CN115087596A

CN115087596A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing packages

Info

Publication number: CN115087596A
Application number: CN202180014196.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·弗斯特曼; C·佐默
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-02-12
Filing date: 2021-02-11
Publication date: 2022-09-20
Also published as: DE102020000896A1; WO2021160748A1; EP4103478A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a pack for tobacco industry products, in particular in the form of rods, having an outer package (11) consisting of blanks made of dimensionally stable material, in which a group of products in an inner wrapper (15) is provided as product pieces (28), wherein the product pieces (28) are fed together with a sleeve blank for forming a sleeve (20) of the outer package (11) to a blank which is ready in a pocket (29) of a folding turret (30), is partially folded for forming the outer package (11), in particular at least in a section along a stationary product piece guide rail (32), wherein the preferably initially flat sleeve blank is folded upstream of the folding turret (30) in such a way that it interacts with a large-area sleeve wall (23) of the sleeve blank, In particular, two collar narrow side walls (24) adjoining the collar front wall or collar rear wall, which collar narrow side walls are connected to the large-area collar wall via fold lines, respectively, extend at an angle after folding, and the collar blank is placed on the product block (28) upstream of the folding turret (30) in such a way that the two collar narrow side walls (24) each rest on an associated narrow side (18) of the product block (28), wherein the folding of the collar blank takes place in a folding station (35) which is arranged in the region of the stationary product block guide (32).

Description

Method and apparatus for manufacturing packages

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for producing a package for tobacco industry products, comprising an outer package made of a blank made of a dimensionally stable material, in which a product group in an inner wrapper is arranged as a product block, in particular in the form of a square, preferably a product block in the form of a sealing block made of foil, which has a product removal opening covered by a reclosable seal. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing such a package.

Background

Packs for cigarettes or other tobacco industry products are known, which comprise an outer package having a packing collar and made of a shape-stable material, and a group of products contained in an inner package made of foil. The inner package is usually designed as a sealed package in order to prevent loss of flavor or the like from the product.

In the case of the manufacture of packages and in particular the application or processing of packaging sleeves, the applicant has proposed in an earlier (not yet published) application the following treatment: the respective collar blank is placed onto the group of products that has been wrapped with an inner wrapper made of foil. The collar narrow side walls are then folded about the cigarette groups relative to the large-area collar wall, so that the two collar narrow side walls each rest against a respective narrow side of the product block. The folding process is carried out while the product pieces are on a transfer platform which is periodically reciprocated between a folding turret and a stationary guide rail for the product group, along which the product group is transported or slid by a driver. The transfer platform serves here to overcome the distance between the stationary guide rail and the folding turret and to transfer the product group finally onto the folding turret.

However, the aforementioned folding process in the area of the transfer platform is disadvantageous in terms of construction and economy, in particular due to the small space available on the movable transfer platform.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from this, the object of the invention is to further develop a packaging production process and a device of the type mentioned at the outset.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by an apparatus having the features of claim 17.

Therefore, the method described at the beginning is explained: in the method, the product pieces are fed together with the sleeve blank for forming the outer packaging sleeve to the partially folded blank for forming the outer packaging, which is ready in the pockets of the folding turret, preferably in a horizontal plane, to be precise at least in a section along the stationary product piece guide rail. This is achieved in particular by means of a first product piece entrainment means which moves the product pieces along the stationary product piece guide rail, wherein the preferably initially flat collar blank is folded upstream of the folding turret in such a way that two collar narrow side walls adjoining a large-area collar wall, in particular a front collar wall or a rear collar wall, of the collar blank, which collar narrow side walls are connected to the large-area collar wall via fold lines in each case, extend at an angle, in particular substantially perpendicularly, to the large-area collar wall after folding. The collar blank is placed on the product block upstream of the folding turret in such a way that the two collar narrow side walls each rest on a respective narrow side of the product block. The folding of the collar blank, unlike the applicant's earlier approach, is advantageously carried out at a folding station which is disposed in the region of the fixed product block guide. In other words, the folding is carried out during the product pieces and the associated collar blanks (still) in the region of the positionally fixed product piece guide rails, and not during their possible (already) arrangement on the transfer platform.

Preferably, the folding of the collar blank in the folding station can take place under the co-action of two mutually spaced-apart folding means of the folding station, in particular folding rails and folding walls, which either interact with a folding mechanism, preferably designed as a punching mechanism, which in particular reciprocates centrally between the folding means, in particular moves in a plane perpendicular to the stationary product block guide rail, preferably in a vertical plane, or interacts with a stationary folding switch.

Preferably, the sleeve blank, in particular at an angle to the fixed-position product block guide or transversely thereto, and preferably in a conveying plane arranged above the conveying plane of the product block, can be conveyed to a receiving position, in particular arranged above the fixed-position product block guide, upstream of the folding station. In the case of this embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is then transported from this receiving position to the folding station, to be precise, in particular, supported on a stationary sleeve guide above the stationary product block guide, along a transport section which preferably extends parallel thereto above the stationary product block guide. This transport along the transport section can be effected in particular by means of a separate, moving collar driver, preferably by means of a slide which moves the blank along a stationary collar guide, or by means of the first product block driver described above which moves the product block along the product block guide in the direction of the folding turret.

Preferably, the collar blank can be placed at least partially against the overwrap in the region of the stationary guide rail, in particular in or downstream of the folding station.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the product pieces together with the sleeve blanks folded in the folding station are fed as a unit to a transfer platform which is moved to and fro, in particular in a horizontal plane, receives the product pieces and the folded sleeve blanks and is then moved in the direction of the folding turret to the folding turret, and that the product pieces together with the sleeve blanks are introduced from the transfer platform into a pocket of the folding turret facing the transfer platform, in which pocket the blanks for forming the outer packaging of the packaging are ready, in particular by means of a (in particular further/second) product piece entrainment means which is preferably designed as a slide.

Here, the folding of the collar blank can take place in a folding station in such a way that: the folding mechanism, which is moved back and forth, presses the initially flat collar blank into the space between the mutually spaced folding means, in particular from above, while forming a U-shape.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the folding means of the folding station are formed by two folding walls spaced apart from one another, which extend at an angle to the product block guide, in particular substantially perpendicularly, on both sides of the product block guide, wherein the spacing of the two folding walls from one another corresponds at least in the (folding) region substantially to the width of the large-area collar wall of the collar blank, wherein,

a) positioning the initially flat collar blank, in particular supported on the two folding walls, such that the large-area collar wall is arranged between the folding walls, and

b) the reciprocating folding mechanism then presses the collar blank, in particular downward, into the space between the two folding walls, so that the large-area collar wall is guided between the folding walls and the collar narrow side walls are folded over against the large-area collar wall as a result of the contact with the folding walls and are folded into an angled position relative to the large-area collar wall.

