EP2197745B1 - Method for handling pieces or grains of tobacco articles, especially chewing tobacco or snus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handling pieces or grains of tobacco articles (10), especially chewing tobacco or snus. According to the invention, tobacco articles (10) discharged from a production machine (11) are conveyed on at least one (first) conveying means (16) along a theoretical article path in the longitudinal direction of the (first) conveying means (16), the tobacco articles (10) preferably being conveyed on several parallel paths. A group of tobacco articles (19) is conveyed on another (second) conveying means (18) along a theoretical article path in the longitudinal direction of the (second) conveying means (18) with the help of at least one conveying device (17), the article path of the (second) conveying means (18) preferably running as an extension of the article path of the (first) conveying means (16). A device according to the invention is characterized in that the tobacco articles (10) can be conveyed on several conveying means (18, 32, 43) along theoretical article paths and/or pack paths that run at an angle, particularly transverse to each other. Conveying devices (17, 27) are disposed at the points of intersection between the article paths or pack paths of the conveying means (18, 32, 43) in order to transfer tobacco articles (10) or packs (29) containing tobacco articles (10) from one conveying means (18, 32) to the next (32, 43).

Description

The invention relates to a method for handling chunky or granular tobacco articles, in particular chewing tobacco or chewing tobacco set (snus), according to the preamble of claim 1.

Snus is a common form of Oraltabak in Scandinavia and the USA. Snus is a salted tobacco, which is stuck behind the upper lip. Here, about the same amount of nicotine is absorbed, as is the case with a cigarette. The salt serves to maintain the pH in the mouth, which promotes nicotine absorption. Often, the tobacco is enriched with flavors to achieve special flavors. Snus is packed on the one hand as a moist powder in 50 g cans and must first be portioned before use. This is done either with your fingers or with mechanical aids. In the context of this application, however, snus is understood to mean only the variant in which a portion of snus is packed in small cellulose sachets. A portioning by the consumer is not required.

Efforts are known to automate the packaging of portioned tobacco articles such as snus to containers as far as possible and as consistently as possible. However, existing devices for this purpose work ineffective and are sometimes prone to failure.

Out DE 1 561 941 A For example, a generic device is known, in which tobacco articles are fed on two belts, and wherein by means of a slider, a Abschub on a common band takes place.

For example, pick-and-place facilities are off GB 1 279 486 B known.

DE 41 11 786 A1 describes the supply of tobacco portions in pockets of a conveyor belt. Through an external guide the bags are closed during transport to prevent the tobacco from falling out.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to further develop known methods of the aforementioned type, but at least to provide alternative embodiments.

• a) mittels wenigstens einer Pick-and-Place-Einrichtung zum Aufnehmen und Absetzen von mehreren Tabakartikeln eine Gruppe von Tabakartikeln auf dem weiteren zweiten Fördermittel, insbesondere einem weiteren Fördergurt, gebildet wird,
• b) die Gruppen aus mehreren Tabakartikeln werden von einer weiteren, zweiten Fördereinrichtung einer offenen Verpackung zugeführt, wobei jeweils eine Gruppe aus Tabakartikeln von der zweiten Fördereinrichtung in eine Verpackung gefüllt wird und die Verpackungen während des Befüllens mit jeweils einer Gruppe aus Tabakartikeln auf einem weiteren, dritten Fördermittel in Längsrichtung einer gedachten Verpackungsbahn transportiert werden,
• c) die Verpackungen werden während des Transports entlang der Verpackungsbahn auf dem dritten Fördermittel verschlossen,
• d) die Verpackungen werden nach dem Zuführen der Tabakartikel und vor dem Verschließen der Verpackungen im Bereich der zu verschließenden Öffnung abgedeckt, um ein Herausfallen der Tabakartikel aus den Verpackungen zu vermeiden, wobei ein in Längsrichtung der Verpackungsbahn bewegbares Abdeckorgan zum Einsatz kommt, das im Bereich einer Befüllstation zum Zuführen der Tabakartikel zu den Verpackungen angeordnet ist und zum Zuführen der Tabakartikel derart bewegt wird, dass die zu verschließenden Öffnungen der Verpackungen im Bereich der Befüllstation frei liegen und das nach dem Befüllen der Verpackungen zum Abdecken der zu verschließenden Öffnungen bewegt wird.

