Device and method for producing packaging precursors by means of a heating device acting on the edge area of the packaging precursor

1. A device for production of a packaging precursor, wherein the packaging precursor consists to an extent of at least 80% by weight, based on the packaging precursor, of a sheetlike composite, wherein the composite includes:

i. a composite plastic layer,

ii. a composite carrier layer,

iii. a first composite edge region,

iv. a second composite edge region,

wherein the device includes, as device constituents in a flow direction:

a) a transport unit designed to transport the sheetlike composite, wherein the transport unit includes a transport surface designed to bear the composite; downstream of that:

b) a first heating unit designed to heat the first composite edge region, where the first heating unit includes at least 5 energy release segments; downstream of that:

c) a contacting unit designed to bond the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region;

wherein, along the flow direction, the first heating unit is designed to release energy,

wherein the first heating unit includes, in the flow direction, a first energy release segment and, in the flow direction, a last energy release segment furthest removed from the first energy release segment,

wherein the first energy release segment is designed to release a higher heating power than the last energy release segment, and

wherein the at least 5 of the energy release segments each have, in the flow direction, a length which is longer than an extent of the respective energy release segment transverse to the flow direction.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first heating unit comprises an entry orifice through which gas can flow, wherein at least one of the following criteria is fulfilled:

a) the entry orifice is provided opposite the energy release segments;

b) the entry orifice is provided with a smaller distance from the first energy release segment than from the last energy release segment;

c) the entry orifice has a greater internal cross-sectional area than the sum total of the internal cross-sectional areas of all energy release segments.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a distance between an exit orifice of the first heating unit and the transport surface is at most as high as a length of the exit orifices of the first heating unit in the flow direction.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device includes the sheetlike composite.

5. A method of producing a package precursor, comprising, as method steps,

a) providing the device as claimed in claim 1 and the sheetlike composite;

b) accelerating the sheetlike composite by the transport unit;

d) heating the first composite edge region by the first heating unit;

e) bonding the first composite edge region to the second composite edge region by the contacting unit,

wherein, in method step d), a first temperature in a region between the transport surface and the first energy release segment is T 1 , and a second temperature in a further region between the transport surface and the last energy release segment is Tn.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein method step d) includes heating by thermal convection.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein, in method step d), a gaseous heat flow at an exit orifice of the first heating unit has a greater flow rate than at an entry orifice of the first heating unit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein, in a method step c) a thickness of the sheetlike composite at least in a subregion of the first composite edge region is reduced by more than 40% of the thickness of the sheetlike composite.