EP1829783B1 - Device and method for producing double packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing double packs for particular cigarettes, consisting of two separately manufactured part packs, consisting of a cigarette block, ie a cigarette group with inner cut of tinfoil or paper and at least one other blank, namely an inner blank surrounding the cigarette block consist of thin cardboard or similar foldable material, wherein the closed with double pack with their large-sized pack sides adjacent sub-packages are surrounded by an outer panel.

A trained in this way cigarette pack is the subject of WO 2005/054056 , The sub-packages are manufactured independently by two separate packaging machines, which are marketed for the production of hinge-lid packs. The sub-packages produced in this way are fed on parallel conveyor lines to a third packaging machine. In the area of the same, the partial packs are brought together by transverse displacement and then provided with the outer cut.

In the production of cigarette packs of the type folding box with two adjacent, separate cigarette blocks are in accordance with US 4,258,528 the two cigarette blocks, so wrapped in an inner blank cigarette groups, made during transport along two parallel conveyor tracks. The two cigarette blocks are inserted together in a correspondingly sized folding box in a folding turret. Immediately before the insert, the two cigarette blocks moved in the transverse direction until the plant of narrow side surfaces together. Then the joint insertion movement takes place.

The invention has for its object to propose measures for the production of double packs described above, which are less expensive than the prior art, especially in terms of the number of machines or units.

1. a) die Zigarettengruppen für je eine Teilpackung werden entlang paralleler, mit Abstand voneinander angeordneter Fertigungsbahnen derselben Verpackungsmaschine transportiert und während des Transports je in einen Innenzuschnitt eingehüllt zur Bildung von je einer Teilpackung zugeordneten Zigarettenblöcken,
2. b) die Zigarettenblöcke werden einem Faltrevolver zugeführt mit Taschen für je eine Teilpackung zur gleichzeitigen Anbringung von insbesondere unterschiedlich ausgebildeten Zuschnitten der Teilpackungen, nämlich von Teilzuschnitten an einem zugeordneten Zigarettenblock,
3. c) die in dem Faltrevolver fertiggestellten Teilpackungen werden nach Ausschub aus dem Faltrevolver im Bereich eines nachfolgenden Zusammenfügungsorgans, insbesondere in einem Zusammenfügungsrevolver durch Querverschiebung in eine der herzustellenden Doppelpackung entsprechende Relativstellung zueinander, nämlich unter wechselseitiger Anlage großflächiger Packungsseiten aneinander, bewegt, derart, dass die Teilpackungen mit großflächigen Packungsseiten aneinander liegen,
4. d) eine aus den beiden Teilpackungen bestehende Packungseinheit wird aus dem Zusammenfügungsorgan ausgeschoben und einem weiteren Faltrevolver zugeführt zum Anbringen des Außenzuschnitts an der aus den beiden Teilpackungen bestehenden Packungseinheit.

To solve this problem, the method according to the invention is characterized by the following features:

1. a) the groups of cigarettes for each one sub-package are transported along parallel, spaced-apart production lines of the same packaging machine and each wrapped in an inner blank during transport to form each one pack associated cigarette blocks,
2. b) the cigarette blocks are fed to a folding turret with pockets for one partial pack for the simultaneous attachment of in particular differently shaped blanks of the partial packs, namely partial blanks on an associated cigarette block,
3. c) the sub-packages finished in the folding turret are moved out of the folding turret in the region of a subsequent joining member, in particular in a turret by transverse displacement in a corresponding relative position to each other, namely with mutual contact of large-area packet sides, such that the sub-packages with large pack sides lie together,
4. d) one of the two part packs existing packing unit is ejected from the assembly member and fed to another folding turret for attaching the outer panel to the existing of the two part packs packing unit.

The method according to the invention enables a device which is designed like a single packaging machine. In a first area, two-lane operation method and apparatus are designed to first manufacture the cigarette blocks, then the sub-packages. Thereafter, the sub-packages are brought together and provided as a unit in a single-lane operation oriented folding turret with the outer panel.

A special feature is the use of two matching in the basic structure Faltrevolvern with vertical axis of rotation for the simultaneous production of two part packs as a packing unit on the one hand and for the subsequent attachment of the outer panel to the packing unit on the other. Between these two folding turrets an assembly turret of special design and operation is arranged, on the one hand has a shape-stabilizing effect on the part packs and this on the other hand gently merging in continuous operation to form the packing unit.

