EP1122171B1 - Method and device for applying a code to (cigarette)-packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for attaching markings or imprints on free outer surfaces of cigarette packs by means of printing unit, in particular laser encoder, wherein the printing unit is stationarily positioned next to an endless conveyor for the cigarette packs, the packs facing the printing unit, at least partially free are moved past the outer surface of the pack not covered by the endless conveyor, and wherein during the conveying movement or during temporary stoppage of the packs the printing is applied to the free or to the free part of the outer surface of the pack. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.

The application of informative imprints and / or encodings is becoming increasingly important, in particular for cigarette packs. It is important to integrate the process of printing into the working process of the packaging machine. Laser printers and laser encoders have yielded the best results so far. The surface provided with the printing or coding on the outside of the cigarette pack is provided with a coating which is partially removed by the laser encoder.

From document GB 2 337 974 it is known to form conveyor belts of a conveyor belt for stabilizing cigarette packs so narrow that the side surfaces of the cigarette packs resting against the belts are exposed and in contact This page can be marked by means of a laser. Disadvantageously, it is necessary to adapt the belt width to the package width, ie to make it correspondingly narrower.

The object of the invention is to design the attachment of markings or codings to (cigarette) packs such that the method and apparatus are integrated into the working process of the packaging machine and do not require any separate measures.

To solve this problem, the inventive method mentioned above is characterized in that the cigarette packs are arranged in pockets of a revolving turret while the markings or imprints are placed by the printing unit positioned adjacent to the outside of the revolving turret, wherein a radially outwardly facing Side and / or a voltage applied to the holding members of the revolver side of the cigarette packs is printed.

According to the invention, the packages are transported in such a way that a packing area not covered or covered by the conveying members faces the printer or laser encoder. Particularly advantageous is a promotion of the cigarette packs in pack groups, wherein packaging surfaces in the region of a station facing the laser encoder and this simultaneously provides a plurality of packs in the region of the surface concerned with printing or coding. Measures are provided for the exact alignment of the packages or the surfaces to be printed. The conveyor for the cigarette pack may be a dry turret with pockets for accommodating one pack group, directed at the end faces radially outward and exposed for printing.

Fig. 1

eine Zigarettenpackung des Typs Klappschachtel in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

einen Teilbereich einer Verpackungsmaschine in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in Queransicht bei vergrößertem Maßstab.

Fig. 4

einen anderen Bereich einer Verpackungsmaschine bzw. ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel derselben in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 5

einen Revolver für die Förderung von Packungen, nämlich einen Trockenrevolver, in axialer Seitenansicht.

Fig. 6

den Revolver gemäß Fig. 5 in queraxialer Seitenansicht.

Fig. 7

eine Einzelheit des Faltrevolvers in einer Seitenansicht entsprechend Fig. 5, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 8

eine Einzelheit eines Faltrevolvers analog Fig. 5 in Draufsicht einer Tasche,

Fig. 9

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 8 bei veränderter Stellung eines Organs,

Fig. 10

eine Verpackungsmaschine in schematischer Draufsicht mit einer Einrichtung zur Bedruckung von Packungen.

In the following, further details of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show no examples of the invention, but to facilitate the understanding of the invention. It shows:

Fig. 1

a cigarette pack of the type folding box in perspective view,

Fig. 2

a partial area of a packaging machine in a schematic side view,

Fig. 3

the device of FIG. 2 in a transverse view on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4

another area of a packaging machine or another embodiment thereof in a schematic side view,

Fig. 5

a revolver for the promotion of packages, namely a dry turret, in axial side view.

Fig. 6

the revolver of FIG. 5 in transverse axial side view.

Fig. 7

a detail of the folding turret in a side view corresponding to FIG. 5, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 8

a detail of a folding turret analogous to FIG. 5 in a plan view of a pocket,

Fig. 9

the detail according to FIG. 8 with a changed position of an organ,

Fig. 10

a packaging machine in a schematic plan view with a device for printing on packages.

