EP0433657B1 - Method and device for making (cigarette) packs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing packs, in particular of folding boxes consisting of a cardboard blank and a collar blank connected thereto, preferably for cigarettes, folding flaps being successively folded into a position appropriate for the pack. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for performing the method.

In the production, namely the folding of packages from relatively rigid packaging material, for example from thin cardboard, problems often arise because parts of the blank cannot be folded into the end position during the folding process due to a construction-related excess length. This problem occurs, for example, in the production of hinged boxes (for cigarettes) if the package blank, including a collar blank customary for this type of package, is formed in one piece or in one piece. An example of the design of such a package blank or a folding box made therefrom is in DE-A-28 13 390 shown and described. In this type of pack, the collar blank is attached to a front wall of a box part of the pack.

The described folding problem arises when the part consisting of the box front wall and the collar cut is folded over into the end position, in particular from an upright position into a horizontal position under the package contents (cigarette block). During this folding movement, blank parts, namely collar side flaps, have to be threaded into a position between other already folded blank parts and the contents of the package. A swiveling movement of the front of the box with a collar cut alone means that it is not possible to achieve the folded position in accordance with the pack for reasons of space.

The invention is generally concerned with the problem which arises when folding cut parts which cannot be moved into the folded position by a direct pivoting movement.

To eliminate this problem, namely for handling such blank parts, the method according to the invention consists in that the blank parts in question, in particular the front wall with the collar attached to them, are temporarily arched during the folding process in order to shorten the effective length of the blank part in question.

In the specific application example of the production of a package according to DE-A-28 13 390, the blank part consisting of box front wall and collar blank or collar front wall is arched outwards, thereby effectively shortening this blank part. The collar side tabs can thus be threaded into the folded position according to the pack. After reaching the folded position of the same, the cut part is returned to the stretched position, that is, to the normal position.

The deformation or curvature is generated during the folding or pivoting movement of the blank by exerting pressure in the plane of the blank, in particular by pressure on a free edge thereof. In the mentioned embodiment, this deformation pressure is applied to the free edge of the collar blank.

The device according to the invention comprises a folding turret with pockets for receiving a blank or a pack. In the area of a filling station, a folding member is designed such that pressure is simultaneously exerted on the blank part during a folding or swiveling movement, as a result of which the latter receives a deformation in the sense of a curvature. The folding member consists of a pivot lever with a hook-shaped free end for gripping the edge of the blank part, namely the collar blank.

Fig. 1

einen Zuschnitt für eine Klappschachtel mit einstückigem Kragen in ausgebreitetem Zustand,

Fig. 2

eine L-förmige Zwischen-Faltstellung des Zuschnitts in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

einen Grundriß zu der Faltstellung gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

den Zuschnitt in der Ansicht gemäß Fig. 2 während der Faltung eines Zuschnitteils,

Fig. 5

die Zwischen-Faltstellung gemäß Fig. 4 im Grundriß,

Fig. 6

Einzelheiten eines Faltrevolvers im Grundriß,

Fig. 7

eine Faltstation des Faltrevolvers gemäß Fig. 6 in vergrößertem Maßstab, ebenfalls im Grundriß,

Fig. 8

die Faltstation gemäß Fig. 7 im Radialschnitt des Faltrevolvers mit Faltorganen,

Fig. 9

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

Fig. 10

eine weitere Grundrißdarstellung der Faltstation gemäß Fig. 7 mit anderen Faltorganen.

Further features of the invention relate to special folding steps for the production of a folding box with a one-piece collar cut and to details of the folding device (folding turret) for carrying out the folding steps. Details of the method and the device are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a blank for a hinged box with a one-piece collar in the expanded state,

Fig. 2

an L-shaped intermediate folding position of the blank in side view,

Fig. 3

2 shows a plan view of the folded position according to FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

2 during the folding of a blank part,

Fig. 5

4 in the plan,

Fig. 6

Details of a folding turret in the plan,

Fig. 7

6 on a larger scale, also in plan view,

Fig. 8

7 in the radial section of the folding turret with folding members,

Fig. 9

8 with a change in the relative position of the folding members,

Fig. 10

another plan view of the folding station of FIG. 7 with other folding members.