During the stamping process, the product piece can be located upstream of the folding station or upstream of the collar blank relative to its position along the product piece guide rail, wherein the large-area collar wall is arranged below and parallel to the bottom side of the product piece, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, after stamping and is ready in this position, and the product piece is moved along the product piece guide rail toward the ready collar blank, in particular by means of the first product piece catch, and is assembled into a unit with the collar blank such that the two collar narrow side walls of the collar blank each face the respective narrow side of the product piece, in particular lie there, and the large-area collar wall faces the bottom side of the product piece, in particular lies there.

The product pieces together with the sleeve blanks lying thereon can then be transported as a unit to the transfer platform and transferred as a unit to the transfer platform, in particular by means of a moving transfer device, in particular a transfer device that carries the first product piece.

Preferably, the folding of the collar blank can be carried out by placing the initially flat collar blank in the region of its large-area collar wall, in particular from above, onto the mutually spaced folding means, in particular designed as folding rails, in a folding station, and then folding the two collar narrow side walls, in particular by means of the reciprocating folding structure or by means of folding switches, from the outside, around the folding means, in particular downward, into an angled position relative to the large-area collar wall.

In this case, the product piece can be positioned next to the collar blank, in particular underneath it, with respect to its position along the product piece guide rail during the folding process, so that the two collar narrow side walls of the collar blank are each folded against the respective narrow side of the product piece while resting against the respective narrow side.

The large-area collar wall can be arranged at a distance from the large-area, in particular upward-facing, side of the product piece during and after the folding process.

During the folding process, each collar narrow side wall can be guided along an associated, lateral, curved guide surface.

With the spacing between the large-area collar wall and the large-area side of the product block being maintained, the collar blank can be transported together with the product block as a unit to the transfer platform, in particular by means of a second product block driver.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the product pieces and the collar blank are transferred together as a unit to a transfer platform, wherein the collar blank is brought into the transfer region close to the product pieces, in particular lowered onto the product pieces, so that the large-area collar wall rests on the large-area side of the product pieces after the lowering process has ended.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the collar rear wall adjoining the collar side walls, in particular connected to the collar side walls via the fold lines, is folded in each case onto a further large-area side of the product block, which is opposite the large-area side of the product block at a distance from the latter, while the unit consisting of product block and collar blank is located on the transfer platform, preferably on the bottom side of the product block, in particular in contact with the further large-area side.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by a device for producing the aforementioned packaging having the features of claim 17.

The device therefore has a folding turret which is rotatable, in particular in a horizontal plane, and which has sockets for receiving the respective blanks for the outer package; preferably linear, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, stationary product block guide rails, along which the product blocks can be moved in the direction of the folding turret, in particular by means of a first movable product block driver; a folding station, in particular an initially flat collar blank, can be folded in the folding station such that two collar narrow side walls adjoining the large-area collar wall, in particular the front collar wall or the rear collar wall, which are connected to the large-area collar wall via a fold line in each case, extend at an angle, in particular substantially perpendicularly, to the large-area collar wall after folding, wherein the folding station is arranged upstream of the folding turret in the region of the stationary product block guide.

In this case, the folding station preferably has at least two folding devices spaced apart from one another, in particular designed as folding rails or folding walls, and a folding mechanism interacting with these folding devices, in particular movable to and fro centrally between the two folding devices.

In this case, the stationary product block guide can, as already explained above, have a sliding wall, which is arranged in particular in a horizontal plane, along the upper side of which the product blocks can be moved by means of a moving product block driver, in particular the sliding wall has a slot extending in the longitudinal direction, through which the product block driver extends.

The folding means can be designed as mutually spaced, stationary product block guides, in particular folding walls which extend at an angle, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the sliding walls, in particular are connected in one piece, preferably to the sliding walls, the spacing of which from one another at least in the (folding) region substantially corresponds to the width of the large-area collar wall of the collar blank, wherein the folding mechanism and the folding walls cooperate in such a way that an initially flat collar blank can be punched into the space between the two folding walls to form a U-shape.

The product piece carrier for carrying the unit of product pieces and collar blanks resting at least partially on the outside thereof can have a central carrier wall for carrying the product pieces along the stationary guide rail with the product pieces resting on the central carrier wall. In addition, in the present embodiment, the first product piece driver has smaller, lateral driver walls on both sides of the central driver wall, which driver walls are connected in particular in one piece with the central driver wall and project laterally beyond the central driver wall, for driving the corresponding collar narrow side wall and/or at least one smaller driver wall, which driver wall is connected in particular in one piece with the central driver wall and projects upwards or downwards beyond the central driver wall, for driving the large-area collar wall.

In the case of the fold walls, they can each have a recess extending in the longitudinal direction, in each case one of the lateral driver walls of the product piece driver extending in one of the recesses.

Preferably, recesses extending in the longitudinal direction are provided on both sides of the sliding wall of the fixed-position product block guide rail, each of the two smaller driver walls, which project downward from the central driver wall and are connected to the central driver wall, in particular in one piece, engaging in one of the recesses, while the first product block driver moves the unit consisting of product block and collar blank along the upper side of the sliding wall in the direction of the folding turret.

The folding device can be designed, in particular, as a folding rail, so that the collar blank can be placed onto the folding device in the region of its large-area collar wall, so that the collar narrow side walls, in particular with the associated narrow side walls abutting the product pieces in the folding station, can be folded into an angular position relative to the large-area collar wall by means of a folding mechanism that can be moved back and forth or by means of lateral folding switches.

In order to bridge the distance between the folding turret and the stationary product block guide, a transfer platform can be provided between the folding turret and the stationary product block guide, which is in particular movable to and fro in a horizontal plane, to which the product blocks together with the associated collar blanks can be transferred as a unit and by means of which the unit can be transported to the folding turret.

As far as the folding tracks are concerned, they can extend up into the area in which the unit consisting of product pieces and collar blanks is transferred to the transfer platform. The unit of product pieces and collar blanks can be transported by the first product piece carrier until it reaches the region, while the large-area collar wall is in sliding contact with the large-area side of the product piece, in particular with the upper side of the product piece, on the folding rail at a distance, wherein the folding rail is flattened in the region so that the collar blank is closer to the product piece during transport along the region.

The transfer platform can have a collar blank guide, which presses a large-area collar wall against the upper side of the product piece during the transfer of the unit consisting of product piece and collar blank to the transfer platform.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the transfer platform has folding means by means of which a collar rear wall of the collar blank adjoining the collar side walls and connected thereto via fold lines can be folded in each case onto a further, large-area side face opposite the large-area side face of the product piece, in particular onto a bottom side face of the product piece.

The transfer of the unit consisting of product pieces and collar blanks to the transfer platform can be effected here by means of a reciprocally movable product piece pusher, in particular by means of a first product piece pusher, which pushes the unit onto the transfer platform.

The transfer platform can preferably (also) have a product block guide with a sliding wall, which is arranged in particular in a horizontal plane, on the upper side of which the unit consisting of product blocks and collar blanks can be pushed by means of the moving first product block driver.

