EP0893349B1 - Method and device for making packaging units - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing packs of packages by wrapping a group of objects, especially from single packs that make up a pack group form, such as disclosed in DE 31 23 496.

The invention relates primarily to packaging for a group of packs of cigarettes, also called "cigarette pack" called. Packs of this type usually consist of ten cuboid packs of cigarettes, made from one blank are made of foldable material. The cigarette packs are usually formed in two rows, whereby Lay two packs of cigarettes together with the front and back (Formation of a double row).

The practice of packaging technology often has to deal with the problem deal with the dimensions of prefabricated blanks for the wrapping of the packaging often not exactly the dimensions the contents of the pack, in particular the pack group, correspond. This problem occurs especially with packs for cigarettes with the outer wrapper off thin cardboard or other relatively stiff packaging material consists.

The invention is accordingly based on the object of measures propose that in the event of deviations in the dimensions of the Ensure the contents of the pack against the cutting of the wrapper, that the packaging is nevertheless an attractive, has a flawless appearance.

The method according to the invention is used to achieve this object characterized for the manufacture of packs of packaging, that with a (slightly) larger wrapping than the one to be wrapped Group the individual items or individual packs within the packaging at least during the packaging process are offset from each other, such that a (Larger) interior of the pack by the group is filled out.

In the manufacture of cigarette containers or cigarette sticks with a cover made of thin cardboard is often the height the pack, i.e. the dimension between a bottom wall and a closure side, due to the corresponding dimensions of the Cut larger than the upright dimension of the cigarette packs (Dimension in the longitudinal direction of the same). These dimensional differences arise primarily from the fact that a uniform Type of blanks ready for wrapping and used for cigarette packs of different dimensions becomes.

In order to achieve that at least during the process the packaging, i.e. during the wrapping process for the Pack group, the dimensions of the pack contents and the cut are matched, the cigarette packs the pack group is staggered, so that due to the offset, the outer contour of the Packing group is adapted to the interior of the pack. When arranging five pairs of cigarette packs in In a row next to each other are three pairs of individual packs offset from two pairs of individual packs. This changed relative position of the packs within the Packing group is preferred when inserting the packing group into a pocket of a folding turret.

Another special feature of the invention is that when The folded pack is ejected from the folding turret or the subsequent transverse push into a discharge conveyor Closure side of the pack by an appropriate Slider is included. The slider protrudes for this purpose the contour of the pack.

Further details of the invention relate to process steps and device organs for protecting the packaging with oversized blanks for wrapping the packing group.

Fig. 1

einen Zuschnitt aus dünnem Karton oder dergleichen für eine Zigaretten-Gebindepackung in ausgebreitetem Zustand,

Fig. 2

Einzelheiten einer Vorrichtung zum Herstellen einer Gebindepackung in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in stark vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 4

eine weitere Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß .Fig. 2, ebenfalls in stark vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 5

ein Bereich des Abschubs der Gebindepackung nach Austritt aus einem Faltrevolver,

Fig. 6

eine um 90° versetzte Ansicht der Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 5.

Details of the pack and the device for producing the same are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a blank made of thin cardboard or the like for a cigarette pack in the expanded state,

Fig. 2

Details of a device for producing a pack in side view,

Fig. 3

3 shows a detail of the device according to FIG. 2 on a greatly enlarged scale,

Fig. 4

a further detail of the device according to .Fig. 2, also on a greatly enlarged scale,

Fig. 5

an area of the pushing off of the packaging after exiting a folding turret,

Fig. 6

5 shows a view of the detail offset by 90 ° according to FIG. 5.

The patent drawings deal with the preferred field of application, namely with the design and manufacture of Containers 10 for cigarettes. Such a pack 10 - Cigarette stick - usually consists of one Pack group 11 with ten single packs or cigarette packs 12. These are positioned in two rows 13, 14, aligned to each other, such that front 15th and back 16 of the adjacent cigarette packs 12 lie against each other. Five such pairs of cigarette packs 12 lie next to each other to form pack group 11.

The pack group 11 is surrounded by an envelope 17 which usually consists of thin cardboard, but also of other Packaging material can be made. The envelope 17 is used as a finished blank made by punching Provided. Fig. 1 shows a possible, advantageous Design of a blank for the covering 17.

