EP0135818A2 - Method and device for enveloping cigarette packages in sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to increase the performance of packaging machines, in particular for the production of cigarette packs (10, 11), the performance of a device for wrapping the packs in an outer cut (film cut 19, 20) is to be increased. For this purpose, several, in particular two adjacent packs (10, 11) are fed in simultaneously and wrapped in a common overall blank (18) of corresponding width. After the formation of a stable blank tube which envelops both packs (10, 11), the entire blank (18) is cut through to form the individual foil blanks (19, 20), which are subsequently folded.

Description

The invention relates to a method for wrapping objects in blanks, in particular packs (cigarette packs) in foil blanks, which are folded in a U-shape around the packs conveyed relative to them and then finished. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for performing the above method.

Cigarette packs are predominantly provided with an outer wrapper, which consists of a cellophane film or - more recently - a plastic film. When wrapping the pack, the film blank is predominantly placed in a U-shape around the long side of the (cuboid) pack, so that cut parts stand over the pack in the region of the end faces and an opposite long side. These are folded by means of movable or stationary folding members as a result of relative movement with the pack against the associated sides thereof. In the region of the tubular flaps of the film blank which overlap one another on the long side, they can be connected to one another by welding or gluing.

Extremely high cycle times are achieved when packaging cigarettes. Foil wrapping machines connected to the packaging machines are often no longer able to properly pack the high output of finished cigarette packs with a foil wrapper.

The object of the invention is accordingly to increase the performance in the area of film wrapping, without there being disadvantages as a result of mechanical stressing of the sensitive (cigarette) packs as a result of excessive conveying speeds.

To achieve the above object, it is proposed according to the invention that at least two packs with transverse spacing from each other are fed simultaneously, a common, appropriately dimensioned overall blank is folded around both packs and then severed in the area between the packs.

The method according to the invention is therefore used in multi-lane operation, in particular with two (cigarette) packs conveyed simultaneously and in the same transverse planes. Another special feature is that a common, appropriately sized overall blank is fed to the adjacent packs and folded around the packs in a U-shape. The use of an overall blank for all packs fed in at the same time has the advantage that the folding processes can be carried out more precisely and more quickly. The packs held together by the common overall cut form a unit that is easy to handle. A blank the size of a total blank is easier to handle with the usual extremely thin-walled material.

According to a further proposal of the invention, after the entire blank has been folded over in a U-shape, a blank tube of the appropriate length is formed by overlapping edge-side tube tabs and connecting them to one another. There is now a three-dimensionally shaped overall blank which can be severed in the area between the packs which are kept at a distance, without any relative displacements of the packs or the sheet blanks now obtained from one another.

Before the blanking tube is formed, according to the invention, front end flaps of the entire blank that are protruding in the direction of transport and protrude on the long sides are folded over, namely against the assigned end face of the pack, by means of stationary folding members. This also applies to the side end lobes formed in the area between the packs conveyed next to one another. For this purpose, according to the invention, the overall cut or a material Provide the web with a pre-cut to form the blanks at a suitable point, which extends approximately in the longitudinal direction of the material web or in the transport direction of the overall blank and separates the side end flaps to be folded there.

This makes it possible to insert the packs, which are conveyed at the same time, next to one another, together with the overall blank, into a rotating conveyor, in particular into the pockets of a revolver.

The device according to the invention for wrapping cigarette packs in film blanks is accordingly equipped with a revolving conveyor, in particular a revolver, which has pockets which are open in the radial direction and which are dimensioned correspondingly to the number of packs transversely to the conveying direction. Fixed folding thumbs are arranged on the pockets of the revolver on the outside of the pockets and in the center or at a distance corresponding to the distance between the packs.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a revolving knife is assigned to the revolver, in particular a rotatingly driven knife disk which projects into a circumferential, narrow knife slot of the revolver and cuts through the (tubular) overall blank in the area of a separating station.

