EP0135818B1 - Method and device for enveloping cigarette packages in sheets - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for wrapping packs in blanks, in particular 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. The film cut is predominantly when wrapping the pack, (see e.g. AT-A-293 281 or GB-A-2 003 817) starting from one long side of the (cuboid) pack, U-shaped around it, see above that cut parts protrude beyond 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, 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 the disadvantages of mechanical stress resulting from excessive conveying speeds of the sensitive (cigarette) packs.

To achieve the above object, it is proposed according to the invention that at least two packs simultaneously form a series of packs lying one behind the other with transverse spacing

conveyed, a common, appropriately dimensioned overall blank is folded around both packs and, after forming a blank tube, is cut through by connecting overlapping tubular tabs in the area between the packs.

According to the method according to the invention, work is therefore carried out 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 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.

After the U-shaped folding over of the entire blank, a blank tube of corresponding length is formed according to the invention by overlapping edge-side tube tabs and connecting them to one another. There is now a three-dimensional shaped overall blank which can be severed in the area between the packs which are kept at a distance without the packs or the sheet blanks now obtained being displaced relative to one another.

Preferably, before forming the blanking tube, front end flaps of the entire blank that protrude on the long sides in the transport direction 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 blank or a material web for forming the blanks is provided with a pre-cut at a suitable point, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the material web or in the transport direction of the overall blank and approximately there in the middle thereof separates side folds to be folded.

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 the (tubular) overall blank in the area of a separating station severed.

Further details of the invention relate to the design of the (overall) blank, the device for preparing the same or for pretreating the material web, the design of the revolver and the downstream conveying and folding members.

• 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 inperspektivischer 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:

• Fig. 1 shows a section of a vertical
• conveyed material web with two packs to be wrapped in
• perspective view,
• 2 two packs after partial wrapping by a total cut, also perspective view,
• 3 shows a phase during the production of the individual blanks for each pack by means of a cutting knife,
• Fig. 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 packs 10 and 11 arranged at a distance from one another are aligned in the transverse direction and fed at a distance from one another and are wrapped together in a correspondingly dimensioned overall blank 18. 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 twice the 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 location. 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 from 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 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 of a revolver 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 transport of the entire blank 18 in the area on both sides of the feed conveyor 31 takes place by means of conveyor belts loaded with suction air, namely two perforated belts 38 and 39 running at a distance from one another Suction air can take place in a suitable manner, in particular in the version of DE-OS-2 530 992. The perforated belts 38, 39 are guided below the feed conveyor 31 via an upper deflecting roller 40 and a lower, not shown corresponding deflecting roller.

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 wrapped at the same time. 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 in the region of the perforated belts 38 which subsequently capture the material web 21 , 39. 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. The Overall blank 18 is placed in a U-shape around the packs 10, 11 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 tubular tabs 23 and 24 are folded against the associated longitudinal side 17, first of all 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 and concentrically to it - in the illustration in FIG 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. In the present exemplary embodiment, the sealing strip 55 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, rotatably driven, thin cutting knife 59 enters the revolver 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 penetration of the cutting knife 59 with the required depth into the turret 35 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 in the pocket 34. The packs 10, 11 with the film blanks 19 are moved by a pusher 65 which can be moved in a suitable manner in the radial direction , 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 side end flaps 30 now lying forward when the packs 10, 11 are ejected from the turret 35 against the associated end faces 14 and 15. In the further course, namely through the transport within the discharge path 66, the lower longitudinal end flap 26 is in the present case against the Folded end face 14, 15 by a fixed folding switch 68.