The exemplary embodiment for method and device shown in the drawings relates to the processing of blanks in accordance with DE-A-28 13 390. Other blanks of similar design can be used equally.

The blank (FIG. 1) consists of a box blank 10 and a collar 11 integrally connected to it. This is connected in the region of a front wall 12 to the box blank 10, here via web-like residual connections 13. These are approximately Z folded in a shape to bring the collar 11 into the relative position relative to the box blank 10, in which the collar 11 with the lower region on the inside the front wall 12 abuts (for example Fig. 2).

The box blank 10 consists of further walls or wall parts, which are marked within the blank by fold lines. In the longitudinal direction of the box blank 10, the front wall 12, a bottom wall 14 and then a rear wall 15 adjoin. Cut parts of a hinged lid are connected to the latter, namely a lid rear wall 16, a lid upper wall 17 and a lid front wall 18.

Lateral folding tabs adjoin the aforementioned cut parts, which are used primarily to form a box side wall and a lid side wall. The former consist of inner side tabs 19, which are connected to the rear wall 15, and of outer side tabs 20 laterally on the front wall 12. The side tabs 19 and 20 overlap each other in pairs to form the box side walls. Likewise, trapezoidal lid side tabs 21, which are located on the inside of the (folded) package, and correspondingly designed outer lid side tabs 22 are arranged on the lid rear wall 16.

The inner cover side tabs 21 extend in extension of the side tabs 19 attached to the rear wall 15. They are separated from them by an oblique cutting line, so that the side tabs 19 and cover side tabs 22 have inclined edges 23, 24 that correspond to one another.

The folding of the blank thus formed is carried out analogously to the manner described in DE-C-24 40 006. First, the blank is prepared by displacing the collar 11 relative to the box blank 10 with the Z-shaped folding of the remaining connections 13. Then an L-shaped intermediate folding position is created (Fig. 2), in which a (horizontal) Leg consists of rear wall 15 and the adjoining cut parts of the cover. The other (upright) leg consists of bottom wall 14, front wall 12 and collar 11, each with the cut parts attached to the side. In this first folding process, the inner side tabs 19 connected to the rear wall and the inner lid side tabs 21 are simultaneously folded into an upright position, the latter together with lid corner tabs 25 attached to the latter.

The required relative displacement of the collar 11 with respect to the box blank 10 can also be carried out after the L-shaped intermediate folding position of the blank has been produced.

The contents of the package, in the present case a cigarette block 26 (a group of cigarettes with an inner wrapping), are pushed into the longitudinal direction of the package into the thus prepared, partially U-shaped partial package.

In this first folding position, collar side tabs 27 are already folded into a position transverse to the collar front wall 28. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the collar side tabs 27 are folded beyond the right-angled position into a relative position at an acute angle to the collar front wall 28. This "bending" of a folding part has the purpose of overcoming restoring forces in the area of the folding edge . For the further folding steps, the collar side tabs 27 return from the acute-angled position to a right-angled position according to the package.

The now following folding step consists in folding the front wall 12 with the collar 11 into the horizontal position until it rests on the contents of the package. The difficulty in terms of folding consists in this process of folding the (folded) collar side flaps 27 into a position between the contents of the pack (cigarette block 26) and the bring inner lid side tab 21. The collar side tab 27 must therefore be threaded into a relatively narrow gap. The oblique edges 23 and 24 of the side flaps 19 and lid side flaps 21 formed by the separating cut are an obstacle because they lead to the collar side flaps 27 becoming caught in the threading process. The dimensions of the front wall 12 and the collar front wall 28 and the collar side tabs 27 reaching as far as the inside of the lid top wall 17 make the folding process more difficult.