Fig. 1

einen ausgebreiteten Außenzuschnitt einer Doppelpackung für Zigaretten,

Fig. 2

einen ebenfalls ausgebreiteten Einzelzuschnitt einer Teilpackung,

Fig. 3

einen ausgebreitetem Einzelzuschnitt einer zweiten, abweichend ausgebildeten Teilpackung,

Fig. 4

eine erste Teilpackung in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 5

eine zweite Teilpackung, ebenfalls in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 6

die Doppelpackung in geschlossener Ausführung, in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig.7

die Doppelpackung gemäß Fig. 6 in Öffnungsstellung, ebenfalls in Perspektive,

Fig. 8

einen Abschnitt einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von insbesondere Doppelpackungen gemäß Fig. 1 bis Fig. 7 in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 9

einen in Fertigungsrichtung an den Abschnitt gemäß Fig. 8 anschließenden weiteren Bereich der Vorrichtung, ebenfalls in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 10

einen im Fertigungsablauf weiteren, folgenden Bereich der Vorrichtung in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 11

den Vorrichtungsbereich gemäß Fig. 8 in Draufsicht entsprechend Pfeil XI in Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

den Vorrichtungsteil gemäß Fig. 9 in Draufsicht entsprechend Pfeil XII der Fig. 9,

Fig. 13

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 10 in Draufsicht entsprechend Pfeil XIII den in Fig. 10,

Fig. 14

eine Einzelheit XIV der Fig. 9 in vergrößertem Maßstab, ebenfalls in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 15

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 14 im Querschnitt bzw. in Queransicht in der Ebene XV - XV der Fig. 14,

Fig. 16

die Einzelheit gemäß Figur 14 in Unteransicht bzw. in einem Horizontalschnitt in der Ebene XVI - XVI der Fig. 14,

Fig. 17

einen Ausschnitt XVII eines Details der Figur 16, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 18

eine Einzelheit der Figur 10 in Queransicht in der Ebene XVII - XVII der Fig. 10, in vergrößertem Maßstab.

Further features and special features are explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a spread outside blank of a double pack for cigarettes,

Fig. 2

a likewise spread-out individual blank of a part pack,

Fig. 3

a spread single blank of a second, deviating part pack,

Fig. 4

a first part pack in perspective,

Fig. 5

a second part pack, also in perspective,

Fig. 6

the double pack in closed execution, in perspective,

Figure 7

the double pack according to Fig. 6 in open position, also in perspective,

Fig. 8

a section of an apparatus for producing in particular double packs according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 in a schematic side view,

Fig. 9

one in the direction of production to the section according to Fig. 8 subsequent further area of the device, likewise in a schematic side view,

Fig. 10

a following in the manufacturing process, the following area of the device in a schematic side view,

Fig. 11

the device area according to Fig. 8 in plan view according to arrow XI in Fig. 8 .

Fig. 12

the device part according to Fig. 9 in plan view according to arrow XII the Fig. 9 .

Fig. 13

the detail according to Fig. 10 in plan view according to arrow XIII the in Fig. 10 .

Fig. 14

a detail XIV the Fig. 9 on an enlarged scale, also in side view,

Fig. 15

the detail according to Fig. 14 in cross section or in transverse view in the plane XV - XV of Fig. 14 .

Fig. 16

the detail according to FIG. 14 in a lower view or in a horizontal section in the plane XVI - XVI of the Fig. 14 .

Fig. 17

a section XVII of a detail of FIG. 16 , on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 18

a detail of FIG. 10 in transverse view in the level XVII - XVII of the Fig. 10 , on an enlarged scale.

The in the drawings Fig. 8 illustrated device is used to produce cigarette double packs, in particular in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 , These is designed as a "wallet" pack with two part packs 10, 11 different design and size, which are summarized by an outer cut 12 in the manner of a folding box or hinge-lid pack to a common, foldable pack namely double pack 13.

The sub-packages 10, 11 are formed differently and contain a different number of cigarettes. The sub-package 10 is intended for receiving a cigarette group 14 of two rows, while the smaller sub-package 11 accommodates a cigarette group 15 of only one row.