By embossing the blank of the envelope 17 are prepared Folded lines formed, namely longitudinal fold lines 18 and 19 for Limitation of flaps 20 and 21. Run parallel to this Floor folding lines 22, 23 for delimiting a floor wall 24. The fold lines 18 and 22 on the one hand and 19 and 23 on the other hand limit elongated side walls 25, 26 of the pack 10. On the bottom wall 24 and on the side walls 25 and 26 each connect folding tabs 27, 28, the end walls 29 the pack 10 due to appropriate folding and overlap form. The folding tabs 27, 28 are by transverse folding lines 30, 31 delimited from the adjacent walls of the pack 10.

The cigarette packs 12 are inside the pack 10 positioned so that small areas of the cigarette packs 12, specifically an (upper) end face 32, the bottom wall 24 facing the envelope 17. Bottom sides 33 of the cigarette packs 12 are a closure side of the pack 10 turned, namely partially in the closed position to each other covering flaps 20, 21.

To manufacture the pack 10, the packs, namely Cigarette packs 12, in two pack strands 34, 35 fed on a plate-shaped path 36. From both Pack strands 34, 35 become the content in one work cycle the pack group 11 corresponding to the pack 10 Separate cross-push. For this purpose, a double slide 37 is transverse moved to the pack strands 34, 35. The double slide 37 is with a driver 38 for the one strand 34 and with a second driver 39 for the other package strand 35 equipped. With a movement cycle of the double slide 37 (from right to left in Fig. 2) becomes a complete pack group 11 separated from the pack strand 34 and one Folding turret 40 or an intermediate conveyor arranged upstream of this fed. A second pack group 11 is from the Packing strand 35 separated by the driver 39 and in the End position of the double slide 37 in the continuation of the Packing strand 34 positioned, that is, in an intermediate position on the web 36. The double slide 37 is then moved upwards and sweeps in a plane above the pack strands 34, 35 back to the starting position. 2 is dash-dotted a movement path 41 of the double slide 37 shown. At the next working cycle of the double slide 37, the Area of the pack strand 34 positioned (second) pack group 11 fed by the driver 38 to the intermediate conveyor.

The intermediate conveyor or transfer conveyor for the pack groups 11 on the folding turret 40 is designed as a turning turret 42. On a rotatable carrier 43 there are two diametrically opposite shots 44 and 45 for each a pack group 11 is arranged. The recordings 44, 45 exist each from an upper and lower bracket, namely an upper wall 46 and a lower wall 47. Finds between them the pack group 11 intake. Upper wall 46 and lower wall 47 are positioned so that the pack group 11 with a certain tension or clamping effect in the respective recording 44, 45 is held.

The disc-shaped carrier 43 is through a horizontal shaft 48 rotatable, in the present case counterclockwise. The carrier 43 is rotated through 180 ° in each case. This way a receptacle 44 adjacent to a loading station to the web 36 for the insertion of a pack group 11 via a open side. The other receptacle 45 is at the same time in an extension station. Here a pack group 11 is made the receptacle 45 facing the folding turret 40 is conveyed out and inserted into a pocket 49 of the folding turret 40. The Recordings 44, 45 are arranged offset in height on the carrier 43. The insertion of the pack group 11 into a holder takes place at a higher level than the extension from the each other recording.

The pack groups 11 are removed from the respective receptacle 44, 45 pushed out and into the neighboring Pocket 49 of folding turret 40 positioned for receiving 45 inserted. With this insertion movement, a blank is cut the envelope 17 carried by the pack group 11. The Envelope 17 enters pack 49 with pack group 11 and lies in a U-shape on or around the pack group 11. The blank of the covering 17 is positioned so that the front faces 32 of the cigarette packs when inserted 12 get exactly plant on the bottom wall 24 of the (unfolded) wrapping 17.

The folding turret 40 is four at equal circumferential intervals Pockets 49, 50, 51, 52 arranged from one another are provided. At the introduction of a pack group 11 is the respective Pocket 49 in a horizontal plane.