To solve this problem, the procedure is as follows: the side tabs 19 and the lid side tabs 21 are brought into an inclined position. In this, the aforementioned lateral cut parts are directed in a V-shaped position relative to the upright side walls of the package contents (cigarette block 26). This creates a correspondingly formed (wedge-shaped) gap on the long sides. The collar side flaps 27 of the collar 11 can be threaded into these if the front wall 12 with the collar 11 and the collar side flaps 27 already folded into a transverse position are folded against the top of the cigarette block 26 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

During the aforementioned folding movement, that is to say when the front wall 12 is folded over a folding edge 29 formed between the latter and the bottom wall 14, the front wall 12 (with the collar 11) is arched upwards or outwards (FIG. 4). This results in a geometrical shortening of the effective length of the folded blank part. This is necessary in the present case because, at the time of folding the front wall 12 (with collar 11) on the radially outer side of the blank or the partially folded pack, cross-cut parts hinder the folding process. These are the corner flaps 25 already folded inwards (FIG. 5). These hinder the folding movement, in particular of the collar side tabs 27 into the end position. Due to the shortening described the effective length of front wall 12 with collar 11, it is possible to fold the collar side tabs 27 into the package-appropriate position between the lid side tabs 21 and the contents of the pack.

Furthermore, by shortening the effective length of the front wall 12 and collar 11, it is avoided that when the collar side flaps 27 are threaded into the (wedge-shaped) gap, the collar side flaps 27 become hooked in the region of the oblique edges 23, 24. The collar side tabs 27 are in a relative position during the folding process, in which the abovementioned oblique edges 23, 24 are covered (FIGS. 4 and 5).

After threading the collar side tabs 27 into the described lateral gap or when the collar front wall 28 is placed on the cigarette block 26, the deformation is eliminated. The front wall 12 reaches the original stretched position and now lies on the top of the cigarette block 26 in accordance with the packaging. The outer side tabs 20 are still directed in the horizontal plane.

Further folding steps now follow, analogous to the illustration and description in DE-C-24 40 006. The side flaps 20 are also folded against the inner side flaps 19, as are the cut parts of the cover.

An essential part of the device for carrying out the folding steps described is a folding turret 30. This is designed analogously to the folding turret according to DE-C-24 40 006 as a flat, plate-shaped member and (clockwise) rotatable about a vertical axis. In the present example, the folding turret 30 is designed for a two-lane mode of operation of the packaging machine. For this purpose, stations of the folding turret 30 are equipped with two pockets 31, 32, each for receiving a pack or a blank. The two pockets 31, 32 of a station are aligned in parallel, with their longitudinal axes approximately radial pointing. The pockets 31, 32 are arranged in pairs on an octagonal turret disk 33. Each pocket 31, 32 essentially consists of two parallel support legs 34, 35 arranged at a distance from one another. These are open on the radially outer side. On the inside, they are connected to a downward edge 36 of the turret disk 33. An angle stop 37 forms the boundary of the pockets 31, 32 on the inner side in the radial direction.

The pockets 31, 32 thus formed pass through several work stations of the folding turret 30. In the region of a cutting station 38, the blanks 10 are inserted into the open pockets 31, 32 from above. After an intermediate station there is a loading station 39. Here, the cigarette blocks 26 are pushed into the partially folded blanks 10 in the pockets 31, 32 in the radial direction. A folding station 40 follows. The folding steps described in connection with FIGS. 2 to 5 are carried out in this. This is followed by further folding stations 41 and 42 to continue folding the blanks. In the area of an ejection station 43 diametrically opposite the loading station 39, the almost finished packs are pushed out in the radial direction from the pockets 31, 32 onto a (linear) discharge conveyor (not shown).

In the cutting station 38, two blanks are simultaneously inserted into the pockets 31, 32 from above, namely pressed in by stamps. The blanks are fed to the blanking station 38 on parallel blanking tracks above the folding turret 30. In this respect, the device is designed analogously to that according to DE-C-24 40 006.

