EP0174591B1 - Device for making packages, especially cigarette cartons - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing packs by wrapping objects in at least one blank, in particular for producing large packs from pack groups (cigarette sticks each consisting of several cigarette packs), according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

The manufacture of large packs from a group of smaller individual packs is practiced in the cigarette industry in the production of so-called cigarette sticks. Cigarette sticks are made, for example from ten packs of cigarettes that are encased in a single blank. This can consist of cardboard, paper or a film. The construction of such large packs can be chosen so that the pack group is encased by several blanks.

A device for producing (large) packs, in particular cigarette sticks, is explained in DE-A-3 123 496. In this proposal, the pack group is alternatively wrapped in a paper blank, in a foil blank or in both of the aforementioned blanks. Depending on the structure of the pack, the pack group runs through one or two folding revolvers, in the area of which cuts can be made and folds can be made. The large pack provided with one or more blanks leaves the device depending on the structure in the area of a first or in the area of the second folding turret.

A device for packaging cigarettes is known from EP-A-0 030 359. During the packaging process, the cigarettes are packed into various packaging wraps by a sequence of packaging processes. Corresponding weft blanks are folded using a revolver during the transport of cigarette groups. A package is ejected from a revolver pocket by means of a rigid transfer and holding web 90. Problems can arise with such an ejection of a package from a revolver pocket, for example due to tilting of the package.

The US-A-3 380 227 shows a folding turret, the pockets of which run past a fixed cam. As a result, ejectors mounted in the pockets are raised in the radial direction. A push-out actuated in this way allows a pack to be pushed radially outward from the pocket of a folding revolver into the pocket of an adjacent revolver. The cam has an instruction running flank on which a plunger of the pusher moves along, so that the pusher continuously moves radially outwards. As a result, the object in the pocket is continuously ejected, and this while the folding revolver is rotating. However, this can be a hindrance both for the further rotary movement and also disadvantageous for the transfer to the second folding turret. The transfer is made possible in the known device in that the second folding revolver has a type of safety catch on its pockets.

After the outward movement in the further course of the rotary movement of the first folding turret, the ejector of the first folding turret is pushed in again at a certain point by another, separate organ. The device structure of the known folding turret according to this document is thus relatively complicated and functionally unreliable.

DE-B-1 238 378 discloses a folding revolver or a device according to the type mentioned at the beginning.

This known folding turret has a total of four pockets which are open radially on the outside and are each offset by 90 °. Two intersecting plungers are provided between opposite pockets. These are moved by inserting a blank into a turret pocket using a blank stamp. By means of the cutting stamp, a pestle, which is in alignment with this in the current state of movement, acts on and ejects a pack located in the opposite turret pocket. The movement of the plunger is therefore linked to the insertion in a pocket. This makes it impossible to match the device to production-specific features.

The actuation of the pushers arranged in pairs takes place only indirectly and as additional support for the natural falling movement of the lowermost pushers in each case by means of the cutting stamp which is itself controlled, without the pushers themselves being directly actuated in a targeted manner.

The known device can therefore only be used to a limited extent and can be handled very inflexibly.

The task to be solved now is to remove the elongated objects, e.g. Large packs of the type mentioned, problem-free, i.e. without tilting and resulting damage to remove from the pockets of the folding turret.

This object is achieved by the characterizing measures of claim 1. The elongated objects are grasped and pushed out in their full length in the turret pockets by means of the pushers, which, according to the invention, are constantly connected to respectively assigned control means. Tilting of the objects, as would be possible, for example, with ejectors that laterally engage in the pockets or other ejectors actuated in a known manner, can be reliably avoided by the invention. The invention is particularly advantageous for the production of cigarette rods, that is to say if a plurality of individual objects, namely cigarette packs, are arranged in a row next to one another. An offset of the individual objects or cigarette packs due to uneven loading when sliding out of the revolver pockets can no longer occur.

Preferred structural details of the invention are described in more detail in the subclaims. To be emphasized, however, is the measure according to claim 6, which ensures a tilt-free storage of the pushers becomes.

