Apparatus (packaging machine) for the packaging of articles of differing size

An apparatus for packaging a group of small packs into one appropriately sized outer wrapping (31) of plastic film for making a larger bundle (20), said apparatus comprising:

• a) a packaging station (42) comprising:
• a feed conveyor (29) for longitudinally feeding a group of small packs (21);
• a main track (52) on which the small packs (21) and the bundle (20) rest and are transported;
• first conveying means for feeding a film web (65) transverse to a longitudinal direction of movement of the small packs (21);
• severing knives (67) for severing a blank from the web (65);
• second conveying means (63) for conveying the small packs in a region of said packaging station (42);
• first folding means, in the form of an upper folder (71) and a lower folder (73), for folding the blank in a region of a rear side of the bundle (20) to be made;
• and
• second folding means, in the form of side folders (69), for folding front and rear side tabs (36, 37) which laterally project from the group of small packs (21);
• b) a first carrier device (53);
• c) first exchangeable packaging means, coupled to said first carrier device (53) and dependent on the size of bundles (20) to be made, comprising at least said main track (52), a pushing-off device (63), said upper folder (71), said lower folder (73) and said side folders (69);
• d) mounting means for rotatably mounting said first carrier device for rotation about an axis of rotation (45), which is arranged offset next to said packaging station (42), from a packaging position within the packaging station (42) to an exchange position (44) laterally offset thereto and next to the packaging station (42);
• and
• e) opposite the carrier device (53) relative to said axis of rotation (45), a corresponding second carrier device which is rotatable, together with said first carrier device (53), about said axis of rotation from said exchange position (44) into said packaging station (42), said second carrier device carrying second exchangeable packaging means for packaging a bundle (20) having a format different from that accommodated by said first exchangeable packaging means.