The blanks introduced into the pockets 31, 32 immediately receive the folded position according to FIGS. 2 and 3, however with collar side flaps 27 extending in the plane of the front wall 12. The Z-shaped folding of the remaining connections 13 of the collar 11 can now be carried out or have already been carried out before insertion of the blank into the pocket.

The blanks folded so far are fixed in the pockets 31, 32 by holding levers 44, 45 attached to them laterally. These are designed in the same way and can be actuated in a similar manner to the device according to EP-B-0 205 894. The holding levers 44, 45 lie here with a transverse web 46 on an upper edge of lateral, upright cut parts, namely on the Side tabs 19. This ensures that the blanks are secured against displacement in the upward direction. With an angularly shaped or profiled head piece 47, the holding levers 44, 45 engage on the inclined edge 23 of the side tab 19. As a result, the blank is secured against radial displacements (directed outwards) in the pocket 31, 32.

The holding levers 44, 45 are pivotally mounted next to the pockets 31, 32 via rotary bearings 48 and are designed as two-armed levers. Free ends of the holding levers 44, 45 are provided with feeler rollers 49. In the present case, these are actuated by cam pieces 57 which can be moved back and forth approximately in the radial direction and on which the feeler rollers 49 run. The actuation of the holding levers 44, 45 takes place in the sense of pivoting the head pieces 47 and the web 46 away from the blanks, so that these are released for the extension from the pockets 31, 32 or for carrying out folding steps.

With the holding levers 44, 45 in the holding position, the pockets 31, 32 with the blanks get into the loading station 39. Here the cigarette blocks 26 fed in parallel paths are inserted into the pockets 31, 32 or blanks open on the outside of the folding turret .

At the same time, the collar side flaps are folded in the loading station 39, in the manner described by bending over.

For this purpose, 30 folding members are assigned to the pockets 31, 32 in the loading station 39 in a fixed position on the turret. In the present exemplary embodiment, folding pins 50, 51 are arranged above the pockets 31, 32 or the blanks. These are directed upwards and can be moved along an arc. To fold the collar side tabs 27, the folding pins 50, 51 are moved from an initial position (FIG. 10: solid lines), taking the collar side tabs 27 with them, into the area above the pockets 31, 32. The collar side tabs 27 temporarily acquire the acute-angled position.

The upright folding pins 50, 51 are each attached to a pivot lever 52 which can be pivoted back and forth in the horizontal plane along a pitch circle. The pivot levers 52 are mounted in a rotary bearing 53 and each connected to a toothed segment 54. The toothed segments 54 of the two folding pins 50, 51 assigned to a pocket 31, 32 are in engagement with one another, so that rotational movements of the one toothed segment are transmitted to the other. As a result, the folding pins 50, 51 are always actuated together.

A drive toothed segment 55 is also assigned to the folding pins 50, 51 of adjacent pockets 31, 32 facing each other. This is in engagement with a common, central rack 56 for driving the four folding pins 50, 51 of the two pockets 31, 32. The rack 56 can be moved back and forth.

When the collar side flaps 27 are folded by the folding pins 50, 51, the upright leg of the blank (front wall 12 with collar front wall 28) is fixed. For this purpose, two webs are provided, namely a fixed one Outer web 84 and a movable counter web 85. The latter is trapezoidal in cross section, so that the collar side tabs 27 can be folded into an acute-angled position. The webs 84 and 85 are mounted and movable in a suitable manner, so that the cut parts can be moved past these webs without constraint during the rotational movement of the folding turret 30.

The pockets 31, 32 now reach the particularly important folding station 40. In this, relatively complex folding processes take place.

The most important folding step is to fold the upright leg of the blank, consisting of the front wall 12 with the blank parts attached to it, into the horizontal position, resting on the contents of the package. The difficulties described above (FIGS. 4 and 5) must be overcome.