Further details of the invention relate to the formation of the (overall) blank, the Vorrich for the preparation of the same or for the pre-treatment of the material web, for the formation of the revolver and the downstream conveying and folding elements.

• Fig. 1 einen Abschnitt einer vertikal geförderten Material-Bahn mit zwei einzuhüllenden Packungen in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 2 zwei Packungen nach teilweisem Einhüllen durch einen Gesamt-Zuschnitt, ebenfalls in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 3 eine Phase während der Herstellung der Einzelzuschnitte für jede Packung durch Trennmesser,
• Fig. 4 zwei nebeneinander geförderte, durch je einen Folien-Zuschnitt eingehüllte Packungen,
• Fig. 5 eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Packungen gemäß Fig. 1 bis 4 in schematischer Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 6 die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 im Grundriß,
• Fig. 7 eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung im Bereich eines Vertikalförderers.

The method and the device are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 shows a section of a vertically conveyed material web with two packs to be wrapped in a perspective view,
• 2 two packs after partial wrapping by a total blank, also in perspective,
• 3 shows a phase during the production of the individual blanks for each pack by means of a cutting knife,
• 4 two packs conveyed side by side, each wrapped by a film blank,
• 5 shows a device for producing packs according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in a schematic side view,
• 6 shows the device according to FIG. 5 in plan view,
• Fig. 7 is a front view of the device in the region of a vertical conveyor.

The present exemplary embodiment relates to the wrapping of cuboid packs 10, 11, in particular cigarette packs, into a blank made of a plastic film or cellophane. The packs 10, 11 are delimited by the front 12 and back 13, by end faces 14 and 15 and by long sides 16 and 17.

A special feature is that several, namely two spaced packs 10 and 11 are aligned in the transverse direction and fed at a distance from one another and together in one appropriately sized overall cut 18 are wrapped. This is divided into twice the width of an individual film blank 19 or 20 for a pack 10, 11 from a continuous material web 21 by a cross-cut 22. The overall blank 18 is then placed in a U-shape around the two packs 10, 11 (FIG. 2), in such a way that upper and lower tubular tabs 23, 24 protrude on the rear side in the transport direction (long sides 17). Laterally, that is to say transversely to the conveying direction, upper and lower longitudinal front flaps 25 and 26 project beyond the front sides 14, 15. In an extension of the forward longitudinal sides 16, side end flaps 27 and 28 are formed by the overall blank 18.

By transporting the packs 10, 11 with the overall blank 18 relative to corresponding folding members, the side end flaps 27 and 28 for each pack 10, 11 are first folded on the end face 14, 15 thereof. The side end flaps 27 facing one another, that is to say in the center, are also folded over. This is made possible by the fact that the overall blank 18 has a previously made pre-cut 29 in the area of the side end flaps 27 to be formed. This is located in the middle between the packs 10, 11 in the area of a material strip 30 in the double width of a side face flap 27. In the present exemplary embodiment, the pre-cut 29 is already made in the material web 21 at a predetermined position. Due to the length of the pre-cut 29, the folding of the side end flaps 27 against the mutually facing end faces 14, 15 of the packs 10, 11 is possible while maintaining the unity of the overall blank 18.

Then a blanking tube is formed by folding and partially covering the tube tabs 23, 24 and by connecting them (FIG. 3). The entire blank 18 is then cut in the area between the packs 10, 11, namely in addition to the pre-cut 29. The tabs then still protruding on the end faces 14, 15, namely longitudinal end flaps 25 and 26 and rear side end flaps 30, become more common Folded against the end faces 14, 15 so that the folding image of the packs 10, 11 shown in FIG. 4 is generated.

In the exemplary embodiment of the device shown, the packs 10, 11 (in pairs) lying next to one another are delivered in succession on a common feed path 31. A circulating conveyor (chain conveyor 32) is used to transport the packs 10, 11 on the horizontal feed conveyor 31. From this, the packs 10, 11 are taken over by a slide 33 which dips from above into the path of movement of the packs 10, 11 and the packs 10, 11 by grasping on the back (long sides 17) until they are received in a pocket 34 Revolvers 35 transported on. After the packs 10, 11 have been transferred to the turret 35, the slide 33 is moved upward and returns to the starting position shown in dashed lines above the feed path 31. Entry into this takes place via an opening 36 in an upper guide 37 of the feed conveyor track 31.

