EP0909707B1 - Apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarette packages in packing blanks - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the present context, groups of cigarette packs are in to understand primarily groups of (e.g. ten) cigarette packs that are in Cardboard boxes, so-called bars, are packed.

The packaging material is in the form of usually printed, rigid blanks made of cardboard, cardboard, rigid paper, plastic or other for packaging suitable material.

Cigarette packets, e.g. B. so-called hard cup packs are usually arranged in groups of ten, which are cut into one or more packaging material be enveloped. This results in a large package or a container, which is also called a cigarette stick. Pre-made, usually at least one-sided printed blanks, the longitudinal and End faces of the pack groups corresponding surface sections and Sealing flaps on the edges of at least some of the surface sections. The surface sections of the blank are one below the other and to the Sealing flaps delimited by fold lines, which are usually pre-weakened, preferably are grooved to facilitate folding around the pack groups and to get defined packaging edges. The fold lines correspond in their arrangement on the cut, their course and their dimensions the edges of the pack group to be packed as precisely as possible.

To wrap a pack group in such a blank, it is against pushed and then a predetermined first surface section of the blank together with the blank in a holder of a folding turret or one other folding device pushed in. The blank folds in a U-shape three sides of the pack group by delimiting the first surface section Folding lines are folded in the direction of folding. In one or more The following folding devices are the further necessary folding and wrapping operations carried out.

The method and device described in the introduction are, for example through DE 41 09 713 (corresponds to US 5 133 173). In this script is a Bar packer shown, in which a packaging material blank held ready in a receptacle is folded at two fold lines before a pack group is kicked in. The pre-buckling happens with a folding spindle or Mouthpiece that is a surface section of the blank along the trajectory the pack groups in their conveying direction into a fixed folding element pushes. As soon as the pre-folding of the blank is finished, a pack group hits with a side surface on the one stopped in the folding element, pre-kinked blank and takes it in three pages when folded a subsequent folding station. The impact of the pack group on the blank causes a considerable noise, especially in modern machines contributes to the noise level of the machine with a high production rate. The runs the current efforts to reduce noise emissions from machines or to avoid doing so.

Another method and a device of the type described at the outset show DE 35 38 264 (corresponds to US 4,653,248). Even with the one known from this document The packer is first cut using a moving mouthpiece pressed into a push-in channel with converging walls in the inlet area and pre-bent on certain fold lines before the next pack group is inserted. This meets the one held ready in the push-in channel Cutting so that even in this machine at least at high production rates strong impact noises are to be expected.

DE 196 08 967 A1 also shows a bar packer according to the preamble of claim 1, in which a pack group with one of its side surfaces against a corresponding surface section of a blank positioned in a recording and further taking and Folding the blank is pushed into a subsequent folding station. The Pack group hits the blank at full conveying speed, which is associated with strong production of noise with high production output. Folding plates that can be swiveled around stationary swivel axes bend the blank the impact of the pack group on the intended folding lines in the direction of impact before, whereby the blank does not move out of the blank holder. GB 847 971 shows a folding device in which individual layers of cigarettes one stationary folding channel are fed. The layers are in one picture, in which they are conveyed to the folding channel. Before admission to the stationary When the folding channel is reached, it takes a cut with it, which it does with a slightly smaller one Speed than the position brings in the folding channel. The faster moving situation hits the blank and conveys it further into the folding channel, while the Recording is moved back.

The invention has for its object a further device of the beginning Specify the type described. In particular, the task is the noise emission reduce the machine.

This object is achieved with the characterizing features of Claim 1 solved.

At high production rates, the impact of the pack groups is unmoved provided blanks very violently when using the state of the art the full, very high conveying speed of the pack groups takes place. By the proposed reduction of the relative speed of Cutting and article will determine the impact speed of the pack groups on the Cut downs, resulting in a significant relief in noise emissions leads. At the same time, the folding can advantageously be carried out in a folding device, preferably a folding turret, during which rotation is stopped.

Continuations, preferred further training and advantageous refinements of Invention are contained in the subordinate claims.