Each part pack 10, 11 may be formed in the simplest case of a single blank as a wrapper. In the present example, partial pack 10, 11 consists of an inner blank 16, 17 of paper, tin foil or foil surrounding the package contents. The inner blank 16, 17 surrounds the cigarette group 14, 15 to form a cigarette block 18, 19. The inner blank 16, 17 is folded around the cigarette group 14, 15 U-shaped to form a respective end fold 20, 21st

Another blank, namely part blank 22, 23 consists of thin cardboard or similar foldable material. This surrounds the cigarette block 18, 19 such that in each case an inner wall 24, 25, an opposite, also large-scale outer wall 26, 27, a bottom wall 28, 29 and overlapping side tabs 30, 31 and 32, 33 existing side walls are formed. Each partial pack 10, 11 is provided with a substantially cup-shaped outer wrapper.

In the finished package, namely double package 13, the inner walls 24, 25 of the sub-packages 10, 11 abut each other or are facing each other ( Fig. 7 ). Both partial packs 10, 11 are held together by the outer panel 12, which substantially corresponds to a blank for a standard hinge-lid pack. The outer panel 12 thus successively forms a front wall 34, a bottom 35, rear wall 36, lid rear wall 37, end wall 38 and a lid front wall 39. Side walls of the outer panel 12 and the double pack 13 are by partially overlapping side tabs 40, 41 and Lid-side tabs 42, 43 are formed. The lid rear wall 37 is delimited from the rear wall 36 by a transverse line joint. The side tabs 40 in the region of the front wall 34 are formed with different widths. The wider side flap 40 extends over both partial packs 10, 11 and is connected to the side walls by gluing. The side flap 40 forms an upright hinged joint 44 in the parting plane between the two part packs 10, 11 for pivotally opening and closing the wallet pack. The bottom 35 is provided with a weakening or perforation line, which is severed the first time the package is opened. Thereafter, the double pack 13 in its closed position or the two partial packs 10, 11 are held together only by a cover 45. The pack formed as described above is prior art.

The cigarette groups 14, 15 are removed in the device in a conventional manner a conventional cigarette magazine 46 and fed to a cigarette turret 47. This is provided with paired bags of different sizes, namely according to the size of the cigarette groups 14, 15. The cigarette turret 47 transports the cigarette groups 14, 15 in the region of a horizontal cigarette conveyor. This consists of two parallel, spaced at a sufficient distance from each other production lines 48, 49. Each Fertigüngsbahn 48, 49 has an endless conveyor 50 with equally spaced apart drivers 51. These detect each cigarette groups 14, 15 at its rear. The cigarette groups 14, 15 are slidably mounted on a web substrate 52 during transport. The groups of cigarettes 14, 15 are transported synchronously and in mutual alignment continuously in the area of the parallel production lines 48, 49.

In the area of these production lines 48, 49, first packaging steps are carried out, specifically the inner blank 16, 17 is folded around the groups of cigarettes 14, 15, so that cigarette blocks 18, 19 are formed. Each production line 48, 49 is associated with a cutting unit 53, 54 of known type. These are arranged above the production lines 48, 49 and offset in the conveying direction to each other. The cutting units 53, 54 are of identical construction, with the difference that a cutting unit 53 for the larger group of cigarettes 14 fed material web 55 has a slightly greater width than a material web 56 for the smaller group of cigarettes 15. Of these webs 55, 56 are each in the Area of a blade unit 57, 58, the inner blanks 16, 17 separated and simultaneously passed to the cigarette group 14, 15. The transfer takes place in a known manner, namely by entrainment of the prepared blank and U-shaped folding around the cigarette group 14, 15. During the further transport along the production lines 48, 49, the inner blanks 16, 17 are folded in the region of their longitudinal sides. Folding tabs of the end folds 20, 21 are directed backwards. An example of the basic design of the production lines 48, 49 with the cutting units 53, 54 is in EP 1 016 593 shown.

The cigarette blocks 18, 19 are fed by the endless conveyors 50 to a first folding turret 59. This is formed in a basically known manner ( EP 0 791 539 ), namely plate-shaped and rotating about a vertical axis. At the periphery of the folding turret 59 are pockets 60, 61 arranged to receive the cigarette blocks 18, 19. A special feature is that the folding turret 59 each having two spaced-apart, parallel aligned pockets 60, 61, in which the associated cigarette blocks 18th , 19 are introduced at the same time. The distance of the pockets 60, 61 corresponds to the distance of the paths of movement of the cigarette blocks 18, 19 from each other.