The product block guide of the transfer platform can have, on both sides of the sliding wall, in particular vertical, guide walls spaced apart from one another, between which the unit of product blocks and collar blanks is pushed by means of the first product block driver.

Preferably, the unit consisting of the product pieces and the collar blank can be moved from the transfer platform into the ready-to-use pocket of the folding turret by means of a second, reciprocatable product piece driver.

In the same way as the first product block driver, the second product block driver for driving the unit of product blocks and collar blanks can also have a central driver wall. The central driver wall serves to drive the product pieces along the product piece guide rails of the transfer platform when the product pieces are in contact with the central driver wall. In addition, the second product piece driver can have, on both sides of the central driver wall, smaller, lateral driver walls which are connected, in particular integrally connected, to the central driver wall and which project laterally beyond the central driver wall for driving the respective collar narrow side wall and/or at least one smaller driver wall which is connected, in particular integrally connected, to the central driver wall and which projects upward or downward from the central driver wall for driving the large-area collar wall.

On both sides of the sliding wall of the product block guide of the transfer platform, recesses extending in the longitudinal direction can be provided in each case, each of the two smaller catch walls, which project downwards beyond the central catch wall and are connected in particular in one piece, engaging in one of the recesses in each case, while the second product block catch moves the unit consisting of product block and collar blank along the upper side of the sliding wall into the pocket of the folding turret.

On both sides of the sliding wall of the fixed product block guide or of the product block guide of the transfer platform, recesses can be provided which extend in the longitudinal direction in each case for receiving an end section of a collar narrow side wall in each case and/or for receiving an end section of a collar rear wall adjoining the collar narrow side wall in each case and/or for providing a spacer section on the collar narrow side wall in each case, which spacer section in the final folded state of the collar exceeds in each case the plane of the large-area collar wall in the opposite direction to the collar narrow side wall.

Finally, as far as the aforementioned guide walls of the product block guide of the transfer platform are concerned, they can (also) each have a recess extending in the longitudinal direction, in each of which recess each of the lateral driver walls of the second product block driver extends.

Drawings

Further features of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the subsequent description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The attached drawings are as follows:

fig. 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of a package for rod-shaped tobacco industry products, which can be manufactured by means of a method according to the invention and an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a blank for a packaging collar of the package shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a part of the manufacturing process of the package that is of importance for the invention in perspective;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for carrying out the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 3;

fig. 5 shows a top view of the device in fig. 4 in perspective from a line of sight direction (from above) marked in fig. 1 with an arrow V;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along section line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along section line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view along the section line IX-IX in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view along section line X-X in FIG. 5;

figure 11 perspectively illustrates a second embodiment of a package for rod-shaped tobacco products;

FIG. 12 shows a collar blank for the package in FIG. 11 in a top view;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram of a method for manufacturing the package of FIG. 11 according to the present invention, similar to the diagram of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 perspectively illustrates an apparatus for performing the manufacturing process illustrated in FIG. 13;

fig. 15 shows a top view of the device in fig. 14 in perspective from a line of sight direction (from above) marked in fig. 14 with an arrow XV;

FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view along section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view along section line XVII-XVII in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional view along section line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view along section line XIX-XIX in FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view along section line XX-XX of FIG. 15;

figure 21 shows an oblique view of a variant of the third embodiment of the package for rod-shaped tobacco products, i.e. of the first embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2;

fig. 22 shows a variant of the fourth embodiment of a package for rod-shaped tobacco products, i.e. the second embodiment shown in fig. 11 and 12.

Detailed Description

The method and the apparatus shown in the figures are used for manufacturing a package 10 for rod-shaped products, in particular for the tobacco industry. In the present invention, this is used for (rod-shaped) tobacco rods of electronic cigarette heating devices ("heating non-burning cigarette"). However, the invention is not limited to such tobacco products, but can equally be used in standard cigarettes or other preferably rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry.

The package 10 in fig. 1 and 2 is manufactured according to a first embodiment of the method according to the invention and of the apparatus according to the invention corresponding to fig. 3 to 10.

These packages 10 each have an outer package 11 made of a form-stable material, such as cardboard, and an inner package 12 made of foil.

The outer package 11 has a (lower) box part 13 and a cover 14 which is pivotably hinged to the box part via a line hinge for opening or closing the outer package 11.

The inner package 12 has an inner wrapper 15 which surrounds a group of rod-shaped tobacco industry products as the package contents, which in the present case are square.

In the present case, the inner package 12 is designed as a so-called sealed package and has a removal opening 17 which is covered by a reusable seal 16. However, the present invention is not limited to such sealed packages.

In the present case, the inner package 12 has side seams in the form of wing seams 19 on both narrow sides 18.

In particular, in order to stabilize the inner wrapper 15 or the inner package 12, the inner wrapper or the inner package is surrounded in the state of being arranged in the outer package 11 by a packaging sleeve 20 which is fastened to the outer package 11 and which surrounds the inner package 12 on several sides, in the present case on the two narrow sides 18 and on the rear side 21 of the inner package 12.

The outer package 11 is produced in a manner known per se from an outer package blank 22 of a form-stable material (cardboard), in particular if different blank walls are folded about respective fold lines.

The collar 20 of the pack or outer package 11 is also produced from a corresponding blank, see fig. 2. The collar 20 or the collar blank has a large-area collar wall 23, which in the present exemplary embodiment forms the collar rear wall.

On opposite sides of the large-area collar wall 23, in each case one collar narrow side wall 24 is adjacent, which is connected to the large-area collar wall 23 via a fold line 25.

In the folded state of the collar 20, the two collar narrow side walls 24 each extend substantially perpendicularly to the large-area collar wall 23 or in a respective plane perpendicular to the plane of the large-area collar wall 23.

In the folded state of the collar 20 or in the case of the finished package 10, the collar narrow side walls 24 are each situated opposite one of the narrow side faces 18 of the inner package 12 and in particular cover the fin 19 of the inner package 12.

In the present case, spacers 26 are provided on the collar 20 along the two fold lines 25 of the collar 20, which spacers ensure that the collar 20, or in particular the large-area collar wall 23, is spaced apart from the large-area walls of the outer package 11 in the package 10, which are opposite the large-area collar wall 23 (parallel).

In the present case, the large-area wall of the outer package 11 is the rear wall of the outer package 11, which is formed by the box-part rear wall 63 and the flap rear wall 27, wherein the box-part rear wall 26 and the flap rear wall 27 are connected to one another by the aforementioned line hinge.

Fig. 3 to 10 relate to the inventive part of the manufacturing process of the package 10, namely: the inner package 12, which has been formed using known methods, is combined with a collar blank.

Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, how the inner packs 12, which are prefabricated during the pack production process by a machine known from the prior art and which is arranged upstream, are each conveyed as square product pieces 28 one after the other in the direction of a folding turret 30 (which in the present case moves in a horizontal plane). In the pockets 29 of the folding turret 30, the partially pre-folded blank 22 for the outer package 11 is prepared for each product piece 28, into which the respective (assigned) product piece 28 is pushed.