The folding of the front wall 12 is carried out by a folding lever 58 which is designed and can be actuated in a special way. The folding lever 58 has a hook-shaped nose 59 at a free end facing the blank. This projection comes into positive engagement with the (initially) upright leg of the blank. The folding lever 58 is arranged in such a way that, starting from the starting position according to FIG. 8, an upper (transverse) edge of the blank is detected when the movement is directed toward the outer edge of the folding turret 30. In the present case, this is an upper free edge 60 of the collar front wall 28 which is formed with a (usual) depression. The sequence of movements of the folding lever 58 is such that the upright cut part (front wall 12 with collar 11) is in the position according to FIG 8 gripped by the folding lever 58, angled around the folding edge 29 between the front wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 and moved into a horizontal position. During this folding movement, the front wall 12 with the collar front wall is deformed 28 to an arched and thus shortened in terms of effective length (Fig. 8). A part of the front wall 12 lies against the folding lever 58. In the end position of the movement, front wall 12 and collar front wall 28 are stretched again. When the folding lever 58 moves further, it is released from the cut and returns to the starting position according to FIG. 8.

During the folding movement described, a compressive force is exerted on the blank part consisting of the front wall 12 and the collar front wall 28, which results in the arching deformation. The compressive force is introduced via the edge 60. The inner boundary of the pocket 31, 31, that is to say the angle stop 37, acts as a counter bearing. The front wall 12 with the folded edge 29 is supported on this.

The folding lever 58 is moved by an actuating gear 62 consisting of links and levers. This is driven by a stationary crank 63 with crank wheel 64 and crank rod 65. The crank 63 is mounted on a stationary support frame 66.

The crank 63 acts on a main actuation lever 67, which is angularly shaped here and on which the crank rod 65 engages approximately in a central region (bearing 68). The main operating lever is articulated to the folding lever 58. A further actuating lever 69 is also articulated to this and extends approximately parallel to one leg of the main actuating lever 67.

The main operating lever 67 and operating lever 69 are articulated to a first support lever 70. Another support lever 71 is connected to the free end of the main operating lever 67. The two support levers 70, 71 are pivotally mounted on the support frame 66. Through this design of the actuator 62 with adapted lengths and Relative positions of the levers, the folding lever 58 executes a movement along an arc of a circle, the center point 86 of which lies at a considerable distance from the folding lever 58. During the movement along the circular arc around the center 86, the folding lever 58 is simultaneously rotated about its own axis, namely from the upright starting position according to FIG. 8 into an almost horizontal end position according to FIG. 9. The center 86 of the rotary movement is also at a distance from the folded edge 29 of the front wall 12, both downwards and in the radial direction of the folding turret 30 inwards. Only through this relative position is the above-described folding geometry of the front wall 12 with the collar 11 given. The position of the center point 86 of the pivoting movement of the folding lever 58 below the axis of rotation for the front wall 12 and the lateral offset are of importance. Only in this way is it possible that in the upright starting position the nose 56 engages with the edge 60 without constraint and this comes free again in the folded horizontal position of the front wall 12.

The folding processes described take place simultaneously in the area of the two pockets 31, 32. For this purpose, the actuating gear 62 is duplicated in the area of the folding station 40. In the present exemplary embodiment, however, only one crank 63 is arranged in the center of the two pockets 31, 32. The common crank rod 65 is connected to two main actuation levers 67 of the transmission parts, which are otherwise duplicated.

Furthermore, the folding lever 58 in the exemplary embodiment shown is formed from two partial levers which are arranged on both sides of the main actuating lever 67 and the actuating lever 69, that is to say at a distance from one another. The edge 60 of the collar 11 is therefore detected in two lateral areas during the folding movement.

While the folding movement described is carried out, the holding levers 44, 45 of the pockets 31, 32 are pivoted back, ie out of engagement with the blank. As a result, the side tabs 19 arranged on the rear wall 15 move into a V-shaped inclined position inside the pocket 31, 32 (FIG. 5). Side walls of the pockets 31, 32, that is to say upright walls of the support legs 34, 35, are also designed to divide upwards or at an angle for this purpose.