The overall blank 18 is fed transversely to the conveying direction of the packs 10, 11, in the present case in a vertical plane, from top to bottom. The entire blank 18 is transported in the region on both sides of the feed conveyor 31 by suction air acted on conveyor belts, namely two perforated belts 38 and 39 running at a distance from one another. The configuration of the same and the device for applying suction air to the perforated belts 38, 39 can be carried out in a suitable manner, in particular in the embodiment of DE-OS 25 30 992. The perforated belts 38, 39 are guided over an upper deflecting roller 40 and a lower, not shown corresponding deflecting roller below the feed conveyor 31.

The material web 21 is fed to the above-described film conveyor, namely the perforated belts 38, 39 via pull rollers 41, 42. These also have the task of making the pre-cut 29 at a suitable location within the material web 21. For this purpose, the larger diameter roller 42 is equipped with knife segments 43 and 44 which protrude beyond the outer surface of the roller 42 and make the pre-cut of the appropriate length in the material web 21. With one revolution of the pull roller 42, two pre-cuts 29 are accordingly made, that is to say two overall cuts 18 are prepared accordingly. The knife segments 43, 44 are arranged centrally on the pull roller 42 when two packs 10, 11 are simultaneously wrapped. The opposite, smaller pull roller 41 is provided in the same plane, that is to say also centrally in the present case, with a circumferential groove 45, into which the knife segments 43, 44 enter when performing the cut 29.

A further separating device is arranged upstream of the deflecting roller 40, namely a knife roller 46 with a fixed counter knife 47. A (transverse) partial cut is made in the material web 21 by this separating device, essentially Lichen in the area of the perforated strips 38, 39, which subsequently capture the material web 21. A main cut adjoining the partial cuts to complete the continuous cross-cutting cut 42 is produced in the region of the perforated strips 38, 39 lying between them by a further knife roller 48 with counter knife 49. The method of severing a material web 21 in several successive partial cuts is carried out according to the features of DE-OS 25 30 992. With the cross-cut 22, a U-shaped cut for producing two grip tongues 50 is made in the region of a tear strip 51 applied to the material web 21. The tear strips 51 are attached in such a way that they run eccentrically in the usual manner within the wrapping of the finished packs 10, 11, namely facing one of the end faces.

The thus cut and prepared overall blanks 18 are gripped in the area of a mouthpiece 52 by two packs 10, 11, which are simultaneously conveyed at a distance from one another, conveyed through the mouthpiece 52 into a pocket 34 of the revolver 35 held ready immediately after the mouthpiece 52 Overall blank 18 is placed around the packs 10, 11 in a U-shape in the manner described. The pocket 34 is dimensioned in the radial direction such that the packs 10, 11 are essentially flush with the outer boundary of the pocket 34 with the rear or outer longitudinal side 17. Hose tabs 23, 24 projecting rearward accordingly protrude from the pocket 34.

Next, the aforementioned tube tabs 23 and 24 are folded against the associated long side 17, First, the lower tubular tab 24. For this purpose, a folding element 53 designed as an arcuate plate is moved in the circumferential direction of the revolver 35 and concentrically to it - in the illustration in FIG. 5 in the upward direction. The lower tube tab 24 is thereby folded over against the long side 17 and fixed in this position until the revolver is transported in the counterclockwise direction. The circular-arc-shaped folding member 53 is accordingly moved back and forth in the circumferential direction to carry out the folds.

By advancing the turret 35, the pocket 34 with the inserted packs 10, 11 arrives in the area of a fixed guide wall 54 closely clinging to the circumference of the turret 35. The guide wall 54 merges into the upper part of the mouthpiece 52.