The cigarette blocks 18, 19 are deposited by the endless conveyors 50 in front of the folding turret 59 on a fixed bridge 62. Here, the cigarette blocks 18, 19 are detected simultaneously or synchronously by inserter 63, which fold in the insertion movement of the cigarette blocks in the pockets 60, 61 an upper, rear folding flap. Furthermore, in the region of the bridge, 62 side folders 64, 65 are arranged as folding levers which are pivotable in a horizontal plane. These fold in the area of upright side walls of the cigarette blocks 18, 19 rearwardly projecting folding tabs of the inner blank 16, 17 against the back of the cigarette group 14, 15th

The folding turret 59 serves to produce the partial packs 10, 11. In a cutting station 66, the blanks of the partial packs 10, 11, that is to say the partial blanks 22, 23, are introduced into the associated pockets 60, 61 of the folding turret 59. The transfer of the blanks 22, 23 to the pockets 60, 61 takes place in a basically known manner ( EP 0 791 539 ), such that the inner wall 25 of the sub-blank 23 for the smaller sub-package 11 and the outer wall 26 of the sub-blank 22 for the larger sub-package 10 respectively at a bottom or lower support legs of the associated pockets 60, 61 abut in horizontal alignment, while the Inner wall 24 of the part blank 22 with bottom wall 28 and the outer wall 27 are arranged with the bottom wall 29 of the part blank 23 each in an upright position. The partial blanks 22, 23 are stored in above the folding turret 59 arranged cut magazines 102, 103. The underside of the two partial blanks 22, 23 taken simultaneously and along parallel blank sheets 104 the folding turret 59 and the two pockets 60, 61, respectively.

In the thus prepared blanks 22, 23 in the pockets 60, 61, the cigarette blocks 18, 19 are inserted by radial movement ( Fig. 12 ). During the cyclical rotation of the folding turret 59 more areas of the blanks 22, 23 are folded, so these are folded around the cigarette blocks 18, 19 in the region of an extension station 67-opposite the insertion station-up to upper side flaps 31, 32.

A special feature is the arrangement of pivotable holding members on the pockets 60, 61 of the folding turret 59. These serve to fix a radially outwardly directed end folding of the cigarette blocks or the Stanniolblöcke 18, 19 in the pockets 60, 61. The holding members are pivotable angle lever 105, 106 formed and each pivotally mounted on side walls of the pockets 60, 61. After insertion of the cigarette blocks 18, 19 in the region of the insertion station or the bridge 62, the angle levers 105, 106 are pivoted, so holding leg to. In an initial position, the angle levers 105, 106 with a transverse holding leg outside the cross-sectional area of the pockets 60, 61 two edge-side areas of the end wall or the end fold of the cigarette blocks 18, 19 bear and fix these glue-less fold.

The mutually associated sub-packages 10, 11 are taken at the same time Ausschub from the folding turret 59 by an intermediate conveyor 68, which is designed as an endless toothed belt in a special way. The intermediate conveyor 68 has drivers or support members of different function. Webs 69 enter into the region of the folding turret 59, namely in a region between lateral support profiles of the pockets 60, 61 and detect the part packs 10, 11 at the same time at the rear side or at the radially inner side. By the transport movement of the intermediate conveyor 68, the two part packs 10, 11 are pushed out of the pockets 60, 61. At the front or on the radially outer side of the part packs 10, 11 is a support member, namely support lever 70 of the intermediate conveyor 68 for conditioning for optimal guidance of the part packs 10, 11 and to secure the end folds 20, 21 of the cigarette blocks 18, 19th The support lever 70 is controlled pivotally mounted on the intermediate conveyor 68.

The intermediate conveyor 68 transports the part packs 10, 11 further in the direction predetermined by the production lines 48, 49. The part packs 10, 11 are moved past a gluing station or on a glue element 71. This transfers glue, in particular hotmelt, to the downwardly directed side of the wing-like side tabs of the part packs 10, 11. An example of a glue organ for transferring glue to the underside of laterally directed folding tabs is shown EP 0 920 919 , The use of hotmelt glue enables stable connections of the folding flaps without heat treatment.