Counter pressure elements are arranged inside the pockets 49..52, whose task when introducing a pack group 11 into a Pocket 49..52 consists of cutting the envelope 17 correctly on the facing surfaces of packing group 11 fix. It is a plunger 53 which is in the radial direction is movable and according to the insertion of the Pack group 11 is withdrawn into the pocket 49 up to a radially inner bottom of the pocket 49..52. The pestles 53, 54 opposing pockets 49, 51 and 50, 52, respectively are connected to one another via a common push rod 55, 56.

After inserting a pack group 11 with an envelope 17 in the pocket 49 initially becomes the one protruding from the pocket 49 Folding tab, namely the (internal) closing tab 20 folded, namely against the free bottom 33 of the cigarette packs 12. For this purpose, a folder 81 in the circumferential direction of the Folding revolver 40 movable with the closure flap 20.

Then the folding turret 40 is advanced by one cycle, namely around a quarter circle. The second, outer Closure flap 21 folded into the closed position, namely through a fixed outer guide 57 of the folding turret 40.

Sealing flaps 20 and / or sealing flaps 21 are on each other Provide facing sides with glue or are glued, so that the flaps 20, 21 in the overlap area be glued together.

In the area of the upward-facing or open-topped Pocket 50 is the finished package 10 from the Pocket 50 pushed out, namely by the plunger 53, which is moved upwards accordingly. In order for the extension movement the pack 10 a correct movement ensure and the flaps 20, 21 in the closed position to fix, a counter-holder moves synchronously upwards 58 with adjacent to the outer flap 21 Holding head 59 as a counter-organ to the plunger 53.

After the complete ejection from the pocket 50, the container pack 10 in the transverse direction or in the tangential direction pushed by the plunger 53 onto a discharge conveyor 60. This is provided with a fixed top guide 61, on which the upper, outer flap 21 abuts. The packs 10 are accordingly between the trained as a belt conveyor Abförderer 60 and the top guide 61 transported. A cross slide 62 with slide plate 63 causes the pack to be pushed off 10 from the ram 53 to the conveyor 60. The counter-holder 58 or its holding head 59 is in the upper End position a short distance above the flap 21.

A common problem is that the dimensions of the individual packs, namely cigarette packs 12 and so that the dimensions of the pack group 11 are smaller than the predetermined dimensions of the envelope 17, namely the walls marked by fold lines. In particular, the cigarette packs 12 a smaller height, i.e. dimension in Have longitudinal direction along upright packaging edges 64 than the width or height of the corresponding side wall 25, 26 that of the cladding 17. Since the one with a lower height Pack group 11 is driven against the bottom wall 24 results itself in the area of the closure side of the pack 10, that is the flap 20, 21, a cavity, the reason for an unsatisfactory outer appearance of the pack 10 is.

In the present case, the cigarette packs 12 a packing group 11 so positioned relative to each other that the overall contour of the pack group 11 the interior of the folded Envelope 17 essentially fills.

In the present embodiment, the cigarette packs 12 vertically offset from each other. Fig. 3 shows a pack group 11 in plan view. The cigarette packs 12 or two adjacent cigarette packs 12 are offset from adjacent cigarette packs 12 arranged. 3, the arrangement is made so that the outside of the formation of pack group 11 Cigarette packs 12, namely outer pack pairs 65 and a middle pair of packs 66 after one and between arranged pack pairs 67 to the other direction are offset. Inside the pack 10 are the inner Pack pairs 67 on the bottom wall 24, so support the entire pack group 11 in this area on the wrapping 17 from. The other pack pairs 65, 66 are the closure side turned, so the flaps 20, 21 and lie on them on. It is important that the outer pack pairs 65th the closure side, ie the closure flaps 20, 21 facing and support the sensitive end area of this pack side.

The formation of the pack group filling the pack 10 11 is before the union with the blank the envelope 17 created, so at least when inserting the Pack group 11 in the pocket 49 of the folding turret 40. Zu for this purpose the slider 68 is plate-shaped Slider head 69 provided due to a contoured surface the offset of the packs or Pack pairs 65, 66, 67 of the pack group causes. The slider head 69 is provided with projections 70, 71 for this purpose, those in the area of the pack pairs 67 on the facing surfaces, namely on the bottom sides 33 of the cigarette packs 12. The protrusions 70 and 71 are slightly smaller Width than the cigarette packs 12. The protrusions 70, 71 form compared to the other surface areas of the slide head 69 an offset. The pack pairs 65 and 66 are in contact reset surfaces 72, 73, 74 of the slide head 69.