As soon as the pocket 34 arrives in the region of the guide wall 54 by further rotation of the revolver 35, the upper tube tab 23 is folded over against the longitudinal side 17 of the packs 10, 11 or against the tube tab 24 which has already been folded. The cut tube is thus produced.

The partially overlapping tubular tabs 23, 24 are connected to one another in the area of a sealing station by a sealing tool in the form of a sealing strip 55 by means of pressure and thermal action. The sealing strip is brought from the outside to the longitudinal side 17 or to the tubular tabs 23, 24, the sealing strip 55 passing through a slot-shaped opening 56 in the guide wall 54. The sealing strip 55 is in the present the embodiment can be moved into the sealing position by a swivel arm 57.

Following the completion and stabilization of the blanking tube, a separation station 58 follows. In this, the blanking tube is severed in the middle or in the middle between two adjacent packs 10, 11. For this purpose, in the present case, a disc-shaped, rotationally driven thin cutting knife 59 enters the revolver 35, through a knife slot 60 in the guide wall 54. A drive shaft 61 for the cutting knife 59 is arranged outside the turret or outside the guide wall 54, parallel to the axis of a turret shaft 62.

The revolver 35 itself in the area of the pockets 34 is provided with a thin knife gap 63 running all around. This enables the cutting knife 59 to penetrate into the turret 35 with the required depth in such a way that the cutting tube can be completely severed in the cutting station 58.

In the area of a subsequent ejection station 64 there are packs 10, 11 with separate, individual film blanks 19 and 20 in the pocket 34. The packs 10, 11 with the film blanks are moved by a pusher 65 which can be moved in a suitable manner in the radial direction 19, 20 ejected together. A discharge track 66 connects to the turret 34. Side guides of the same are equipped in a known manner as folding members. The inlet end of the discharge conveyor 66 adjoining the turret 35 is laterally provided with a folding tongue 67. This folds the one when it is extended of the packs 10, 11 from the turret 35, the side end flaps 30 now lying forward against the assigned end faces 14 and 15. In the further course, namely through the transport within the discharge path 66, in the present case the lower longitudinal end flap 26 is folded against the end face 14, 15, by a fixed folding switch 68.

The upstream packing tower 69 adjoins the horizontal discharge conveyor 66 in the present case, into which the mostly finished packs 10, 11 are inserted one after the other from below by a plunger 70. By entering the packing tower 69, the upper longitudinal front flap 25 is folded through the side walls of the same to complete the packing 10, 11 against the end face 14, 15. The completed packs 10, 11 are thus transported further within the packing tower 69.

A special feature is that when the packs 10, 11 are inserted, the side end flaps 27 and 28, which are initially in the transport direction, are folded against the associated end faces 14, 15 by stationary organs, although the unit of the overall blank 18 still exists of the revolver 35 are equipped with index fingers 71 and 72 for this purpose. These folding members form the side boundary of the pockets 34, the folding fingers 72, which extend in the center in the radial direction, being separated from one another by the knife gap 63. The pockets 34, which extend over the full width of the revolver 35 designed in the present case on two packs 10, 11, are accordingly divided into two partial pockets by the middle folding fingers 72, each for receiving a pack 10, 11. When the packs 10, 11 are inserted into the pocket 34 thus formed, the side end flaps 27, 28 lying forward in the direction of insertion are accordingly folded over by the folding fingers 71 and 72. In the area between the packs 10, 11, this folding process is possible by means of the pre-cut 29 without there being any constraints or wrinkles in the overall blank 18.

The pockets 34 of the turret 35 are, moreover, each formed by tongues 73 and 74 arranged in pairs at a distance from one another for reasons of material saving.

The device described is not only suitable for processing two packs at the same time. As can be seen, with the appropriate design of the pockets of a revolver and the conveying and separating elements, several packs can be processed in a line next to one another, whereby a common overall cut for all packs or several overall cuts each covering two packs can be used .