The further developments of the device proposed according to the invention claims 2 to 6 represent preferred means for reducing the relative speed of cut and pack groups ready. With the device features of claims 7 to 13 is the reduction of the relative speed Serving mouthpiece movement at the same time for pre-buckling of the cut on predetermined fold lines. It is envisaged that the Folding device on the mouthpiece or on a carrying the mouthpiece Sledge is arranged and by the movement of the mouthpiece in the sense of Folding certain surface sections of the blank along the intended Folding lines in the folding direction is operated. The design of the folding plates according to claim 11 leads to a further reduction in noise emissions, and enable the configurations of the device according to claims 12 and 13 it is to pre-fold the blank at the same time on all longitudinal fold lines.

The device according to the invention offers the advantage of a significant reduction in noise when pushing a pack group into a folding device. Doing so not only the impact of a group on the blank, but also that Noise generated when folding through the folding plates is significantly reduced. The machine wins particularly under today's strict requirements the noise limitation of acceptance. Through the simultaneous exploitation of the Noise-reducing mouthpiece movement for the pre-buckling process cutting ensures high productivity of the machine because additional movements requiring additional processing time are not provided are.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels der Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung,

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht in Pfeilrichtung II der Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung und

Figur 4

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus der Seitenansicht der Figur 1.

Show it:

Figure 1

a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention,

Figure 2

2 shows a front view in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1,

Figure 3

a plan view of a device according to the invention and

Figure 4

2 shows an enlarged detail from the side view of FIG. 1.

The device shown as an embodiment of the invention in the drawing has a preparation station 1 for groups 2 of cigarette packets to be packed, a receptacle 3 for positioning a blank for processing 4, a folding turret 6 with pockets 7 for receiving successive Groups 2 and one from the supply station 1 through the blank holder 3 leading to the revolver 6 packing web 8 with means 9 for moving a group 2 through the packing line.

Group 2 to be packaged here are groups of ten cigarette packs each 11, arranged in two superimposed rows of five pieces are. These groups of cigarette packs reach the preparation station 1 or also "cigarette sticks" by means of a belt conveyor 12, which is known per se and therefore in Figures 1 and 4 only with its upper strand carrying the articles is shown. As a funding 9, a slide serves to move the group in the direction an arrow 13 along the packing path 8 through the blank holder 3 in a pocket 7 of the folding turret 6 moves and from a drive and control arrangement 78 is driven. This includes one of a not shown Motor-driven drive shaft 16, which has a toothed belt 17 and a Crank drive 18 a back and forth on a guide 19 in the conveying direction 13, drives the slide 9 carrying slide 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the packing web 8 is by a sliding surface 21, the one Upper guide 22 is assigned, a first adjoining the sliding surface 21 Mouthpiece 23 and one aligned with the first in the direction of the packaging line predetermined second mouthpiece 24, which in turn with a ready to record Pocket 7 of the folding turret 6 is aligned.

The first mouthpiece 23 is part of a feed device 30. It has one upper guide plate 26a and a lower guide plate 26b (Figures 2 and 4). These guide plates 26a and 26b are laterally attached to holders 27 which also form the lateral boundaries of the mouthpiece 23 and in turn on supports 28 are attached. The carrier 28, the holder 27 and the mouthpiece form together a carriage, which runs on parallel to the packing track 8 guide rods 29 in the conveying direction 13 of the groups 2 can be moved back and forth. The carriers 28 are mounted on the guide rods 29 by means of guide bushes 31 and led. The guide rods 29 are stationary in the machine frame 32 arranged. The described construction of the mouthpiece slide and its in the machine frame sliding arrangement are best in the front view of the Figure 2 and the top view of Figure 3 can be seen. Limit both representations essentially to those related to the present invention important components of the device to improve its structure and mode of operation to emerge. Because the device features are mirror images on both sides are the same, only the features shown on one side were included Provide reference numerals that apply accordingly to the other side. The feed device 30 comprises a drive which moves the mouthpiece 23 and which can best be seen in the side view of FIGS. 1 and 4. Both sides the packing path along the guide rods 29 are movable carrier 28 connected via coupling 33 with swivel arms 34 which are firmly seated on an axis 36. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the axis 36 is on both sides in the machine frame 32 stored. On the axis 36 is another swivel arm 37, which has a Coupling 38 is connected to an angle lever 41 controlled by a curve 39. The control cam 39 is driven by the drive shaft 16, which is also the insertion movement the slide 9 drives. Through this coupling, the movements the slider 9 and the mouthpiece 23 precisely matched become.