As is shown in particular in fig. 4, the illustrated production process proceeds in a twin-track manner. In the present case, the product pieces 28 are thus conveyed, for example, in a double-track fashion along two adjacent, separate, stationary product piece rails 32 in parallel in the direction of a folding turret 30, in which the blanks 22 are respectively prepared in two adjacent pockets 29. In the present case, the individual product pieces 28 are conveyed in each case with a longitudinal axis oriented in the conveying direction, i.e. perpendicular to the end and bottom walls of the respective inner package 12 forming the product pieces 28.

The relationships that are relevant for the invention are explained below, essentially by way of example, on the basis of only one production rail, wherein said relationships can be applied to the respective other rail.

In this case, each or the stationary product block guide 32 has a sliding wall 43, along which the product blocks 28 are supported on the upper side, which is horizontal in the present case, and along which the product blocks 28 are conveyed in the direction of the folding turret 30.

Transversely to each or the fixed product block guide 32, the respective bundles 20 are transported in succession along a horizontal transverse transport rail 33, which is located in a plane above the conveying plane of the product blocks 28, in each case to a transfer position arranged above the fixed product block guide 32, in which transfer position the bundles 20 are located above the respective fixed product block guide 32 or above the conveying plane of the product blocks 28.

In this case, the individual flat or unfolded blanks of the collar 20 are cut out of the continuous strip 34 of collar material, separated and fed to the transverse transport rails 33 in a manner known per se.

The respective blanks of the collar 20 in the transfer position are then transported downstream from the transfer position in a horizontal transport plane parallel to the respective positionally fixed product block guide 32 to a folding station 35. In the present case, this transport process is effected by means of a collar driver 36 in the form of a collar slide which is moved back and forth in the transport plane of the blank of the collar 20.

The bundles 20 arriving in each case at the folding station 35 are combined there with the product pieces 28 which are fed to the folding station 35 later. However, the blank of the collar 20 located in the folding station 35 is moved downward from its position above the fixed product block guide 32 in advance by the folding structure 37, which is in the present case designed as a punching mechanism and which is moved back and forth in a vertical plane perpendicular to the fixed product block guide 32, and is punched into the space between the folding means 38 by the cooperation of two parallel folding means 38 spaced apart from one another, specifically in the case of a U-shape.

In the present case, the folding means 38 are formed by two folding walls 39 arranged along the positionally fixed product block guide 32, spaced apart from one another and substantially vertical.

The fold walls 39 each extend substantially perpendicularly to the product piece guide on both sides thereof, wherein the distance between the two fold walls 39 corresponds at least in the fold region 40 approximately to the width/lateral extent of the large-area front face 41 of the inner package 12 or of the inner package 12/product piece 28.

Before the folding mechanism 37 presses the blank of the collar 20 downward into the space between the two folding walls 39, the (flat) collar 20 is placed on the horizontal support surface 42, which in the present case is formed by the folding walls 39, on both sides, i.e. at least in the region of the collar narrow side walls 24, transversely to the fixed-position product block guide 32 (above it). In this case, the bundle jacket is positioned such that the large-area bundle jacket wall 23 is arranged between the fold walls 39.

The large-area collar wall 32 is then pressed between the folding walls 39 by the folding mechanism 37 of the folding station 35 and in this case the collar narrow side walls 24 are folded back about the folding lines 25 relative to the large-area collar wall 23 as a result of the contact with the folding walls 39 and are each folded into an angled, in the present case vertical position relative to the large-area collar wall 23, see fig. 8.

The blank of the collar 20 is punched into the space between the collar walls 39 to such an extent that the large-area collar wall 23 is arranged after punching below and parallel to the bottom side of the product block 28, which is joined to the folded collar 20 in a next step. In the present case below the rear face 21 of the inner package 12 constituting the product piece 28. The collar 20 is then ready in this position to be integrated with the product piece 28 still upstream.

Furthermore, each folding wall 39 has a (small) step, which covers the respective collar narrow side wall 24 upwards, above the respective exposed (horizontal) longitudinal edge of the two collar narrow side walls 24. This step ensures that the collar 20 remains in position when the folding mechanism 37 is returned into the initial position (i.e. upward) immediately after the punching process, even if the collar 20 is exposed to the risk of being lifted upward from the illustrated position or being carried away, for example as a result of static loading of the folding mechanism 37. The exposed longitudinal edges then each impinge on a respective step of the respective folded wall 39 or on a portion covering the respective longitudinal edge, thereby preventing further movement of the collar 20.

Along the sliding wall 43 of the fixed product block guide 32, the product blocks 28 are conveyed by the first product block driver 44 to the folding station 35 and assembled there into a unit such that the two collar narrow side walls 24 of the blanks of the collars 20 each face the respective narrow side 18 of the product blocks 28, in particular lie opposite them parallel to the latter 28. In contrast, the large-area collar wall 23 is arranged parallel to the bottom side of the product pieces 28 or parallel to the rear wall of the inner package 12.

In addition, the first product piece driver 44 is in the present case a component of a continuous conveyor 45 (in the present case a belt conveyor) which is arranged below the sliding wall 43 and on which a plurality of first product piece drivers 44 are arranged at a distance from one another, in particular by being fastened to a circulating continuous belt 46. In this case, the first product block driver 44 in each case passes through a longitudinal slot 47 in the sliding wall 43 and first drives the product block 28 along itself to the folding station 35.

During the transport of the product pieces 28 by the first product piece driver 44, they rest against a central driver wall 48 of the first product piece driver 44, which is arranged between the folding walls 39 and moves between them accordingly.

After the above-described assembly of the product pieces 28 with the collar 20 in the folding station 35, the unit consisting of the product pieces 28 and the collar 20 is transported further by the first product piece driver 44 along the stationary product piece guide rail 32 into the region of the transfer platform 49 which moves back and forth in the horizontal plane.

The transfer platform 49 serves to overcome the distance between the end or end region of the (respectively) positionally fixed product block guide 32 and the folding turret 30. The transfer platform 49, as is known to those skilled in the art, is likewise not an obligatory component of the invention, which in particular reciprocates between the folding turret 30 and the aforementioned end regions of the fixed product block guide 32.

The unit consisting of product pieces 28 and collar 20 is transferred to a transfer platform 49, in a manner which will be described in more detail later on, then transported from the transfer platform 49 to the folding turret 25 and finally introduced from the transfer platform 49 into the blank 22 for the outer package 11 which is ready in the respective folding turret pocket 29.

In order to transport the unit of product pieces 28 and collar 20 in the direction of transfer platform 49, first product piece driver 44 has lateral driver walls 50 on both sides of central driver wall 48, which are smaller than central driver wall 48 and can be connected in one piece with central driver wall 48 and protrude laterally beyond it.

During the transport of the product pieces 28 together with the associated collar 20, the exposed (vertical) end edges of the collar narrow side walls 24 each bear against the lateral driver walls 50 and are driven by these.