With continued movement, the part packs 10, 11 reach the area of a transfer station 72 of particular design. It is about the finished subpackets 10, 11 now merge to form a packing unit from the two associated sub-packages 10, 11 packaged. For this purpose, a special member is provided, namely an assembly turret 73. This is the part packs 10, 11 supplied by a transfer conveyor with two endless conveyor belts 74, 75. The parallel conveyor belts 74, 75 are mounted on a common shaft 76. Each conveyor belt 74, 75 has drivers 77, 78 which, due to the distances from one another, grasp a pack or partial pack 10, 11 at the front and rear side. The sub-packages 10, 11 are supplied to the transfer conveyor 74, 75 from below. The transport takes place in the region of a lower belt 79.

The part packs 10, 11 are through. Upward movement of the intermediate conveyor 68 removed and fed to the respective conveyor belt 74, 75. For this purpose, each pack 10, 11 or the intermediate conveyor 68 formed from two parallel toothed belt 68 associated lifting members, namely two plungers 80, 81. These detect each part pack 10, 11 in a lateral region, ie next to the timing belt 68 of the intermediate conveyor. The package 10, 11 is lifted into the region of a guide for the packages, consisting of angular guide rails 82, 83 on both sides of the path of movement of the packages. An upper transverse leg of the guide rails 82, 83 respectively determines the end position of the pack or partial pack 10, 11. The guide rails 82, 83 have a further function. During the upward movement of the packs, the laterally directed side tabs of the partial packs 10, 11 are folded into the end position by rounded inlet edges of the guide rails 82, 83, that is to say the partial packs 10, 11 are completed.

A special feature is that the (upper) movement plane of the sub-packages 10, 11 is offset for insertion into the assembly turret 73. In the example according to Fig. 15 is the smaller part pack 11 in a higher position, namely slightly above the sub-package 10. In this staggered position, the sub-packages 10, 11 are supplied to the turret 73.

In particular, the assembly turret 73 is formed. This has packing pockets 84, 85, which are arranged in the axial direction with distance from each other ( Fig. 16 . Fig. 17 ) and offset in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible, the supplied in staggered planes sub-packages 10, 11 in the associated pack pockets 84, 85 introduce. In the area of circumferentially spaced-apart pockets 84 on the one hand and 85 on the other hand, a circumferential groove 86, 87 is formed centrally. This allows the entry of an end portion of the conveyor belts 74, 75 in the region of the assembly turret 73 for the complete introduction of the packages 10, 11 in the associated pockets 84, 85. Furthermore, the removal of the packaging units formed from the partial packages 10, 11 by means of a Pusher 88, which enters the circumferential groove 86.

The packing pocket 85 for the one partial pack 11 extends as a cavity or channel into the region of the pack pocket 84, so that in this area the pockets 84, 85 lie next to one another and are separated from one another by a thin partition wall 89. After insertion of the packs 10, 11 in the associated pockets 84, 85, the corresponding rotation of the revolver 73, here in a position with downwardly directed packing pockets 84, 85, the merging of the part packs 10, 11 causes. For this purpose, one of the sub-packages, namely the smaller sub-package 11 is displaced in the axial direction along the correspondingly formed packing pocket 85 by a slider 90 to an end position in which the sub-package 11 is positioned immediately adjacent to the sub-package 10. The packing units forming part packs 10, 11 are now positioned to pack and only separated by the partition 89 from each other. In the area of an ejection station formed for the insertion station of the transfer conveyor 74, 75, both part packs 10, 11 are simultaneously pushed out of the two pockets 84, 85 by the ejector 88 and fed to a further folding turret 91. This serves to attach the outer panel 12 to the adjacent part packs 10, 11 to create the double pack thirteenth

The folding turret 91 is designed in principle in the same way as the folding turret 59, ie with a vertical axis of rotation and horizontally oriented turret pockets 92. These are designed and dimensioned so that the superimposed partial packages 10, 11 can be accommodated. Within the turret pockets 92, the partially folded outer panel 12 is held ready. This is removed in a basically known manner a blank magazine 93 and introduced via a blank web 94 in the respective turret pocket 92 under angular or L-shaped folding. This process or the structure of the folding turret 91 corresponds in an analogous manner EP 0 601 411 ,

During the (intermittent) rotational movement of the folding turret 91, the outer blank 12 is folded around the part packs 10, 11 to form the double pack 13. The finished double packages 13 are conveyed out on the slider 88, ie the insertion station of the folding turret 91, opposite side of the folding turret 91, through a discharge conveyor 95 which extends below an elongated support 96 for the double packs 13 and one pack 13 at the Rear detected by driver 97.