The pockets 49..52 are so dimensioned, namely because of the distances of pocket walls 75, 76 that that by the slide 68 formation of pack group 11 in pocket 49, 50. is stabilized. The pack group 11 with envelope 17 is kept under tension in the pocket 49 ..

In the present embodiment, it is useful already a preform of the offset relative position of the Packs or pack pairs 65, 66, 67 of pack group 11 caused by the driver 38 of the double slide 37. This is designed analogously to slide 68 or slide head 69, namely with jumps and jumps, which the in particular 3 recognizable offset of the adjacent pairs of packs 65, 66, 67 effect.

Another peculiarity is in the area of ejecting the packs 10 from the folding turret 40 or in the area of Cross pushes given by the cross slide 62. To the sensitive Area of the closure side of the pack 10 too support, namely the area of the flaps 20, 21, protrudes the slide plate 63 over the contours of the pack 10 away. This will ensure that the cross Package 10 this is detected at full height, in particular also in the area of the sealing flaps 20, 21.

However, the counter-holder 58 is also effective in this area, whose holding head 59 the closing flaps 20, 21 in the closed position should secure. The holding head 59 lies on the sealing tab 20, 21 on or is positioned at a short distance from them. Nevertheless, a trouble-free removal of the packaging To ensure 10 is the bottom or the Container pack 10 facing side of the holding head 59 on the one hand and an upper edge portion of the slide plate 63 on the other hand designed so that the latter on the holding head 59 when pushing can be moved past.

In the present embodiment, there is an upper one Edge of the slide plate 63 from projections 77 and depressions 78. Appropriately designed projections enter the recesses 78 79 of the holding head 59. The projections 77 of the slide plate 63 protrude into recesses 80 of the holding head 59 in this way, the two holding support members, namely holding heads 59 on the one hand and slide plate 63 on the other hand, with Overlap to be effective.

Reference symbol list:

10th

Container pack

11

Packing group

12th

Pack of cigarettes

13

line

14

line

15

front

16

back

17th

Wrapping

18th

Longitudinal folding line

19th

Longitudinal folding line

20th

Sealing flaps

21

Sealing flaps

22

Floor folding line

23

Floor folding line

24th

Bottom wall

25th

Side wall

26

Side wall

27

Folding rag

28

Folding rag

29

End wall

30th

Cross fold line

31

Cross fold line

32

Face

33

Bottom side

34

Package strand

35

Package strand

36

train

37

Double slide

38

Carrier

39

Carrier

40

Folding turret

41

Trajectory

42

Turning turret

43

carrier

44

admission

45

admission

46

Top wall

47

Bottom wall

48

wave

49

bag

50

bag

51

bag

52

bag

53

Pestle

54

Pestle

55

Push rod

56

Push rod

57

External guidance

58

Counterhold

59

Holding head

60

Conveyor

61

Overpass

62

Cross slide

63

Slide plate

64

Packing edge

65

Pack pair

66

Pack pair

67

Pack pair

68

Slider

69

Slider head

70

head Start

71

head Start

72

area

73

area

74

area

75

Pocket wall

76

Pocket wall

77

head Start

78

deepening

79

head Start

80

deepening

81

butterfly

Claims (11)

1. Process for producing multipacks (10) having a plurality of articles, in particular a group of cuboidal cigarette packs (12) - pack group (11) - which are enclosed by a wrapper (17) made of comparatively stiff packaging material, in particular thin cardboard, it being the case that a blank for forming the wrapper (17), in a first folding step, is folded around the articles or pack group (11) in the form of a U and then folding tabs are folded against the articles, characterized by the following features:

   a) the pack group (11) has smaller effective outer dimensions than the definitively folded wrapper (17),