The second mouthpiece 24 has an upper guide 42a and a lower guide 42b on (Figure 4), between which the packing line 8 runs, and is stationary arranged. Between the movable first piece 23 and the stationary one second mouthpiece 24 is the receptacle 3 for a packaging material blank 4. This Packaging material is cut in the direction of arrow 43 by means of a feed device, which is indicated in Figure 1 by two conveyor rollers 44, supplied in a conventional manner. In the blank holder 3, the blank is positioned for processing, by moving transversely to the pack path 8 between the mouthpieces 23 and 24 is held and rests on a support 46 which is on both sides in the machine frame 32 is attached.

The carriers 28 running on the guide rods 29 on both sides of the packing web 8 carry, in addition to the mouthpiece 23, also a folding device 45 with folding plates 47 and 48. The upper folding plate 47 consists of two partial plates 49a and 49b (see FIG. 2), which are on both sides the packing web 8 are attached to folding plate carriers 51 designed as swivel arms. The structure is mirror-inverted on both sides of the packaging web, so that the description of the arrangement of the folding plate carrier 51 on one side is sufficient for understanding. The folding plate carrier 51 is pivoted about an axis 52 on the mouthpiece carrier 28. Via a coupling 53 articulated on the folding plate carrier 51 by means of an axis 55, the latter is also connected to a stationary axis 54. The pivot axis 52 of the folding plate carrier 51 is flush with the downstream longitudinal edge 73 of the upper guide plate 26a of the mouthpiece 23. The attachment of the folding plate carrier 51 to the movable mouthpiece carrier 28 and its articulation on the stationary axis 54 via the coupling 53 cause the folding plate carrier 51 and with together the folding plate 47 is pivoted when the mouthpiece moves in the conveying direction 13 of the articles against this conveying direction about the axis 52 from the folded-back position of FIG. 4 via an inclined position corresponding to FIG. 1 into an end position and back.
Corresponding to the upper folding plate 47, partial plates 56a and 56b of the lower folding plate 48 are fastened to folding plate carriers 57, which are also articulated on the mouthpiece carriers 28 on both sides of the packing web so as to be pivotable about an axis 58. The pivot axes 58 of the folding plate carrier 57 are aligned with the front longitudinal edge 73 of the lower guide plate 26b of the mouthpiece 23. A coupling 59 articulated on the folding plate carrier 57 by means of an axis 60 connects the lower folding plate carrier 57 to a stationary axis 61. FIG. 2 shows the stationary bearing 54, the bearing 52 movable with the carrier 28 and the coupling 53 of the upper folding plate carrier 51 and the stationary bearing 61, the bearing 28 movable with the carrier 28 and the coupling 59 of the lower folding plate carrier 57 in front view. In FIG. 3, the stationary bearing 54, the bearing 52 movable with the carrier 28 and the coupling 53 of the upper folding plate carrier 51 can be seen in a top view.

The described structure of the device causes the axis to rotate 36 the swivel arm 34 is moved counterclockwise in the same sense and the carrier 28 with the mouthpiece 23 along the guide rods 29 moved in the conveying direction 13, at the same time the articulated on the carriers 28 Folding plates 47 and 48 clockwise or counterclockwise about their axes 52 or 58 can be pivoted. By moving the swivel arm 34 in The movements of the mouthpiece 23 and the folding plates 47 take place clockwise and 48 in opposite directions.

FIG. 4 shows the device at the beginning of a working cycle of the machine. At this time, the movable mouthpiece 23 is completely upstream of the blank holder 3, and the folding plates 47 and 48 are pivoted back so far that they are both completely on the downstream side of the holder 3 and a blank 4 positioned in the holder. In this way, between the folding plates 47 and 48 on the one hand and the movable mouthpiece 23 on the other hand, the receptacle 3 is opened, into which a blank supplied by means of the conveyor rollers 44 can be inserted until it comes to rest on the stop 46.
Such a packaging material blank 4 intended for packing groups of cigarette packs has a first surface section 62, on both sides a second and a third surface section 63 and 64 as well as a fourth surface section 66. The size and arrangement of these surface sections correspond to the long sides of the groups 2 to be packaged. A closing flap 67 connects to the third surface section 63 of the blank. On the face side, the blank has surface sections 68 and 69 and also closure flaps 71. The surface sections 62 to 67 of the blank are separated from one another or from the closing flap 67 by fold lines 72a to 72d. The other surface sections of the blank to be folded over are also separated from one another by corresponding folding lines. Along the fold lines, the cut z. B. be weakened by creasing to facilitate folding of the blank. In FIG. 2, the blank, the surface sections and the fold lines, insofar as they can be seen, are shown in dash-dot lines.