The packs or double packs 13 reach the area of a glue station or a glue unit 98. This is formed with glue wheels 99, 100. The glue wheels 99, 100 are in contact with the underside of laterally directed folding tabs of the outer blank 12, namely with the side flaps 40, 41. The glue wheels 99, 100 immersed in a glue bath transmit glue strips to the underside of these folding flaps 40, 41. The wider folding flap 40 , which is connected to two part packs 10, 11 receives by appropriate design of the glue wheel 100 with two spaced glue webs two glue strips in the separated by the hinged joint 44 areas of the side flap 40th

The finished double packs 13 are sent for further processing, in the present case transferred to a drying wheel 101 for stabilizing the shape of the pack and for setting or curing the glue compounds.

A peculiarity of the device consists in the fact that starting with the formation of the groups of cigarettes 14, 15 to the complete double pack 13 a straight continuous conveying process is performed, wherein workstations are installed using conventional, but also specially trained organs in the conveyor. The device is also suitable for other forms of double packs, especially with part packs of the same size.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

partial packing

11

partial packing

12

outer panel

13

double pack

14

Cigarette group (big)

15

Cigarette group (small)

16

inner blank

17

inner blank

18

cigarette block

19

cigarette block

20

end folding

21

end folding

22

part cut

23

part cut

24

inner wall

25

inner wall

26

outer wall

27

outer wall

28

bottom wall

29

bottom wall

30

side tabs

31

side tabs

32

side tabs

33

side tabs

34

front wall

35

ground

36

rear wall

37

Lid rear wall

38

bulkhead

39

Lid front wall

40

side tabs

41

side tabs

42

Lid side tabs

43

Lid side tabs

44

folding joint

45

cover

46

cigarette magazine

47

cigarette revolver

48

production line

49

production line

50

endless conveyor

51

takeaway

52

Track pad

53

blank subassembly

54

blank subassembly

55

web

56

web

57

blade unit

58

blade unit

59

folding turret

60

bag

61

bag

62

bridge

63

inserter

64

side folders

65

side folders

66

blank station

67

out station

68

intermediate conveyor

69

web

70

support lever

71

Leimorgan

72

Transfer station

73

Joining Revolver

74

conveyor belt

75

conveyor belt

76

wave

77

takeaway

78

takeaway

79

lower chord

80

tappet

81

tappet

82

guide rail

83

guide rail

84

pack bag

85

pack bag

86

circumferential groove

87

circumferential groove

88

ejector

89

partition wall

90

pusher

91

folding turret

92

holster

93

blank magazine

94

blank path

95

discharge conveyor

96

edition

97

takeaway

98

glue assembly

99

glue wheel

100

glue wheel

101

drying wheel

102

blank magazine

103

blank magazine

104

blank path

105

bell crank

106

bell crank

Claims (12)

1. Method of producing double packs (13) for, in particular, cigarettes, comprising two separately produced sub-packs (10, 11) which comprise a cigarette block (18, 19), that is to say a cigarette group (14, 15) with an inner blank (16, 17) made of tin foil or paper, and at least one further blank, namely an inner blank (16, 17) which encloses the cigarette block (18, 19) and is made of thin cardboard or similar foldable material, wherein the sub-packs (10, 11), which have their large-surface-area pack sides butting against one another when the double pack (13) is closed, are enclosed by an outer blank (12), characterized by the following features:

   a) the cigarette groups (14, 15) for a respective sub-pack (10, 11) are transported along parallel, spaced-apart production paths (48, 49) of the same packaging machine and, during transportation, are each wrapped in an inner blank (16, 17) in order to form cigarette blocks (18, 19) assigned to a respective sub-pack (10, 11),

   b) the cigarette blocks (18, 19) are fed to a folding turret (59), with pockets (60, 61) for a respective sub-pack (10, 11), in order for in particular differently designed blanks of the sub-packs (10, 11), namely sub-blanks (22, 23), to be applied simultaneously to an associated cigarette block (18, 19),

   c) once pushed out of the folding turret (59), the sub-packs (10, 11), which are completed in the folding turret (59), are moved by transverse displacement at a downstream combining mechanism, in particular in a combining turret (73), into a position relative to one another which corresponds to the double pack (13) which is to be produced, namely such that the sub-packs (10, 11) have their large-surface-area pack sides butting against one another,