Fig. 1 shows the most important application example for the coding of packages 10, namely a cigarette pack of the folding box type. This is known to consist of a box part 11 and a lid 12. The package 10 has a cuboid shape with a large-scale front side 13, narrow, upright side surfaces 14 and even smaller end surfaces, namely end face 15 and bottom surface 16th

The package 10 is to be provided with an outer printing, in particular with a coding, for example, from digits. Letters and / or lines. The coding is attached by laser. For this purpose are selected outer surfaces the pack 10 with coding surfaces 17, 18 provided. These are strip-shaped, outer coatings of the packs 10, which are partially removed during printing or coding by the laser, forming the letters, numbers or lines. In the illustration in Fig. 1, several alternatives for the attachment of the coding surfaces 17, 18 are shown. Preferably, the opposing narrow, upright side surfaces 14, in the region adjacent to the bottom surface 16 and / or in the region of the lid 12 adjacent to the end face 15. Alternatively or additionally, corresponding coding surfaces 17, 18 in the region of the end face 15 and bottom surface 16 are arranged be, in each case adjacent to an adjacent surface, ie adjacent and parallel to a pack edge.

There are several advantageous solutions shown for the attachment of the coding in the area of the coding surfaces 17 or 18. In all cases, the packs 10 are already completed and are possibly still provided with an outer film wrapping.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a printing unit or a laser encoder 19 is positioned in the region of a conveying path for the packs. The packs 10 are transported so that the end face 15 and bottom surface 16 are directed sideways and one of the side surfaces 14 facing upward. The packages 10 are conveyed at a distance from each other, by endless conveyors, which attack in the region of the sideways surfaces. These are two (flat) straps 20, 21 that extend at a distance from one another. The upward-facing packing surface, that is to say the side surface 14, is completely free. Accordingly, the laser encoder 19 can code the coding surfaces 17, 18 located in the area of the side surface 14 during the transport of the packs 10 or during a temporary standstill thereof.

The device according to FIG. 2 is part of a packaging machine, namely primarily for testing the packs 10 with regard to their correct design. The straps 20, 21 form a test track, in the area of which test organs are arranged, namely cameras 22, 23. These detect the appearance of the package 10 and check their correct training, in this case also with regard to the coding. The laser encoder 19 is therefore arranged in the conveying direction of the packs 10 in front of the test station or in front of the cameras 22, 23, so that they can check the correct coding with. Incidentally, the test device is expediently designed in accordance with EP 854 090. In order to remove any material particles in the area of the coding, in this embodiment a suction member 24 is positioned, which is connected to a vacuum source during the coding of a pack 10.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the case of a device according to FIG. 2, a printing unit or a laser encoder 19 can also be arranged in the region of the straps 20, 21 in such a way that lateral faces of the pack 10 can be provided with a coding, Thus, end face 15 or bottom surface 16. The laser encoder 19 is positioned according to the dash-dotted representation laterally adjacent to the path of movement of the packs 10. A laser beam is directed onto a free region of the end face 15 or bottom surface 16, in this case above the upper belt 20.

The device according to FIG. 4 is likewise located in the end region of a packaging machine. It is a collection and conveying device for packages 10 in broad accordance with EP 596 387.

The packages 10 are transported at a distance from each other by a horizontal pack conveyor 25. This consists of an upper conveyor belt 26 and a lower conveyor belt 27. The packs 10 are each detected by an upper run and a lower run in the region of up and down facing pack surfaces, in the region of the correspondingly positioned side surfaces 14th

The packages are to be transferred to a vertical conveyor 28. This is designed so that at an upright endless conveyor 29 transversely projecting platforms 30 at a distance are arranged from each other. These each detect several, namely two packs 10 and transport them upwards.

The packing conveyor 25 ends in this device at a distance from the vertical conveyor 28. The packs 10 are formed here to a row of seals 31. This is fed to the vertical conveyor 28 by respective subsequent packages 10 via a bridge plate 32. In the area of this last conveyor line, namely the bridge plate 32, the packages 10 are free at the top, so that the upwardly directed packing surface - side surface 14 - by a subsequent to the package conveyor 25 above the packs 10 positioned laser encoder 19 with the Coding can be provided. Additionally or alternatively, in this device, a laser encoder may also be positioned sideways next to the package conveyor 25, when the laterally directed free packing surfaces, namely face 15 or bottom surface 16, are to be provided with a coding.