In order to ensure an oblique, V-shaped position for threading the collar side tabs 27 also in the area of the (inner) lid side tabs 21, these blank parts are deformed accordingly. For this purpose, a deformation element is provided which, in the present exemplary embodiment, acts on the lid corner flaps 25, which are already slightly folded inwards, namely lifts them. As a result, a pivoting movement is transmitted to the cover side tabs 21 in a V-shaped position.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, two lifting fingers 73, 74 are mounted on a shaft 72 in the folding station 40 on the outer edge of the folding turret 30. These are located approximately in the middle area in front of the end faces of the pockets 31, 32. The dimensions of the lifting fingers 73, 74 are selected such that the end regions of the two lid corner tabs 25 which are facing one another are raised during a pivoting movement by rotating the shaft 72. This results in the described inclination of the cover side tabs 21.

The shaft 72 can be actuated by means of a push rod 76 via an actuating arm 75 attached at the end.

An upper guide 77 is arranged in the folding station 40. This consists of a circular arc-shaped strip of flat material, which extends in the active position (FIG. 7 or dash-dotted lines in FIG. 9) above the folded collar 11 and this in the folding station 40 and during a phase of the subsequent rotary movement of the folding turret 30 in the folded position. The upper guide can be moved out of the active position into the starting position according to the solid lines in FIG. 9 for carrying out the above folding.

For this purpose, the upper guide 77 is attached to two pivoted levers 78 which are arranged at a distance from one another. These are pivotally mounted on a support arm 79. At the free end of the two-armed pivot lever 78, an actuating rod 80 is attached for performing the pivoting movements.

When the front wall 12 and collar 11 are moved into the folded position by the folding lever 58, the lateral holding levers 44, 45 return to the holding position. As a result, the side tabs 19 and the lid side tabs 21 are brought back into the upright position. The folding lever 58 then returns to the starting position and the upper guide 77 can now be pivoted into the active position. The folding turret 30 then rotates by one switching cycle.

To guide the collar side tabs 27 during the downward movement of the front wall 12 and collar 11, stationary side guides 81 (FIG. 9) are attached in the region of the folding station 40. These end above the pockets 31, 32 in such a way that they do not interfere with the advancement of the folding turret 30. The side guides 81 are arranged in an arc shape in accordance with the folding movement of the collar side tabs 27.

In the subsequent folding station 41, a part of the blank consisting of the front cover 18 and the upper cover 17 is folded into an upright position. For this purpose, a folding pocket 82 shared by two pockets 31, 32 is provided in this folding station 41. It is essentially a folding web that can be moved up and down and which, due to the upward movement, erects the cut parts mentioned, whereby the top wall 17 of the front end of the package contents (cigarette block 26) receives attachment.

A further folding station 42 then follows. In this, a stationary folding rail 83 is used to fold over the initially erected cover front wall 18 against the contents of the pack or against the projecting part of the collar 11. This folding process takes place in a manner known per se during the rotational movement of the folding turret 30 relative to the fixed folding member (folding rail 83) which is located above the pockets 31, 32 in the path of movement thereof.

The almost completely folded packs then reach the ejection station 43. After the ejection from the folding turret, only the transversely projecting outer side flaps 20 and the outer lid side flaps 22 are now to be folded over. Glue is previously applied to these cut parts in a known manner.

Claims (15)