The invention is preferably used in a device according to DE-A-3 123 496, specifically in both folding revolvers with mutual coordination of the movement of the pushers assigned to the two revolvers or turret pockets.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Packungen durch Einschlagen von Gegenständen in zwei Zuschnitte in ihrer Gesamtheit in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit einem ersten und einem zweiten Falt-Revolver ebenfalls in Seitenansicht, bei vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 3

einen Vertikal- bzw. Radialschnitt durch die Falt-Revolver nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

Einzelheiten der Falt-Revolver, insbesondere des zweiten Falt-Revolvers, in Seitenansicht in einer Faltstellung,

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 8 bei veränderter Position der Faltorgane,

Fig. 6

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 4 und 5 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 7

den Steuermechanismus für die den Revolvertaschen zugeordneten Ausschieber in schematischer Seitenansicht in einer ersten Stellung, und

Fig. 8

den Mechanismus entsprechend Fig. 7 in einer zweiten Bewegungsstellung.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a device for producing packs by wrapping objects in two blanks in their entirety in a schematic side view,

Fig. 2

1 with a first and a second folding turret also in side view, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3

2 shows a vertical or radial section through the folding turret according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

Details of the folding turret, in particular the second folding turret, in a side view in a folded position,

Fig. 5

8 with a changed position of the folding members,

Fig. 6

4 and 5 in plan view,

Fig. 7

the control mechanism for the pusher assigned to the turret pockets in a schematic side view in a first position, and

Fig. 8

7 in a second movement position.

The present exemplary embodiment relates above all to the production of larger packs from a plurality of individual, smaller packs, in particular cigarette packs, which are combined to form a pack group 22 and leave the device as cigarette rods. The pack group 22 can alternatively be wrapped in a cardboard blank and / or in a foil blank or in a paper blank. An example of a cardboard blank (not shown) consists of individual surface areas for forming an upper wall, lower wall, side walls and a tubular cloth. There are side flaps in the area of the lower wall and the side walls. A foil blank can be constructed in a similar manner, namely likewise with an upper wall, lower wall, first longitudinal side wall arranged in between, and two tubular flaps on the edge Formation of the opposite longitudinal side wall. All of the above cut parts are provided on the side with end flaps to form end walls. The cardboard blank is preferably prefabricated, namely pre-punched, while the foil blank is separated from a continuous foil web 37. Depending on the requirements of practice, the pack group 22 is wrapped in one or both of the cuts mentioned.

The pack group 22 passes through a first folding turret 38 and then a second folding turret 39 regardless of the number and type of cuts. From the latter, the packs are pushed out in the radial direction and into an essentially horizontal removal path 40 brought. This in turn is followed by an upright packing tower 41 into which the finished packs are inserted from below.

A blank magazine 42 is associated with the first folding turret 38 to hold a supply of blank blanks. On the underside of the blank magazine 42, a carton blank is taken out by an unwinder 43 of a known type and inserted into an upright blank web 44. The cardboard blank is conveyed in the upright plane in front of a mouthpiece 46 by transport rollers 45 in the region of this blank web 44. This is arranged upstream of the first folding turret 38 in such a way that the pack group 22 can be inserted in a horizontal plane through the mouthpiece 46 into a pocket 47 of the folding turret 38. The cardboard blank is taken into the pocket 47 when the pack group 22 is inserted and placed around the pack group 22 in a U-shape. When the pack group is inserted into a turret pocket and when it is transported along the conveying path predetermined by the turret, the carton blank is cut and the pack group is wrapped by the latter in a manner known per se by means of the folding turret 38 Folding organs, the detailed description of which can be dispensed with here. The folding turret 38, like the downstream folding turret 39, is moved in cycles.

In the area of a transfer station 64, the pack or pack group 22 produced so far is ejected from the pocket 47 of the first folding turret 38 and at the same time inserted into an adjacent pocket 65 of the second folding turret 39.