   d) a pack unit comprising the two sub-packs (10, 11) is pushed out of the combining mechanism and fed to a further folding turret (91) in order for the outer blank to be applied to the double pack (13) comprising the two sub-packs (10, 11).
2. Apparatus for producing double packs (13) for, in particular, cigarettes, comprising two separately produced sub-packs (10, 11) which comprise at least a cigarette block (18, 19), that is to say a cigarette group (14, 15) with an inner blank (16, 17) made of tin foil or paper, and a further blank, namely an inner blank (16, 17), wherein the sub-packs (10, 11), which have the large-surface-area pack sides butting against one another, are enclosed by an outer blank (12), characterized by the following features:

   a) the cigarette groups (14, 15) can be transported along parallel, spaced-apart production paths (48, 49) of the same packaging machine and can be wrapped in an inner blank (16, 17) in order to form cigarette blocks (18, 19),

   b) the cigarette blocks (18, 19) can be fed to a folding turret (59) with pockets (60, 61) for simultaneously receiving a respective sub-pack (10, 11),

   c) in the region of the folding turret (59), in particular differently designed blanks of the sub-packs (10, 11), namely sub-blanks (22, 23), can be folded around the cigarette blocks (18, 19),

   d) in the region of a combining mechanism, in particular a combining turret (73), which follows the folding turret (59), the sub-packs (10, 11) can be moved by transverse displacement into a pack-appropriate position relative to one another,

   e) a pack unit comprising the sub-packs (10, 11) can be pushed out of the combining mechanism and fed to a further folding turret (91) in order for the outer blank (12) to be applied to the abutting sub-packs (10, 11).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that each production path (48, 49) has arranged above it a blank subassembly (53, 54) for feeding inner blanks (16, 17) to each cigarette block (18, 19) and for wrapping the same.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, in order for the sub-packs (10, 11) to be completed, a further blank, namely sub-blank (22, 23), can be folded, in the region of the folding turret (59), around each cigarette block (18, 19) comprising cigarette group (14, 15) and inner blank (16, 17).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the two sub-packs (10, 11) can be simultaneously conveyed away out of the pockets (60, 61) of the folding turret (59), and fed to the combining turret (73), by an intermediate conveyer (68) with two parallel endless conveyers, in particular toothed belts.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the packs, during transportation by the intermediate conveyer (68), can be moved past a glue mechanism (71) in order for glue, in particular of the hot-melt type to be transferred onto the underside of sideways directed folding flaps, namely side flaps of the sub-packs.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the finished sub-packs (10, 11) can be introduced into pack pockets (84, 85) of the combining turret (73) by a transfer conveyer made up of two spaced-apart conveying belts (74, 75), wherein the sub-packs (10, 11) can be raised up from the intermediate conveyer (68) by lifting mechanisms and fed in an upward movement to the transfer conveyer (74, 75).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the combining turret (73) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart pack pockets (84, 85), wherein in each case two pack pockets (84, 85), assigned to one sub-pack (10, 11) and the other, are spaced apart axially from one another in order to receive a respective sub-pack (10, 11), and wherein at least one sub-pack can be pushed by transverse displacement, namely displacement in the axial direction, into a position adjacent to the other sub-pack such that pack units made of two associated sub-packs (10, 11) can be pushed out of the combining turret (73).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the associated pack pockets (84, 85) for the sub-packs (10, 11) forming a pack unit are offset in relation to one another in the circumferential direction such that, following transverse displacement of one sub-pack, the latter is positioned alongside the other sub-pack, as seen in the circumferential direction of the combining turret (73), preferably with the sub-packs (10, 11) being delimited from one another by a partition wall (89).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the pack pocket (85) for one of the sub-packs extends continuously in the axial direction of the combining turret (73) as far as the adjacent pack pocket (84) for the other sub-pack, wherein a laterally arranged pusher (90) can be introduced into the pack pocket (85) in order to displace one of the sub-packs axially.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the sub-packs (10, 11) which have been brought together to form a pack unit can be pushed out of the combining turret (73) and into the directly adjacent folding turret (91) in order for the outer blank (12) to be applied.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that retaining mechanisms are arranged laterally on the pockets (60, 61) of the folding turret (59), in particular on the side walls of the pockets (60, 61), in order to fix end fold formations of the cigarette blocks (18, 19) introduced into the pockets (60, 61), these retaining mechanisms being, in particular, pivotably mounted angle levers (105, 106) which each use a retaining leg to fix the end fold formation on two mutually opposite sides of the end surface.

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