Method for changing rolls of tubular film

A method for joining an initial section of a film tube which is wound up in a band-like manner on a reel with an end section of a second film tube extending over subsequent processing stations, especially a packaging system, in an at least partly band-like manner, with the band-like initial and end section each having two mutually superimposed outer lateral surfaces which each converge in their boundary regions into two interposed, inwardly folded inner lateral surfaces which thus form an inwardly situated fold axis, wherein the placing of the cut occurs by means of a cutting element arranged on either side of the film tube in the two outer boundary regions of the initial section along the inner fold axis by horizontally moving the cutting element from a first position in which it is spaced from the film tube to a second position in which it slits open the film tube laterally in the longitudinal direction of the film tube, and the thus formed tabs are each placed from the outside onto the outer lateral surfaces of the end section and are joined to the same in a tension-proof way.

A packaging system with a reel on which a film tube is wound up, a positioning and tensioning station which unwinds the film tube from the reel and supplies the same to subsequent sections of the system, a packaging unit for processing film tube section and a conveying device for removing packaged goods, wherein at least one cutting apparatus for cutting the film tube and a welding station for processing the film tube are arranged between the positioning and tensioning station and the packaging unit, with the cutting apparatus being a cutting element arranged on either side of the film tube, which cutting element is horizontally movable from a first position in which it is spaced from the film tube to a second position in which it slits open the film tube laterally in the longitudinal direction of the film tube.