The folding turret 39, like the folding turret 38, is also equipped with three pockets 65 arranged at equal circumferential distances from one another. These consist of a pocket lining 66 with a U-shaped cross section, for. B. made of sheet metal. The pockets 65 protrude on the radially outer side or the pocket lining 66 protrudes beyond the profile of the revolver. A turret body consisting of lateral turret disks 67 is provided with radial recesses 68 in the region of the pockets 65. The pocket linings 66 extend within the latter. The free edge thereof is provided with a support leg 69 which is angled in the circumferential direction. These are arranged at an acute angle to the pocket lining 66, that is to say they are bent slightly radially inwards. The support legs serve to hold cut parts, namely the tubular tab of a film cut fed to the second folding turret 39 during an intermediate position thereof. The pocket lining 66 extends over the full width of the folding turret 39, and accordingly connects the turret discs 67 to one another. To wrap the pack group 22 in a film blank, the latter is placed on the outer circumference of the folding revolver 39 in such a way that the film blank lies approximately centrally with respect to the pocket 65 in question. The film blank is (only) detected in a region lying at the front in the direction of rotation of the folding turret 39 and fixed by suction air. For this purpose, the folding turret 39 is provided with suction holes 70 on the outer circumference at suitable points. When the folding turret or the turret body is designed with two lateral turret disks 67, the suction bores 70 in both turret disks 67 are arranged in mutually opposite inserts 71. The film cut is therefore only grasped in the front side areas on the folding turret 39 and is thereby kept free of constraint and wrinkles. The suction bores 70 are connected in a suitable manner to a central vacuum source via suction lines.

The wrapping of the pack group 22 or of the previously cut cardboard blank by the foil blank takes place in a manner known in principle. When the pack group 22 is inserted into the pocket 65 in the area of the transfer station 64, the film blank provided on the outer circumference of the folding turret 39 is taken along with the pack group 22 in a U-shaped envelope. The blank parts protruding beyond the pocket 65 are then applied to the pack group by suitable folding members. The folded-over blank parts are welded or sealed together in a manner known per se.

The folding turrets 38, 39 are designed and driven in a special way. In both cases, radially movable pushers 96 and 97 are provided in the area of the pockets 47 and 65. In the inwardly drawn starting position, these pushers 96, 97 and a transverse bar 98, 99 form the radially inner bottom of the pockets 47 and 65 Crossbar 98, 99 is attached to (two) guide rods 100 and 101, respectively, which are slidably supported and supported in radial guide bores 102, 103 of a turret shaft 104, 105. The controlled movement of the pushers 96, 97, in particular for pushing out packs or pack groups from the assigned ones Pockets are made by control disks 106, 107 which are assigned to each folding turret 38, 39 (see in particular FIGS. 7 and 8). In cam grooves 108, 109 of these control disks 106, 107 control rollers 110 run, which are connected to the pushers 96, 97 and the transverse strips 98, 99 thereof via an extension 111. The control disks 106, 107 are driven in rotation, namely during the standstill phase of the folding turret 38, 39. Revolver 38, 39 Moved in one direction or the other. The two control disks 106, 107 are connected to one another by a link 128. The rotary movement of the two control disks 106, 107 takes place by means of a link 112 connected to the control disk 107 and operatively connected to a central drive (not shown).

7 and 8 can be seen very clearly, the movements of the ejectors 96, 97 of the two folding turrets 38, 39 are coordinated with one another in such a way that in the area of the transfer station 64 the packing group 22 is free of play between the facing ejectors 96, 97 of the two folding turrets 38, 39 can be transferred from the pocket 47 of the first folding turret 38 into the opposite pocket 65 of the second folding turret 39. The cam groove 108 of the control disk 106 assigned to the first folding turret 38 is designed in the manner of an ellipse with a dent 129. The cam groove 109 of the control disk 107 assigned to the second folding turret 39 has approximately the contour of a keyhole.

The folding turrets 38, 39 and a cutting roller 113 assigned to the second folding turret 39 for separating film blanks from the film web 37 are driven synchronously and at the same peripheral speeds by a common gear. For the cyclical drive a stepper transmission 114 of a suitable, known type is provided. In Fig. 3, a shift star 115 is shown as an output member of this stepping transmission 114. The turret shaft 104 of the folding turret 38 is driven via gear wheels 116, 117. The turret shaft 105 of the folding turret 39 is driven by further gear wheels 118, 119, starting from the switching star 115. The gear wheel 119 is in gear connection with a gear wheel 120 for the rotary drive of the cutting roller 113 Shaft piece 121 assigned to cutting roller 113 are rotatably mounted in a common machine wall 122.