During the aforementioned movement, the lateral driver walls 50 each extend in an associated recess 51 in the respective fold wall 39, which recess extends in the longitudinal direction.

On both sides of the sliding wall 43, recesses 52 are provided, each extending in the longitudinal direction, into which the spacers 26, which project downward from the plane of the large-area collar wall 23 in the folded state of the collar 20 during the aforementioned transport movement, are received.

The unit consisting of the product pieces 28 and the collar 20 is later transferred to a transfer station 49 in such a way that: the first product block driver 44 pushes the unit with the transfer platform 49 ready in the transfer area into the product block guide 53 of the transfer platform 49 (which is not fixed in position in each case and moves with the transfer platform there).

In a similar manner to the positionally fixed product block guide 32, the product block guide 53 of the transfer table 49 has a sliding wall 54 which has a (horizontal) upper side on which the product block 28 together with the collar 20 rests after the push-in process has been completed.

As can be seen in fig. 9, the product piece guide 53 has spaced-apart lateral guide walls 55 (the spacing corresponds substantially to the width of the product piece or of the large front or rear side of the inner package 12) which extend perpendicularly to the sliding walls 54.

In the guide wall 55, recesses 56 extending in the longitudinal direction are also provided on both sides of the sliding wall 54, in which recesses the spacers 26 of the collar 20 are located.

However, these recesses 56 have an additional effect in the region of the transfer platform 49. Since the transfer platform 49 is assigned a second product piece entrainment member 57, which in the present case is in particular a component of the rotary slide 58 and which, after the transfer platform 49 has moved from its initial position, in which it receives the unit, against the distance between the folding turret 30 and the end region of the fixed product piece guide rail 32, to a transfer region adjacent to the folding turret 30, ensures that the unit consisting of the product pieces 28 and the collar 20 is slid from the transfer platform 49 into the pocket 29 of the folding turret 30.

This is done as follows: i.e. the second product block driver 57, moves the unit of product blocks 28 and collar 20 along the sliding wall 53.

Similarly to the first product block driver 44, the second product block driver 57 also has a central driver wall 59 and two smaller driver walls 60 projecting laterally therefrom on both sides of the central driver wall 59.

During the movement of the product piece carrier 57 relative to the transfer platform 49, the lateral carrier walls 60 again project into corresponding recesses 61 in the guide wall 55, which recesses extend in the longitudinal direction.

In the present case, however, the product piece driver 57 additionally has at least one, preferably at least two, smaller driver walls 62 which project downward beyond the central driver wall 59 and each project into one of the recesses 56 and against which the horizontal edge of the large-area collar wall 23 rests during the transport of the unit consisting of the product pieces 28 and the collars 20 and which guide this edge and drive this edge and the corresponding collar 20 with it.

After the product block 28 has been pushed in with the collar 20 placed thereon, the collar 20 is connected, in a manner known per se, in particular glued, to the blank 22 of the outer package 11.

Furthermore, the folding turret 30 or the corresponding socket 29 of the folding turret 30 is provided with a folding mechanism 63 in a manner known per se, which further performs a specific further folding operation on the blank 22, see fig. 10. Additional steps for finishing the package 10 are not shown, but are known in the art.

Of course, a modified packaging with respect to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2 can also be produced by means of the method described above or the apparatus described.

One (but only) example of such a modified package is shown in fig. 21. Except for the construction of the collar 20, it corresponds to the package of fig. 1 and 2. As can be seen, the collar narrow side walls 24 do not extend over substantially the entire width of the respective narrow side 18 of the inner package 12 in the region visible to the consumer, but only over a partial width, in the present case approximately only over half the width. However, the lateral slots 19, which extend at least to the respective narrow side 18, respectively, are still covered.

In the present case, the collar 20 is formed exactly in u-shape and furthermore has no spacer 26.

A second embodiment of the package 10 according to fig. 11 and 12 and of the method according to the invention according to fig. 13 to 20 or of the apparatus according to the invention by means of which the package 10 can be produced is described below. In this case, differences from the first exemplary embodiment according to fig. 1 to 10 are shown, unless otherwise stated. Packaging features, method steps and apparatus features not explicitly mentioned correspond, as long as not stated otherwise, to the packaging features, method steps and apparatus features of fig. 1 to 10.

The package of fig. 11 differs from the package of fig. 1 only in the package collar 20. Referring to fig. 12, the packing collar 20 is configured as a so-called C-collar or wrap-around collar. In this case, in the flat blank of the collar 20, the collar narrow side walls 24 extend substantially at an angle to the large-area collar walls 23. Furthermore, a collar rear wall 65 is connected to each collar narrow side wall 24 via a respective further fold line 64, or the collar rear wall is connected to the respective collar narrow side wall 24.

In the folded state of the collar 20, the large-area collar wall 23 does not rest against the rear side 21 of the inner packaging 12 or lies opposite it, as in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1, but rather (rests) against the front side 41. Accordingly, the large-area collar wall 23 forms the collar front wall in the present case. In this case, due to the special design as a winding collar, the front wall of the collar lies (only) opposite or in contact with the lower region of the front face 41 of the inner package 12, so that the removal opening 17 of the inner package 12 and the seal 16 are not covered or "disturbed" in any way by the collar 20.

In the case of the collar 20 of fig. 11 and 12, the spacer 26 is not provided on the fold line 25, but on the fold line 64. However, they serve the same purpose, namely to space the packaging sleeve at a distance from the rear wall of the outer package 11. In this case, collar rear wall 65 is in the folded state of collar 20 at a position spaced apart from the rear wall of outer package 11 by the distance 26, i.e. parallel thereto (in the closed state of package 10).

The manufacturing method or apparatus for manufacturing the embodiment of the package 10 of fig. 11, 12 is also different from the manufacturing method or apparatus for manufacturing the package of fig. 1, 2 based on the particular collar shape, to be precise, in particular, in terms of the processing or handling of the respective collar 20.

In contrast to fig. 3 to 10, in the present case the packaging sleeve 20 is folded in a folding station 35, while the respective product piece 28 is located directly below the sleeve 20. In other words, rather than first folding the collar 20 and subsequently feeding the associated product piece 28 to the ready-to-use, folded collar 20 for joining therewith, the collar 20 and the associated product piece are already in the same position relative to the fixed product piece guide rail 32 during folding (while the collar 20 is in the plane above the associated product piece 28).

Furthermore, the folding of the collar 20 of the embodiment of fig. 11 to 20 in the folding station 35 is not carried out between two folding means 38 spaced apart at a distance, but externally around these. In this case, the folding means 38 are designed, in particular in the present case, as folding rails 66, see fig. 18, which extend parallel to one another at a distance, see fig. 18, to be precise (slightly) above the upper side of the product block 28, are each pressed (slightly) laterally inward relative to the narrow side 18 of the product block 28, so that their mutual distance is slightly smaller than the width or lateral extent of the product block 18.