An important embodiment, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The packs 10 are transported as a pack group 54 in pockets 33 of a revolver 34. The purpose of the revolver 34 is to transport the packages 10 or groups of packages 54 for a certain time in order that the glue spots of the packages can be cured while maintaining a correct shape ,

The pockets 33 are designed such that the packs 10 of a pack group 54 are arranged next to one another in the axial direction, in the present case six packs 10 as a pack group 54. The pockets 33 are open on both axial sides, so that in the region of a feed station 35 the packs 10 can be inserted in an axially parallel direction by a feed conveyor 36 in a respective free pocket 33. At an offset position in the circumferential direction, a Ausschubstation 37 is formed in the same time as the loading of a packing group 54 is pushed out of a pocket 33 also in the axis-parallel direction. Serves for this purpose in a corresponding direction reciprocable slide 38, which has a Support arm 39 with an actuating gear, namely a crank 40 is connected.

The pockets 33 are formed in a special way, namely consist essentially of two lateral pocket walls 41, 42. These capture the packs 10 in the region of the side surfaces 14. The end faces 15 or bottom surfaces 16 are directed radially inwardly and outwardly. One of the pocket walls, namely the pocket wall 41, is stationary and forms with a radially inner leg 43 an inside boundary of the bag 33 for the packs 10. The other, opposite pocket wall 42 is pivotable about an inside bearing 44. By pivoting the pocket wall 42nd Therefore, the bag 33 is slightly opened to allow the insertion and ejection of the packs 10 trouble-free.

The (dry) turret 34 is particularly advantageous as a conveyor for the packages in the area of a printing unit or laser. The outwardly directed packing surfaces, namely end surfaces 15, may be directly facing a laser encoder 19 (dash-dot line in FIG. 5), the laser encoder 19 being suitably positioned in a vertical median plane of the revolver 34 above it. The group of packs 54 facing the laser encoder 19 is provided with the printing or coding in one working cycle, whereby the laser beam is deflected correspondingly via movable mirrors. Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange several, in particular two, laser encoders in the axial direction next to one another, wherein each of these laser encoders processes a number of packs 10 of the pack group 54.

Another alternative is also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A pocket wall, namely in the present case the rearward in the direction of rotation pocket wall 42 is formed with a smaller radial dimension than that of the packs 10. A radially outboard portion of the associated side surface 14 projects beyond the pocket wall 42 away. In the corresponding upper station, the laser encoder 19 with a horizontal laser beam can thus attach the coding to the free area of the side surface 14.

A special feature is that the packs 10 of a pack group 54 are aligned during the coding exactly at least in the area of the surfaces to be printed. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show this orientation in the main with reference to the outwardly directed end faces 15. A movable pressing member extends over all packs 10 of the packing group 54. Accordingly, during the (laser) printing, the end faces are in a common exact position Level.

The pressing member is a fixed, rotatable pressure roller 55. This extends in an axis-parallel direction over the full length of the packing group 54 and beyond (FIG. 6). The pressure roller 55 is in the position of alignment offset from the center plane on the surfaces or end faces 15, such that in a non-remaining area the laser coding can be performed.

The pressure roller 55 is arranged or movable so that a pressure and alignment effect is given only during the phase of the coding. The pressure roller 55 is therefore designed here as an eccentric or mounted on an eccentrically arranged shaft journal 56. This is driven in rotation, by a drive belt or toothed belt 57, which in turn is driven by a drive wheel 58. The drive wheel 58 is driven by the turret 34 via a central gear and a pinion, so that the movement of the pressure roller 55 takes place in exact accordance with the rotational movement of the turret 34. During movement of a bag 33 with packing group 54 into the coding position, the peripheral surface of the pressure roller 55 is in a retracted position. Due to the position of the eccentric shaft journal 56 is achieved that in the coding position shown in FIG. 5, the pressing and aligning force is transmitted to the package group 54.