The folding turret 39 / cutting roller 113 unit is also assigned a feed device 123 for the film web 37. The folding turret 39 and the cutting roller 113 adjoining the periphery of the aforementioned folding turret form a drive unit which is coordinated with the feed device 123 with respect to the movement. A section of the film web 37 is conveyed through the latter, which corresponds to the length or width (in the direction of transport) of the film cut required for wrapping the pack group 22. Since the present invention is not intended to relate to the design of the feed device 123 and of the units connected upstream of it, a detailed description of these device parts is unnecessary

In summary, the construction according to the invention is particularly advantageous for the removal of elongated objects, e.g. B. cigarette sticks, from pockets of folding turrets of a packaging machine. By the pushers 96, 98 and 97, 99 of the invention, the elongated objects are preferably the full length of the narrow side surface in the pockets 47 and 65 of the Folding turret 38 and 39 detected and out pushed. An uneven loading and a consequent displacement of the individual objects or cigarette packs when the pack group 22 is pushed out of the pockets cannot occur.

Finally, it should also be pointed out that the side disks 67 of the folding turret 39 simultaneously serve to limit the turret pockets 65 to the side. The turret pockets 65 are thus designed to be open only in the radial direction to the outside.

It should also be noted at this point that the invention can be used for a device with one or more folding turrets of the type mentioned.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for producing packs by wrapping articles in at least one blank, especially for producing large packs composed of pack groups, the articles or pack groups (22) passing, so as to be wrapped in blanks, through at least one wrapping and folding member in the form of a folding turret (38 or 39) with several pockets (47 or 65) open in a radial direction, each for receiving one article or one pack group (22) together with a blank, and each pocket (47 or 65) having assigned to it a radially movable pushing-out device (96 or 97) which forms the bottom of the pocket and by which the articles or pack groups (22) can be pushed out of the particular pocket (47 or 65), and an actuating member for the timed actuation of the pushing-out device being provided for the pushing-out device, characterized in that the actuating member comprises at least one rotary-driven control member (control disc 106 or 107) which controls the movement cycle of the pushing-out device (96 or 97) during actuation and to which each pushing-out device (96 or 97) is permanently connected via a control means (control rollers 110) respectively assigned to it.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control disc (106 or 107) has a curved groove (108 or 109), in which run the control rollers (110) which are connected to the pushing-out devices (96 or 97) or to the transverse strips (98 or 99) of the latter, each preferably via an extension (111).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control disc (106 or 107) is driven to rotate only when the associated folding turret (38 or 39) is stationary.
4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pushing-out devices (96 or 97) each possess at least two guide rods (100 or 101) which are at a distance from one another and extend parallel to one another and which are mounted displaceably and supported in radial guide bores (102 or 103) in the turret shaft (104 or 105).
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pushing-out devices (96 or 97) have at each of their free ends, to form the bottom of the turret pockets (47 or 65), a supporting plate, supporting strip (98 or 99) or the like extending approximately parallel to the turret axis and essentially over the entire length of the turret pocket (47 or 65).
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, with two folding turrets (38,39) associated with one another, each with several pockets (47, 65) open in a radial direction, each receiving one article or one pack group (22) together with a blank, characterized in that the article or the pack group (22) can be pushed from the first folding turret (38), by being pushed radially out of a pocket (47) of the latter, directly into a pocket (65) of the associated second folding turret (39), if appropriate at the same time being wrapped in a (second) blank, and during the transfer from the pocket (47) of the first folding turret (38) into the facing pocket (65) of the second folding turret (39) the pack group is retained between the pushing-out devices (96, 97) assigned to these pockets.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pushing-out devices (96, 97) of the two folding turrets (38, 39) or their control discs (106, 107) are connected to one another in transmission terms, preferably by means of a link (128).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the rotary movement of the two control discs (106, 107) is executed by means of a central drive (link 112) engaging on only one control disc (107), preferably when the two folding turrets (38, 39) are stationary.

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