The initially flat collar 20 is placed onto these folding rails 66 (in the transverse direction). The collar is positioned such that the collar 20 rests on the folding rail 66 in the region of its large-area collar wall 23, in the present case directly adjacent to the folding line 25.

By means of the reciprocating folding mechanism 37, which in the present exemplary embodiment is configured substantially in the form of a U in cross section, the two collar narrow side walls 24 are each folded in the folding station 35 from the outside about the folding rail 66 down about the folding line 25 into an angled, in particular vertical position relative to the large-area collar wall 23.

As already explained, the product pieces 28 are located below the blank of the collar 20 during this folding process, so that the two collar narrow side walls 24 of the blank of the collar 20 are each folded in the direction of the respective narrow side 18 of the inner package 12 or of the product pieces 28.

During and after this folding process, the large-area collar wall 23 is spaced apart from the large-area, upwardly pointing front face 41 of the inner package 12 or the upper side of the product pieces 28, since it is still supported on the folding rail 66.

As shown in fig. 18, the stationary product block guide 32 is not correspondingly assigned any folding walls, which are arranged at a distance from one another and extend vertically to the sliding wall 43, in the region of the folding station 35.

However, curved guide walls 67 are provided laterally, along which the respective collar narrow side wall 24 (together with the collar rear wall 65 connected thereto) is guided during the folding process.

The recess 52 is not intended in the present exemplary embodiment to receive the spacer 26, but rather to receive a collar rear wall 65 projecting downward from the bottom side of the product block 28, i.e., in the present case from the rear face 21 of the inner package 12 or of the product block 28.

As in the case of the embodiment of fig. 1 to 10, after the folding process described, the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 (in the case of collar 20 resting on folding rail 66) is moved in the direction of transfer platform 49 by first product block driver 44.

In this case, since the large-area sleeve wall is located in the present exemplary embodiment above the product block 28 (on the folding rail 66), the product block driver 44 does not have any smaller driver walls 62 which extend downward beyond the central driver wall 48, but rather correspondingly has at least one, preferably at least two, smaller driver walls 70 which extend upward beyond the central driver wall 48 and against which the sleeve 20, i.e. the horizontal edge of the large-area sleeve wall 23, rests during the transport of the product block 28 and which drive the edge or the sleeve 20 with it.

The folding track 66 extends until it enters a transfer area, in which the unit consisting of the product pieces 28 and the collar 20 is transferred onto the transfer platform 49.

In the last section of the transfer platform, i.e. in the aforementioned transfer region, the folding track 66 is of flattened design, i.e. reduced in its thickness, in relation to the preceding section, so that the collar 20 is closer to the product piece 28 during transport along this section with its spacing from the upper side of the product piece 28 or the front of the inner package 12 being reduced.

The transfer platform 49 has a collar blank guide 68, in the present case designed as an angularly disposed folding rail, which presses the large-area collar wall 23 against the upper side of the product piece 28 during the transfer of the unit consisting of the product piece 28 and the collar 20 onto the transfer platform 49, see fig. 17.

Furthermore, the transfer platform 49 in the present exemplary embodiment also has folding means 69, in the present case a rear wall folding device which is movable in the horizontal plane and which folds the respective collar rear wall 65 of the blank of the collar onto the rear side of the inner package 12 or the bottom side of the product piece 28, respectively, see fig. 15 and 19.

As an alternative, it is of course also conceivable that the aforementioned folding process is not carried out in the region of the transfer platform 49, but already in the region of the product block guide 32, for example by means of a suitable (active) folding mechanism or (passive) folding switch. The transfer platform 49 can then either only serve as a transport mechanism or even be completely eliminated in that: the product pieces 28 together with the collar 20 are transferred directly from the product piece guide 32 onto the folding turret 30.

Of course, a modified package with respect to the second embodiment shown in fig. 11 and 12 can also be produced by means of the aforementioned method or the aforementioned apparatus.

One (but only) example of such a modified package is shown in fig. 22. Except for the construction of the collar 20, it corresponds to the package of fig. 11 and 12. As can be seen, the collar-side narrow walls 24 are each formed in the upper or consumer-visible region in such a way that they cover only the respective lateral slots 19 of the respective narrow side 18 of the inner package 12, while the collar-side narrow walls 24 of the embodiment of fig. 11 and 12 each cover a further (front) partial section of the respective narrow side 18. Finally, the collar 20 also does not have any spacer 26 in this embodiment.

List of reference numerals

10 packaging

11 outer package

12 inner package

13 overwrapped box component

14 top cover of outer package

15 inner cladding

16 facing slip

17 extraction opening

18 narrow sides of inner package

19 wing seam

20 packing collar

21 back of inner package

22 blank of an outer package

23 large area bundle jacket wall

Narrow side wall of 24-bundle sleeve

25 fold line

26 space segment

27 rear wall of top cover

28 product block

29 socket

30 folding turret

32 product block guide rail

33 transverse transport rail

34 bundle sleeve material rail

35 folding station

36-bundle sleeve driving piece

37 folding mechanism

38 folding device

39 folding wall

40 fold area

41 front face of inner package

42 bearing surface

43 sliding wall

44 first product block driving means

45 continuous conveyer

46 continuous belt

47 longitudinal slot of sliding wall

48 center driver wall

49 transfer platform

50 lateral driver wall

51 recess

52 recess

53 product block guide rail

54 sliding wall

55 guide wall

56 recess

57 second product block driving means

58 sliding part

59 central driver wall

60 lateral driver wall

61 recess

Catch wall at the lower part of 62

63 rear wall of box

Folding line of 64-winding type collar

65 bundle sleeve back wall

66 folding rail

67 guide wall

68 harness sleeve blank guide device

69 rear wall folding device

70, the upper driver wall.