1. Process for producing packs, especially hinge lid packs made of a pack blank of cardboard and a collar blank connected therewith, preferably for cigarettes, with folding tabs being folded in succession to a pack-appropriate position, characterized in that blank portions, especially a front wall (12) with collar (11) attached thereto are curved in an arched manner, during the folding process, such that the effective length of the respective blank portion is shortened.
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the blank portion, especially front wall (12) with collar (11), is bent in an arched manner while it is folded from an upright starting position into a horizontal final position, until said blank portion reaches the final position and said blank portion is then moved to the stretched-out pack-appropriate shape.
3. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pressing force for creating the arched shape is applied to the blank portion which is to be deformed, especially to front wall (12) and collar (11), said pressing force taking effect on at least one free edge of the blank, especially an outer edge (60) of the collar front wall (28), and an oppositely situated region of the blank portion, especially the front wall (12), being braced against this pressure.
4. Process according to Claim 1 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the blank portion which is to be deformed, especially front wall (12) and collar (11), is foldable, while being temporarily curved in an arched manner, from an upright stretched-out starting position to a horizontal pack-appropriate position in which it rests against the pack contents.
5. Process according to Claim 1 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that collar side tabs (27) being folded into a transversely directed position, can be folded, preferably when front wall (12) and collar (11) are in upright position, during the folding movement of front wall (12) and collar (11) into a position between pack contents and lateral blank portions, especially side tabs (19) and lid side tabs (21), said lateral blank portions having been moved into an approximately upright, especially approximately V-shaped folding position beforehand.
6. Apparatus for producing packs made of thin cardboard, with blank portions in the region of a folding unit, especially a folding turret, being foldable in succession into the pack-appropriate position, preferably for producing hinge lid packs for cigarettes made of a pack blank with a collar attached thereto, characterized in that portions of the blank, especially front wall (12) and collar front wall (28) attached thereto, are foldable by a folding means, which is designed as a pivotable folding lever (58), having a hook-shaped free end for engaging a free edge of the blank portion, and which in the folding movement effects an arched curving of the blank portion which shortens the effective length thereof.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the folding lever (58), during the pivoting movement of the blank portion, especially a front wall (12) with a collar front wall (28), applies a pressure to the blank portion effecting the arched curving, especially by means of the hook-shaped free end of the folding lever (58) resting on the free edge of the collar front wall (28).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the folding lever (58), for engaging the upright blank portion (12/28), is movable, while being pivoted at the same time, from an approximately upright starting position along an arc of a circle into an approximately horizontal position with the blank portion (12/28) being stretched out and horizontally directed.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the folding lever (58) is actuable by a control mechanism (62) which consists of two supporting levers (70, 71) mounted in fixed location and two approximately parallel actuating levers (67, 69) in each case pivotally connected to these supporting levers (70,71) and to the folding lever (58).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the control mechanism (62) is driven by a crank (63) whose crank rack (65) is connected to a bearing (68) of the control mechanism (62).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 6 and one or more of the further claims, characterized in that collar side tabs (27) connected to the collar front wall (28) are foldable, with the front wall (12) and collar (11) being in upright position, into a pack-appropriate position transverse to the collar front wall (28), especially by means of folding means, especially folding pins (50, 51) positioned in the region of a feed station (39) of the folding turret (30), said folding means being movable at the level of the collar side tabs (27) from a retracted position along an arc of a circle and in this movement taking along the collar side tabs (27) to a position in which the collar side tabs (27) are directed in an acute angle relative to the collar front wall (28).
12. Apparatus according to Claim (11), characterized in that, when or after a blank (10) is inserted into a pocket (31, 32) of the folding turret, lateral blank portions, especially side tabs (19), lid side tabs (21) and lid corner tabs (25) are foldable into a nearly upright, namely V-shaped position, the lid corner tabs (25) being movable into the V-shaped position especially by means of pressure being applied to the inwardly folded lid corner tabs (25).
13. Apparatus according to Claim !2, characterized in that the inclined lid corner tabs (25) are liftable by a lifting means, especially by pivotable lifting fingers (73,74), in order to temporarily move side tabs (19) and lid side tabs (21) into the V-shaped folding position.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 6 and one or more of the further claims, characterized by a stationary upper guide (77) for the partially folded packs in the region of at least the folding station (40), the curved upper guide (77), made of a flat material, being movable during the folding movement of front wall (12) and collar front wall (28) out of the path of motion thereof and thereafter being movable back into a position directly above the collar (11).
15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that the upper guide (77) is mounted on a pivoting lever (78) above the path of motion of the folding turret (30) in the region of the folding station (40).

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