In order to additionally or alternatively align the packs 10 of a pack group 54 in the area of further free surfaces, namely in the area of the front sides 13, fixed guide rails 59 are positioned on both sides of the pockets. The guide rails 59 are positioned on the facing front sides 13 of the pack group 54 in the sense of exact alignment the entire packing group 54 act.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, a (dry) turret 34 is also used to transport the packs 10 or groups of packs 54. To carry out the coding with the aid of a laser coder 19, the packs 10 or the pack group 54 are temporarily and partially moved out of the position within the pocket 33 in a Codierstellung. In this, the surfaces or partial surfaces of the packs 10 to be provided with a print are free. In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the packages 10 are positioned so that side faces 14 facing up or to the side may be partially exposed and acted upon by the laser encoder. This can, as shown in Fig. 7, be positioned in a position vertically above the packs to be acted upon. However, the arrangement according to FIG. 7 likewise applies equally to a horizontal arrangement or direction of action of the laser coder 19.

For the movement of the packs 10 or groups of packages 54 is a fork-shaped slide 45, preferably for each pocket 33. The slider 45 has two interconnected legs 46. 47, which correspond in a substantially the length or other dimension of the pack 10 Are spaced apart from each other. The slider 45 is the bag 33 delivered by movement in the radial direction and in the axis-parallel direction so that the group of packages 10 within the pocket 33 in the region of the inside and outside surfaces, namely the end face 15 and bottom surface 16, by the legs 46, 47th be recorded. By radially directed movement of the packages 10 are then moved out of the pocket 33 in the position shown in Fig. 7. After carrying out the printing, the packs 10 are guided by correspondingly opposite movement of the slider 45 in the pocket 33 back.

The above-described principle is realized in a special way according to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The packs 10 to be encoded are wholly or partially moved out of the pocket 33 such that they are successively moved past a laser encoder during the movement, of which a (movable) laser beam 48 is shown schematically in FIG.

As a conveying member for the packs 10, a slide 49 of the relevant pocket 33 is associated, which has a fork-shaped head 50. Two spaced apart legs 51, 52 engage the packs 10 and the group, respectively, in the area of packing surfaces exposed on both sides in the radial direction of the revolver 34, namely on the front side 13 and the opposite side. The packs 10 are moved laterally out of the pocket 33 by the slider 49 in an axis-parallel direction. The particular upward side surfaces 14 are acted upon by the corresponding relative movement of the slider 49 successively through the laser encoder 19 and the laser beam 48 so that it can attach a coding 53 at the desired location of the package 10. After the coding of all packs 10 by corresponding movement of the slide 49, the latter returns with the packs 10 to the starting position (FIG. 8). The revolver 34 is then moved one position further.

Fig. 10 shows a particular solution for integrating the printing or coding of packages 10 into a packaging machine for the production of packages 10 of the Hinge-Lid type. The packaging machine is designed for two-lane operation. The packages coming from a folding turret 60 are transported along a packing path 61 running approximately centrally within the packaging machine and fed to a first drying turret 62 of known type. From this, the packages pass via a packing conveyor 63 to the second drying turret, namely to the turret 34. The packages 10 are conveyed by the package conveyor 63 in an axis-parallel direction, in an edge region of the turret 34 and transported away in the same direction by a discharge conveyor 64.

Of particular importance is the positioning of the revolver 34 in a front longitudinal plane of the packaging machine. As a result, space for the arrangement of the laser encoder 19 is provided on the back. This usually consists of an elongated housing, which is positioned here on the back of the revolver 34. In addition to the laser encoder 19 is a control unit 65, which is the input of the encoding to be printed enabled and connected via a control line 66 to the laser encoder 19. The control unit 65 is located at the end or edge of the packaging machine in a functionally favorable position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

pack

11

box part

12

cover

13

front

14

side surface

15

face

16

floor area

17

coding area

18

coding area

19

Laser coders

20

belt

21

belt

22

camera

23

camera

24

suction element

25

pack conveyor

26

conveyor belt

27

conveyor belt

28

vertical conveyor

29

endless conveyor

30

platform

31

seal series

32

bridge plate

33

bag

34

revolver

35

loading station

36

feeder

37

out station

38

pusher

39

Beam

40

crank

41

pocket wall

42

pocket wall

43

leg

44

camp

45

pusher

46

leg

47

leg

48

laser beam

49

pusher

50

head

51

leg

52

leg

53

encoding

54

pack group

55

pressure roller

56

shaft journal

57

toothed belt

58

drive wheel

59

guide rail

60

folding turret

61

packing sheet

62

drying turret

63

pack conveyor

64

discharge conveyor

65

control unit

66

control line

Claims (13)