Claims

1. Method for producing a package, in particular for rod-shaped tobacco products, having an outer package (11) consisting of a blank made of a dimensionally stable material, in which a product group in an inner wrapper (15) is arranged as a product block (28), in particular in the form of a square-shaped product block (28), preferably a product block (28) in the form of a sealed block made of foil, having a removal opening (17) for the product covered by a reclosable seal (16), wherein the product block (28) is fed together with a sleeve blank for forming a sleeve (20) of the outer package (11) to the partially folded blank for forming the outer package (11) ready in a pocket (29) of a folding turret (30), preferably in a horizontal plane, in particular at least in a section along a stationary product block guide (32), In particular by means of a first product block driver (44) which moves the product block (28) along the stationary product block guide (32), wherein the initially preferably flat collar blank is folded upstream of the folding turret (30) such that two collar narrow side walls (24) adjoining the large-area collar wall (23), in particular the front collar wall or the rear collar wall, of the collar blank, which are connected to the large-area collar wall in each case via fold lines, extend at an angle, in particular substantially perpendicularly, to the large-area collar wall (23) after folding, and the collar blank is placed against the product block (28) upstream of the folding turret (30) such that the two collar narrow side walls (24) each rest against a corresponding narrow side face (18) of the product block (28), wherein the folding of the collar blank takes place at a folding station (35), the folding station is arranged in the region of the stationary product block guide (32).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding of the collar blank in the folding station (35) takes place under the co-action of two mutually spaced-apart folding means (38), in particular folding rails or folding walls, of the folding station (35), which folding means interact with a folding mechanism (37), preferably configured as a punching mechanism, which folding mechanism in particular reciprocates centrally between the folding means (38), in particular in a plane perpendicular to the positionally fixed product block guide rails (32), preferably in a vertical plane, or interacts with positionally fixed folding switches.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeve blanks, in particular at an angle to the stationary product block guide rails (32) or transversely thereto, and preferably in a conveying plane arranged above the conveying plane of the product blocks (28), are conveyed into a joining position upstream of the folding station (35), in particular arranged above the stationary product block guide rails (32), and then the sleeve blanks are conveyed from the joining position into the folding station (35), in particular supported on the stationary sleeve guide rails above the stationary product block guide rails (32), along a conveying section extending parallel to the product block guide rails, preferably above the stationary product block guide rails (32), in particular by means of a separate, moving sleeve driver (36), The blanks are preferably transported along a slide which moves a stationary sleeve guide or by means of a first product block driver (44) which moves the product block (28) along the product block guide in the direction of the folding turret.

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve blank is placed at least partially against the inner package (12) in the region of the stationary product piece guide (32), in particular in or downstream of the folding station (35).

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product pieces (28) together with the sleeve blanks folded in the folding station (35) are fed as a unit to a transfer platform (49) which is moved back and forth, in particular in a horizontal plane, receives the product pieces (28) and the folded sleeve blanks and is then moved in the direction of the folding turret (30) to the folding turret, and the product pieces (28) together with the sleeve blanks are introduced, in particular by means of a further or second product piece entrainment member (57), preferably configured as a slide, from the transfer platform into a pocket (29) of the folding turret (30) facing the transfer platform (49), in which the blanks for forming the outer package (11) of the package are ready.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 2, characterized in that the folding of the collar blank is carried out in a folding station (35) in such a way that the reciprocating folding mechanism (37) presses the initially flat collar blank into the space between mutually spaced-apart folding means (38), in particular from above, to form a U-shape.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the folding means (38) of the folding station (35) are formed by two folding walls (39) spaced apart from one another, which extend at an angle to the product block guide (32), in particular substantially perpendicularly, on both sides of the product block guide (32), wherein the spacing of the two folding walls (39) from one another at least in a (folding) region (40) substantially corresponds to the width of the large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank, wherein,

a) positioning the initially flat collar blank, in particular supported on the two fold walls (39), such that the large-area collar wall (23) is arranged between the fold walls (39), and

b) the reciprocating folding mechanism (37) then presses, in particular presses, the collar blank down into the space between the two folding walls (39), so that the large-area collar wall (23) is guided between the folding walls (39) and the collar narrow side walls (24) are folded back relative to the large-area collar wall (23) due to the contact with the folding walls (39) and are folded into an angled position relative to the large-area collar wall (23).

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the product piece (28) is located upstream of the folding station (35) or upstream of the collar blank with respect to its position along the product piece guide (32) during the stamping process, such that the large-area collar wall (23) is arranged below and parallel to a bottom side of the product piece (28), in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, after stamping and is ready in this position, and in that the product piece (28) is moved along the product piece guide (32) toward the ready collar blank and assembled into a unit with the collar blank, in particular by means of a first product piece entrainment member (44), such that the two collar narrow side walls (24) of the collar blank each face the respective narrow side (18) of the product piece (28), in particular lie against there, and the large-area bundle jacket wall (23) faces the bottom side of the product block (28), in particular rests against it.

9. Method according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the product pieces (28) are then transported as a unit together with the collar blanks resting on the product pieces to a transfer platform (49) and transferred as a unit onto the transfer platform, in particular by means of a moving transfer mechanism, preferably a first product piece catch (44).

10. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding of the collar blank is carried out in such a way that, in a folding station (35), the initially flat collar blank is placed over its large-area collar wall (23) region, in particular from above, onto mutually spaced-apart folding means (38), in particular constructed as folding rails (66), and then the two collar narrow side walls (24) are each folded over from the outside about the folding means (38), in particular downward into an angled position relative to the large-area collar wall (23), in particular by means of a reciprocating folding mechanism (37) or by means of folding switches.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the product piece (28) is located beside, in particular below, the collar blank with respect to its position along the product piece guide rail (32) during the folding process, so that the two collar narrow side walls (24) of the collar blank are each folded in the direction of, in particular against, the respective narrow side (18) of the product piece (28).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the large-area collar wall (23) is arranged at a distance from the large-area, in particular upward-facing, side of the product piece (28) during and after the folding process.

13. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each collar narrow side wall (24) is guided along a respective, laterally curved guide surface during the folding process.

14. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 12, characterized in that the collar blank together with the product pieces (28) is transported as a unit to a transfer platform (49) while maintaining the spacing between the large-area collar wall (23) and the large-area side of the product pieces (28), in particular by means of a moving first product piece carrier (44).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the product pieces (28) and the sleeve blanks are transferred as a unit to a transfer platform (49), wherein the sleeve blanks are brought close to the product pieces (28) in the transfer region, in particular lowered onto the product pieces, so that the large-area sleeve wall (23) abuts against the large-area side of the product pieces (28) after the lowering process has ended.

16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collar rear wall (65) adjoining the collar narrow side walls (24), in particular connected thereto via in each case one fold line, is folded in each case onto a further large-area side of the product piece (28) which is opposite the large-area side of the product piece (28) at a distance from it, while the unit consisting of product piece (28) and collar blank is located on the transfer platform (49), preferably on the bottom side of the product piece (28), in particular resting against the further large-area side.

17. Apparatus for producing a package for tobacco industry products, in particular in rod form, in particular for carrying out a method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the package has an outer package (11) consisting of a blank made of a dimensionally stable material, in which a product group in an inner wrapper (15) is provided as a product block (28), in particular in the form of a square, preferably configured as a sealing block made of foil, with a removal opening (17) for the product covered by a reclosable stamp (16), wherein the outer package (11) has a collar (20) made of a collar blank; the device comprises a folding turret (30) that can be rotated, in particular, in a horizontal plane, and that has sockets (29) for receiving in each case one blank for the outer package (11); the device has a preferably linear, in particular stationary, product piece guide (32) arranged in a horizontal plane, along which the product pieces (28) can be moved, in particular by means of a first movable product piece driver (44), in the direction of the folding turret (30); and having a folding station (35) in which the collar blank, in particular initially flat, can be folded such that two collar narrow side walls (24) adjoining the large-area collar wall (23), in particular the front collar wall or the rear collar wall, which are connected to the large-area collar wall via fold lines in each case, extend at an angle, in particular substantially perpendicularly, to the large-area collar wall (23) after folding, wherein the folding station (35) is arranged upstream of the folding turret (30) in the region of the stationary product piece guide (32).