The blank holder 3 is designed and arranged transversely to the packaging web 8, that the first surface section 62 of a blank positioned in the receptacle lies exactly in the path of movement of the article 2 to be packaged, so that when pushing a group forward, its front long side is exactly on the first Surface section 62 of the blank creates. The fold lines 72a and 72b that this delimit first surface section 62, run in exact correspondence with the longitudinal leading edges 73 of the guide plates designed as folded edges 26a and 26b of the mouthpiece 23.

In operation at the beginning of a work cycle for positioning a blank 4 in the receptacle 3 of the device according to FIG. 4, the mouthpiece 23 moved back against the direction of conveyance of the groups and at the same time the folding plate carriers 51 and 57 folded back with the folding plates 47 and 48, so that the Blank holder ready for feeding and positioning a blank 4 is. The blank rests in the receptacle on the support 46. The first surface section 62 of the blank is positioned exactly in front of the mouthpiece 23, the fold lines 72a and 72b delimiting this surface section exactly in front of the fold edges 73 of the mouthpiece plates 26a and 26b are located. One along the trajectory 8 moving groups 2 can face exactly on this surface section 62 put on. This situation before a Group 2 entered the Packing web 8 is shown in FIG. 4.

As soon as the drive shaft 16 via the crank mechanism 18, the slide 9 in the conveying direction 13 sets in motion, is simultaneously on the curve 39 and the angle lever 41 also the mouthpiece 23 in the conveying direction 13 along the packing path 8 emotional. It comes with its folding edges 73 at the folding lines 72a and 72b, which delimit the first surface section 62 before the group 2 the cut recording and the cutting is achieved. The mouthpiece now moves the Blank 4 in the conveying direction 13 along the packing path 8 from the blank holder out, at the same time the articulated on the mouthpiece slide Folding plate carrier 51 and 57 with the folding plates 47 and 48 with respect to the conveying direction 13 swivel backwards. The folding plates 47 and 48 lie on the the first surface section 62 adjacent surface sections 63 and 64 of the Cut 4 and fold it at fold lines 72a and 72b in the direction of impact around. This situation can be seen in FIG. 1. Since the folding plates 47 and 48, as can be seen from FIG. 2, each from partial plates 49a and 49b or 56a and 56b exist, between which there is a wide recess 76 and 77, respectively the noise generation when the folding plates 47 and 48 hit the relevant ones Surface sections of the blank 4 significantly compared to a full-area system reduced without the pre-folding of the blank on the fold lines 72a and 72b is affected. While the surface sections 63 and 64 from the folding plates 47 and 48 during the movement of the mouthpiece 23 in the conveying direction 13 in Are folded forward, the locking tab 67 and the surface section 66 through the arcuate circular guides 74 bent against their direction of impact. In this way, the cut on all longitudinal fold lines during mouthpiece movement bent at the same time, which makes the packaging process much easier.

While the mouthpiece 23 is still in the conveying direction 13 along the packaging line moved, it is overtaken by the following group 2, which deals with their Front of the surface section 62 of the blank which is moved in the conveying direction 4 creates. Through the simultaneous movement of the surface section 62, the relative speed between the fast moving group 2 and the blank reduced, which results in less noise when impacting the Group on the surface section 62 results. As soon as group 2 on the surface section 62 is present, the forward movement of the mouthpiece 23 ends, and that Mouthpiece is moved back to its starting position. At the same time, the Group 2 in the packing line further promoted to the folding turret 6, whereby they takes the blank with you when you pass the stationary mouthpiece 24 U-shaped around the group 2 and together with this in the ready Receiving pocket 7 of the folding turret 6 is passed. With a folding turret The assigned section 75 then becomes the surface section 66 of the blank folded to the back of group 2 as soon as the slide 9 the Article released.