   b) in order to compensate for the differences in dimension between the blank of the wrapper (17), on the one hand, and the group of articles -pack group (11) - on the other hand, the articles within the group or the cigarette packs (12) within the pack group (11) are offset in relation to one another, before being wrapped by the wrapper (17), such that the effective outer dimensions of the group of articles - pack group (11) - are greater, in accordance with the offset amount, than the corresponding dimensions of an individual article - cigarette pack (12) - and the contour of the group of articles - pack group (11) - corresponds to the dimensions of the wrapper (17).
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in an arrangement of articles, in particular cigarette packs (12), in rows (13, 14) of aligned articles located one beside the other, said articles are positioned in an offset manner in relation to one another in the direction transverse to the alignment of the row (13, 14), such that the effective width of the row (13, 14) is greater than the corresponding dimensions of an article or of a cigarette pack (12).
3. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in a pack group (11) comprising ten cigarette packs (12) which are positioned in a double row with five pack pairs (65, 66, 67), two border-side pack pairs (65) and a central pack pair (66) are offset by the same distance in one direction, in particular in the direction of an opening side of the multipack (10), and in that two other pack pairs (67) are offset in the opposite direction, in particular in the direction of a base wall (24).
4. Process according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the offset formation of the group of articles - pack group (11) - is created during the formation of the group and/or during transportation of the group and/or as the group is pushed into a pocket (49, 50, 51, 52) of a folding turret (40) and/or within the pocket (49, 50, 51, 52) of the folding turret.
5. Apparatus for producing multipacks (10) having a plurality of articles, in particular a group of cuboidal cigarette packs (12), which are enclosed by a wrapper (17) made of comparatively stiff packaging material, in particular thin cardboard, it being the case that a blank of the wrapper (17) is supplied transversely to the conveying direction of the group of articles and can be folded around the group in the form of a U as it is carried along by said group, preferably by being pushed into a pocket (49, 50, 51, 52) of a folding turret (40), characterized in that the group of articles - pack group (11) - can be transported, in particular pushed into a pocket (49) of the folding turret (40), by a pusher (68), of which the pusher head (69) is designed, on the side directed towards the articles, such that the pushing movement causes the articles within the group to become offset in relation to one another.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that, on the side directed towards the pack group (11), the pusher (68) or the pusher head (69) has depressions and elevations adapted to the dimensions of the articles or cigarette packs (12), in particular flat protrusions (70, 71) and set-back surfaces (72, 73, 74), the articles or cigarette packs (12) of the pack group (11) in each case butting exclusively against a protrusion (70, 71) or against a surface (72, 73, 74).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the pack group (11) is fixed in the offset formation in the pockets (49, 50, 51, 52) of the folding turret (40), preferably by being clamped in as a result of play-free dimensioning of the pockets (49, 50, 51, 52) relative to the pack group (11).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the pack groups (11) can be fed to the folding turret (40) by an intermediate conveyor having receiving means (44, 45), in particular by a turning turret (42), it being possible for the pack groups (11) to be pushed into the respective receiving means (44, 45) by a pusher element, in particular a double pusher (37), and the pusher element or a carry-along element (38) of the same being designed such that, upon being pushed into the receiving means (44, 45), the cigarette packs (12) of the pack group (11) can be moved into an offset position.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the finished multipack (10), after leaving the pocket (49..52), can be pushed off in the upward direction - in the case of the pocket (49..52) of the folding turret (40), which is driven in rotation in a vertical plane, being directed upwards - by a transverse pusher (62) which can be moved essentially tangentially to the folding turret (40), and is pushed off preferably onto a removal conveyor (60), the transverse pusher (62) having a pusher plate (63) which extends into the region above an upwardly directed closure side of the multipack (10) - above closure tabs (20, 21) which form the closure side.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that, as the multipack (10) is pushed out of an upwardly directed pocket (49..52) of the folding turret (40), an abutment (58) with a retaining head (59) butts against the open side, namely against the closure side with the closure tabs (20, 21), and in that the abutment (58) and/or the retaining head (59) thereof, on the one hand, and the transverse pusher (62) and/or the pusher plate (63) thereof are designed such that the pusher plate (63) can be moved past the retaining head (59) by way of its region which projects beyond the plane of the closure tabs (20, 21).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that on the top border region - in the region of the closure side of the multipack (10) - the pusher plate (63) is provided with protrusions (77) which project beyond the multipack (10) and/or the closure tabs (20, 21) and pass into matching depressions (80) on the facing side of the retaining head (59) during the pushing-off movement.

Images