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the folding station (35) has at least two folding means (38) at a distance from one another, in particular in the form of folding rails or folding walls, and a folding mechanism (37) interacting with the folding means, in particular centrally reciprocable between the folding means (38).

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that the stationary product piece guide rail (32) has a sliding wall (43), which is arranged in particular in a horizontal plane, along the upper side of which the product pieces (28) can be moved by means of a movable first product piece entrainment member (44), in particular the sliding wall (43) having a slot extending in the longitudinal direction, through which the first product piece entrainment member (44) extends.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the folding means (38) are designed as folding walls (39) which are spaced apart from one another and which extend at an angle, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the sliding walls (43), preferably are connected to the sliding walls (43), in particular in one piece, the spacing of the folding walls from one another at least in the (folding) region substantially corresponding to the width of the large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank, wherein the folding mechanism (37) and the folding walls (39) cooperate in such a way that an initially flat collar blank can be punched into the space between the two folding walls (39) to form a U-shape.

21. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 20, characterized in that a first product block driver (44) for driving a unit of product blocks (28) and a sleeve blank which rests at least partially on the outside of the product blocks has a central driver wall (48) for driving the product blocks (28) along the stationary guide rail with the product blocks resting on the central driver wall (48), and on both sides of the central driver wall (48) there are smaller, lateral driver walls (50) which are connected, in particular integrally, to the central driver wall (48) and project laterally beyond the central driver wall for driving the respective sleeve narrow side walls (24) and/or which have a connecting, in particular integrally, to the central driver wall (48), At least one smaller driver wall (62) projecting upward or downward from the central driver wall for driving the large-area collar wall (23).

22. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the fold walls (39) each have a recess (51) extending in the longitudinal direction, in one of which recesses each of the lateral driver walls (50) of the first product piece driver (44) extends.

23. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 22, characterized in that a recess (52) extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on each side of the sliding wall (43) of the stationary product piece guide rail (32), in each case one of which recesses each of the two smaller catch walls, which project downwards beyond the central catch wall, is in particular connected in one piece with the central catch wall (48), engages in each case one recess, while the first product piece catch (44) moves the unit consisting of product pieces and collar blanks along the upper side of the sliding wall (43) in the direction of the folding turret (30).

24. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 18 to 23, characterized in that the folding means (38) are configured, in particular as folding rails (66), such that the collar blank can be placed onto its large-area collar wall (23) in the region of the latter, so that the collar narrow side walls (24) can be folded into an angled position relative to the large-area collar wall (23) by means of a reciprocally movable folding mechanism (37) or by means of lateral folding switches, in particular while bearing against corresponding narrow side walls (18) of the product block (28) in the folding station (35).

25. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 24, characterized in that a transfer platform (49), which is movable in particular to and fro in a horizontal plane, is provided between the folding turret (30) and the stationary product block guide (32) in order to bridge the distance between the folding turret (30) and the stationary product block guide (32), onto which transfer platform the product blocks (28) together with the associated collar blanks can be transferred as a unit and transported by means of the transfer platform to the folding turret (30).

26. The apparatus according to claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the folding rail (66) extends as far as into a region in which the unit consisting of the product pieces (28) and the sleeve blanks is transferred onto the transfer platform (49), the unit consisting of the product pieces (28) and the sleeve blanks can be transported by the first product piece carrier (44) as far as into the region, while the large-area sleeve wall (23) lies on the folding rail (66) in sliding abutment at a distance from a large-area side of the product pieces (28), in particular from an upper side of the product pieces (28), and the folding rail (66) is flattened in the region, so that the sleeve blanks are guided closer to the product pieces (28) during transport along the region.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has a collar blank guide (68) which presses the large-area collar wall (23) against the upper side of the product piece (28) with the unit consisting of product piece (28) and collar blank transferred to the transfer platform (49).

28. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has folding means (69), by means of which a collar rear wall (65) of the collar blank adjoining the collar narrow side (24), which collar narrow side (24) is connected to the collar narrow side (24) via a fold line, can be folded in each case onto a further, large-area side opposite the large-area side of the product piece (28), in particular onto a bottom side of the product piece (28).

29. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 28, at least according to claim 25, characterized in that the transfer of the unit consisting of product pieces and sleeve blanks to the transfer platform (49) is effected by means of a reciprocally movable product piece pusher (44) which pushes the unit onto the transfer platform, in particular by means of the first product piece pusher (44).

30. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 29, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has a product block guide (53) which has a sliding wall (54), in particular arranged in one horizontal plane, on the upper side of which the unit consisting of product blocks (28) and collar blanks can be pushed by means of a first product block catch (44).

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the product piece guide rails (53) of the transfer platform (49) have, on both sides of a sliding wall (54), in particular vertical, mutually spaced guide walls (55), between which the unit consisting of product pieces and sleeve blanks is pushed by means of a first product piece entrainment member (44).

32. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 31, at least according to claim 25, characterized in that the unit consisting of the product pieces (28) and the bundle sleeve blank can be moved from the transfer platform (49) into the ready socket (29) of the folding turret (30) by means of a reciprocally movable second product piece driver (57).

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a second product piece entrainment member (57) for entraining the unit of product pieces and sleeve blanks has a central entrainment member wall (59) for entraining the product pieces (28) along the product piece guide rails (53) of the transfer platform (49) with the product pieces (28) abutting against the central entrainment member wall (59); and on both sides of the central driver wall (59) there is a smaller, lateral driver wall (60) which is connected, in particular integrally, to the central driver wall (59) and projects laterally beyond the central driver wall for driving the respective collar narrow side wall (24) and/or at least one smaller driver wall (62) which is connected, in particular integrally, to the central driver wall (59) and projects upward or downward beyond the central driver wall for driving the large-area collar wall (23).

34. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 33, at least according to claim 30, characterized in that a recess (56) extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on each side of the sliding wall (54) of the product piece guide (53) of the transfer platform (49), in each case one of which recesses is embedded in each case one of two smaller driver walls (62) which project downwards beyond the central driver wall and are connected in particular in one piece with the central driver wall (59), while the second product piece driver (57) moves the unit consisting of product pieces (28) and collar blanks along the upper side of the sliding wall (54) into the socket (29) of the folding turret (30).

35. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 34, characterized in that recesses (52, 56) extending in the longitudinal direction are provided on both sides of the sliding walls (43, 54) of the product block guide (32) or of the product block guide (53) of the transfer platform (49) for receiving an end section of a collar narrow side wall (24) and/or for receiving an end section of a collar rear wall (65) adjoining the collar narrow side wall (24) and/or for receiving a spacer section (26) provided on each collar narrow side wall (24), respectively, which in the final folded state of the collar (20) projects beyond the plane of the large-area collar wall (23) in the opposite direction to the collar narrow side wall (24), respectively.