrel wheel having a plurality of mandrels for holding the sleeve, comprising the steps of:

• a) Pushing a pouring element onto a mandrel of the mandrel wheel,
• b) Pushing a sleeve onto a mandrel of the mandrel wheel,
• c) Folding and connecting all the gable faces of the gable region of the sleeve to the pouring element,
• d) Sealing ears protruding from the gable region,
• e) Turning down and tacking the ears to a straight section of the gable region, and
• f) Removing the packaging from the mandrel,
• wherein steps c) and d) are carried out in the same mandrel wheel position,
• wherein, after step d) and before step e), one additional heating device heats the ears and the pouring element, and
• wherein step b) comprises three sub-steps:
• i) pushing a sleeve onto a mandrel of the mandrel wheel into an intermediate position,
• ii) heating the gable region of the sleeve and the pouring element using at least two separate heating devices, both being used to heat an inside of the sleeve in a vicinity of the gable region and exteriors of the flanges of the pouring element,
• iii) further pushing the sleeve on one of the plurality of mandrels into a final position,
• wherein the heating device used for heating the ears of the sleeve and the two additional heating devices used to heat the sleeve and the pouring element are provided separate from one another.