Claims (15)

1. A method for wrapping objects in blanks, in particular packs (cigarette packs) in foil blanks, which are folded in a U-shape around the packs conveyed relative to them and then finished folded, characterized in that at least two packs (10, 11) conveyed simultaneously with transverse spacing from one another, a common, appropriately dimensioned overall blank (18) around both packs (10, 11) folded around and then cut in the area between the packs (10, 11). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the overall blank (18) after forming a blank tube (Fig. 2) is cut by connecting overlapping tube tabs (23, 24). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the transport direction forward, laterally projecting side end flaps (27, 28) of the overall blank (18) by (stationary) folder (folding fingers 71, 72) against end faces (14, 15) the pack (10, 11) can be folded, a rough cut (29) being made approximately in the middle between adjacent packs (10, 11) in the overall blank (18) or in the material web (21) in such a way that the adjacent ones Side end flaps (27) can be folded against the associated end faces (14, 15) of the pack (10, 11). 4. The method according to claim 3 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the pre-cuts (29) in the material web (21) for producing the overall blanks (18) or in the overall blanks (18) before recording the same through the packs 10, 11 are attached. c 5.1 Device for wrapping objects in blanks, in particular packs (cigarette packs) in foil blanks, which are U-shaped around the packs conveyed relative to them Foldable and insertable into a pocket of a conveyor, in particular a revolver, and ready to be folded by folding elements, characterized in that packs (10, 11) lying next to one another at a distance together with a correspondingly dimensioned overall blank (18) into a likewise in Pocket (34) of a revolver (35) or the like which is dimensioned in the longitudinal direction can be inserted. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that in the radial direction over the in the pockets (34) arranged packs (10, 11) projecting and protruding from the pockets tubular tabs (23, 24) before further movement or upon further movement of the revolver (35 ) can be folded in succession against the long sides (17) of the packs (11, 12) and can be glued or sealed together. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that in a sealing station, a sealing member, in particular a sealing bar (55) corresponding approximately to the length of the overall blank (18) in the radial direction on the outwardly directed longitudinal sides (16, 17) of the packs (10 , 11) or can be moved towards the overlapping tube tabs (23, 24). 8. The device according to claim 5, as well as one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the turret (35) or the like. In the area of a separation station (58) the number of Provide the web with a pre-cut to form the blanks at a suitable point, which extends approximately in the longitudinal direction of the material web or in the transport direction of the overall blank and separates the side end flaps to be folded there. This makes it possible to insert the packs, which are conveyed at the same time, next to one another, together with the overall blank, into a rotating conveyor, in particular into the pockets of a revolver. The device according to the invention for wrapping cigarette packs in film blanks is accordingly equipped with a revolving conveyor, in particular a revolver, which has pockets which are open in the radial direction and which are dimensioned correspondingly to the number of packs transversely to the conveying direction. Fixed folding thumbs are arranged on the pockets of the revolver on the outside of the pockets and in the center or at a distance corresponding to the distance between the packs. Furthermore, according to the invention, a revolving knife is assigned to the revolver, in particular a rotatingly driven knife disk which projects into a circumferential, narrow knife slot of the revolver and cuts through the (tubular) overall blank in the area of a separating station. Further details of the invention relate to the formation of the (overall) blank, the Vorrich arranges and are each assigned to the mutually facing end faces (14, 15) of the adjacent packs (10, 11). 12. The device according to claim 5 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that in the overall blank (18), in particular in the material web (21) pre-cuts (29) in the area between adjacent packs (10, 11) are attached with a length such that the side end flaps (27) separated from one another by the pre-cut (29) can be folded against the end sides (14, 15) while maintaining the overall cut (18). 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the pre-cuts (29) by segment knives in the material web (21) can be produced, the e on the circumference of a draw roller (42) or the like. are spaced apart. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that a second pull roller (41) is provided as a counter-roller to the pull roller (42) in the region of the knife segments (43, 44) with a circumferential groove (45) .

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