An upward-facing 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 means of a plunger. 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 folding members, although the unit of the overall blank 18 still exists. The pockets 34 of the turret 35 are equipped with shift fingers 71 and 72 for this purpose. These folding members form the side delimitation 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 formed in this way, the side end flaps 27, 28 lying in the direction of insertion are folded over by the folding fingers 71 and 72 on the sides. 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 folds 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 (13)

1. Method of wrapping packets in blanks, especially cigarette packets in film blanks, which are folded round in U-shape around the packets being conveyed relatively to them, and thereafter are fully folded, chartaracterised in that at least two packets (10, 11) are conveyed simultaneously to form a series of packets lying in succession, with a transverse spacing between them, a common, correspondingly dimensioned overall blank (18) is folded around the two packets (10, 11), and, after formation of a tubular blank by connection together of overlapping tube flaps (23, 24), the blank is cut through in the area between packets (10, 11).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that lateral end flaps (27, 28) of the overall blank (18), which are leading in the direction of movement and project at the sides, can be folded against end faces (14, 15) of the packet (10, 11) by a folder (71, 72), while a preliminary cut (29) is made in the overall blank or in the web (21) of material, approximately centrally between adjacent packets (10, 11), in such a way that the lateral end flaps (27) which are adjacent to one another can be folded against the associated end faces (14, 15) of the packet (10.11).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the preliminary cuts (29) are made in the web (21) of material for manufacture of the overall blanks (18) or in the overall blanks (18), before reception of the latter by the packets (10, 11

4. Apparatus for wrapping of packets (10, 11) in blanks, especially of cigarette packets in film blanks, which can be folded round in U-shape around the packets being conveyed relatively to the said blanks, and which can be pushed with the said packets into a pocket (34) of a conveyor, and also can be fully folded by folding means, characterised in that at least two packets (10, 11) can be pushed in unison with a correspondingly dimensioned overall blank (18), to form a series of packets lying in succession with a transverse spacing between them, into a pocket (34) of the conveyor, the pocket being correspondingly dimensioned in the longitudinal direction, a turret (35) or the like serving as the conveyor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that, before or during further movement of the turret (35), tube flaps (23, 24) extending in the radial direction above the packets (10,11) arranged in the pockets (34), and projecting out of the pockets, can be folded one after the other against the longitudinal faces (17) of the packets (10, 11), and can be adhered or sealed together.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that a sealing means, especially a sealing strip (55) corresponding approximately to the length of the overall blank (18), is movable in a sealing station in a radial direction against the longitudinal faces (16, 17) of the packets (10, 11), directed outwards, or against the tube flaps (23, 24) which overlap each other.

7. Apparatus according to one or more of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that a number of stationary separating knives (59) corresponding to the number of separating cuts (22) to be made, preferably at least one rotat ably driven disc knife in the centre of the turret (35) is mounted in relation to the turret (35) or the like, in the area of a separating station (58), which disc knife projects into a recess (63) formed in the pockets, for complete cutting through of the overall blank (18) in the area between adjacent packets (10, 11).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the separating station (58) comes after the sealing station in the direction of conveying of the packets.

9. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the packets (10,11), with the associated overall blank, can be moved past stationary folding means (71, 72) in the area near the packets (10, 11), in such a way that the lateral end flaps (27) which are leading in the direction of movement can be folded against the laterally directed end faces (14,15) of the packets (10, 11), while the folding fingers (71, 72) are designed preferably as lateral boundaries of the pockets (34) or of partial pockets of the turret (35).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that, in an area between two adjacent packets, there are arranged two folding fingers (71, 72) separated from one another by the recess designed as a knife slot (63), and they are each associated with the end faces (14, 15) of the adjacent packets (10, 11) facing each other.

11. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 4 to 10, characterised in that preliminary cuts (29) are made in the area between adjacent packets (10, 11) in the overall blank (18), especially in the web (21) of material, with such a length that the lateral end flaps (27) separated from one another by the preliminary cut (29) can also be folded against the end faces (14, 15) with preservation of the overall blank (18).

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the preliminary cuts (29) can be made in the web (21) of material by segmental knives which are arranged, spaced from one another, on the periphery of a tension roller (42) or the like.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterised in that a second tension roller (41), acting as opposing roller to the tension roller (42), is provided in the area of the knife segments (43, 44) with a circumferential incision (45).

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