1. Process for providing markings or printing on free outer surfaces of cigarette packs (10) by means of a printing unit, in particular a laser coder (19), with the printing unit (19) being positioned in a stationary manner alongside an endless conveyor for the cigarette packs (10), the packs (10) being moved past by way of an at least partially free outer surface of the cigarette pack (10), said outer surface being directed towards the printing unit and not covered by the endless conveyor, and with the printing being provided on the free outer surface, or on the free part of the outer surface, of the pack (10) during the conveying movement or during a temporary standstill of the packs (10), characterized in that cigarette packs (10) are arranged in pockets of a rotary displaceable turret (34) while the markings or printing are applied by the printing unit (19) which is positioned adjacent to the outer side of the rotary displaceable turret (34), with printing being made on a side of the cigarette packs (10) facing in a radially outward direction and/or a side of the cigarette packs (10) abutting retaining elements of the turret (34).
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that marking or printing is carried out during a standstill phase of the turret (34).
3. Process according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cigarette packs (10) which are marked or printed are those which are arranged in the vertical direction during the standstill phase of the turret (34).
4. Process according to one or more of the previous Claims, characterized in that the top surfaces (15) of the cigarette packs (10) are marked or printed.
5. Apparatus for providing markings or printing on free outer surfaces of cigarette packs (10) with a printing unit (19), in particular with a laser coder (19), it being possible to convey the cigarette packs (10) past the printing unit (19) by means of an endless conveyor, with conveying elements of the conveyor being configured such that pack surfaces on which the printing is to be provided are at least partially exposed, characterized by the following features:

   a) the endless conveyor is a rotary displaceable turret (34) in whose pockets (33) it is possible to position the cigarette packs (10),

   b) the printing unit is positioned adjacent to the outer side of the turret (34) such that it is possible to apply printing to a side of the cigarette packs facing (10) in a radially outward direction and/or a side of the cigarette packs (10) abutting retaining elements of the turret (34) during transport or a standstill phase.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the turret (34) is a drying turret with pockets (33) for accommodating a pack group (54) with a plurality of packs (10) arranged next to one another in the axis-parallel direction which can be printed in the region of a surface directed radially outwards - top surface (15) - during a standstill phase of the turret (34) by at least one laser coder (19).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the retaining elements of the packs (10) or pack groups (54) on the turret (34), in particular the radially directed pocket walls (41, 42), are dimensioned such that part of an area of the pack surfaces facing the pocket walls (41, 42), in particular at least one side surface (14), projects from the pocket (33) in the radial direction and can be impinged by a laser coder (19) acting in the transverse direction.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that, in the region of a coding station for the pack surfaces to which coding is to be applied, in particular with respect to the radially outward directed pack surfaces, the packs (10), in particular a pack group (54), are precisely aligned by a pressure-exerting device, in particular an axis-parallel pressure roller (55), abutting the pack surfaces or top surfaces (15).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that for the printing or laser coding of the packs (10) of a pack group (54) a plurality of laser coders (19), in particular two laser coders (19), are positioned next to each other, with each laser coder (19) impinging a plurality, in particular three cigarette packs (10) of the pack group (54) during a standstill phase of the turret (34).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that, for printing or coding, the packs (10) can be moved out of their conveying position into a position suitable for printing or coding relative to a printing unit or laser coder (19) and that after completion of printing or coding the packs can be moved back into their conveying position.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the packs (10), in particular a group of packs (10), can be moved wholly or partially out of a pocket (33) of the turret (34) by a slide (45, 49), in particular in the radial direction or in the axis-parallel direction, such that a pack surface, in particular a side surface (14), moves into an active position relative to the laser coder (19).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the slide (45, 49) is of fork-like design and/or has two spaced-apart legs (46, 47; 51, 52) which grip the packs (10), or the group of packs (10), on opposite sides, namely in particular in the region of the top surface (15) and base surface (16) or in the region of front sides (13), such that, by radial or axis-parallel movement of the slide (45, 49), the packs (10) can be moved out of the pocket (33) in one direction or the other.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the packs (10) can be moved past the laser coder (19) by the movement relative to the conveyor, in particular relative to the turret (34), said laser coder (19) providing the coding (53) on the packs one after the other during the relative movement.

Images