The structure of the device and its function thus represent a reduction in noise emissions safe when wrapping an article in a blank, where in advantageously at the same time the pre-folding of the blank on all longitudinal ones Fold lines are made.

It should be noted that the term "relative speed" in the the description above the difference between the feed rate the cut and the speed of the group on impact with the cut referred to as.

Claims (13)

1. A device for wrapping batches of cigarette packets, more particularly cardboard-like packaging material blanks, with a holder (3) for positioning a blank (4) appropriately for processing, with a packaging path (8) crossing the holder (3) in the region of a first surface portion (62) of a blank (4) positioned therein which corresponds to a side surface of a batch (2), and with means (9) for conveying a batch (2) along the packaging path (8) towards the first surface portion (62) of a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3), and onward through the blank holder (3), entraining and folding the blank (4) over at least on three sides around the batch (2), characterised in that means (30) are provided for reducing the relative speed of the batch (2) and the blank (4) at least for the instant of impact of the batch (2) on the blank (4), a folding device (6), preferably a rotatable revolving folder, being arranged downstream of the said means.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that a feed device (30) movable in the conveying direction (13) of the batch along the packaging path (8) at least partially through the blank holder (3) and back serves as means (30) for reducing the relative speed of the batch (2) and the blank (4), which feed device, in the course of its forward movement, moves a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3) prior to and up until the impact of a batch (2) following in the packaging path (8) so that it runs ahead of the batch in the conveying direction (13).
3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the feed speed of the feed device (30) is less than the conveying speed of the batch (2) in the packaging path (8).
4. A device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a mouth piece (23, 26a, 26b) guiding the batch in the packaging path (8) up to impact on a blank and movable in the conveying direction (13) of the batches along the packaging path forwards and back through the blank holder (3) is provided as the means (30) for reducing the relative speed of the batch (2) and the blank (4).
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the mouth piece (23, 26a, 26b) is attached to a carriage (28) movable along guides (29) extending parallel to the packaging path (8).
6. A device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an insertion component (9) is provided to convey the batches (2) in the packaging path (8), and in that a drive and control arrangement (78) is provided which controls the movements of the feed device (30) moving the blank (4) and the insertion component (9) such that a batch (2) being conveyed in the packaging path (8) overtakes the feed device (30) moved in the conveying direction (13).
7. A device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the feed device (30) carries a folding device (45) with means (47, 48) for pre-bending a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3) on the fold lines (72a, 72b) defining the first surface portion (62) before the impact of a batch (2) on the blank (4).
8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that the feed device (30) is a mouth piece (23) with folding edges (73) corresponding to the fold lines (72a, 72b) of the first surface portion (62) of a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3), in that the folding device (45) is connected to the mouth piece (23) and has at least one folding component (47, 48) and in that, as the mouth piece (23) moves along the packaging path (8), the mouth piece and/or the folding component are movable relative to one another from a first position, in which the holder lies between them, into a second position, in which the folding component overlaps the mouth piece rearwardly over the folding edges (73), and back.
9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the mouth piece (23) is movable from a retracted position freeing the blank holder (3) towards the fold lines (72a, 72b) to be pre-bent of a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3) and onwards through the holder and back, and in that the folding components are folding plates (47, 48) which are pivotally connected laterally to the mouth piece (23) or to a carriage (28) bearing the mouth piece and are pivotable rearwardly over the folding edges of the mouth piece.
10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that each folding plate (47, 48) has an extent corresponding to the size of a second surface portion (63, 66) [sic, recte 63, 64], adjacent to the first, of a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3).
11. A device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the folding plates (47, 48) have recesses (76, 77) in their abutment surface coming into contact with the blank (4).
12. A device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the radially exterior longitudinal edge of the folding plates (47, 48) is a folding edge which extends substantially parallel to a fold line (72d, 72c) externally defining the associated surface portion (63, 64) of a blank (4) positioned in the holder (3) and is movable along a swivel arc around the swivel axis (52, 58) of the relevant folding plate, and in that associated with the swivel arc externally adjacent thereto is a folding element (74) with a folding edge directed towards the swivel arc.
13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that each folding element has at least one, preferably two circular guides (74) extending adjacent to the swivel arc of the relevant folding plate (47, 48) in the direction of movement thereof.

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