An inventive method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1. It is therefore envisaged that

• a) by means of at least one pick-and-place device for receiving and depositing a plurality of tobacco articles a group of tobacco articles on the further second conveying means, in particular a further conveyor belt, is formed,
• b) the groups of several tobacco articles are fed from an additional, second conveyor to an open package, wherein in each case a group of tobacco articles from the second conveyor is filled into a package and the packages are filled with one group of tobacco articles on another, during filling, third conveying means are transported in the longitudinal direction of an imaginary packaging web,
• c) the packages are closed during transport along the packaging web on the third conveyor,
• d) the packages are covered after feeding the tobacco articles and before closing the packages in the region of the opening to be closed, in order to avoid falling out of the tobacco products from the packages, using a movable in the longitudinal direction of the packaging web cover member, which in the area a filling station for Supplying the tobacco article is arranged to the packaging and is moved for feeding the tobacco products such that the openings to be closed of the packages are exposed in the region of the filling station and which is moved after filling the packages for covering the openings to be closed.

It is preferably provided that the packages are obtained from a continuous material web of a packaging material, wherein a plurality of packages are arranged longitudinally or at an angle, in particular transversely, to the packaging web next to one another in the material web, and wherein the individual packages are preferably formed as recesses spaced apart from one another in the material web , and that the packages, after filling with the tobacco articles and sealing the openings, are separated by severing the material web, wherein the material web is separated in each case in the region between the depressions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the packages are characterized by applying a code, wherein the code may contain manufacturing or product information or the like, and that the coding is preferably carried out after the separation of the packages from the material web.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the individual packages from a (further, third) conveyor, in particular a pick-and-place device for receiving and depositing preferably several packages, a (further, fourth) funding, in particular a conveyor belt, fed and transported thereon along an imaginary packaging web extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveying means, this packaging web extending at an angle, in particular transversely, to an imaginary packaging web of a conveying (third) conveying means.

Another special feature is the special handover of the packaging, for which protection is claimed regardless of other procedural features.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conveyor each receives a group of transversely juxtaposed to the (second) packaging web packaging and deposits in the same relative position on the subsequent funding that the packages in particular one-lane and preferably at a small distance behind each other the subsequent conveying means are transported, wherein the packages are preferably aligned with their longitudinal extent transversely to the conveying direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that another (fifth) conveying means adjoins the (fourth) conveying means, the packages being conveyed on the further (fifth) conveying means along an imaginary packaging web, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the (fifth) conveying means extends and which is directed in extension of the packaging web of the preceding conveyor, wherein the packages are conveyed in the region of opposite lateral edges on both sides of the recesses for the tobacco between each two conveyor belts of the conveyor in the longitudinal direction thereof and that during this Transports in the region of an exposed upper side and / or an exposed lower side of the packaging Print carriers, in particular labels, are preferably applied for marking the contents or other features of the packaging. Further embodiments of the method according to the invention are concerned with the implementation of the attachment of the print carrier.

In a next method step, it is provided that the packages are transferred from the (fifth) conveying means to another (sixth) conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt, wherein the packages are conveyed on the further (sixth) conveying means along an imaginary packaging web, which in the longitudinal direction the further (sixth) conveyor extends and which is aligned in extension of the packaging web of the preceding conveyor, wherein the packaging during transport on the (sixth) conveyor means Prüfforganen, especially cameras, scanners or sensors, for correct design, especially with regard to print carrier , and / or coding and / or correct position of the package contents and / or closure of the packaging, is checked, wherein the packaging is preferably illuminated by arranged along the packaging web lighting units.

In this way, a quality control can be carried out in the area of the (sixth) conveyor.

In the next method step, it is provided that after the (sixth) conveying means the packages are separated by transport on a demolition belt driven at a higher speed than the conveying means and each introduced into compartments of a folding belt, whereby a group of packages from the compartments of the Fächergurtes is taken continuously and in a prepared receptacle, in particular a bundle pack, a cassette or the like, is introduced.

Further details of the invention are concerned with details of the transport of the packages into the receptacle.

An apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 15. Accordingly, it is provided that the tobacco articles can be transported along several conveying means along imaginary article webs and / or packing webs, wherein the article webs or packing webs of the conveying means extend at an angle, in particular transversely to each other, and at the crossing points of the article webs or packing webs of the conveying means conveying devices, in particular Pick-and-place means for receiving and depositing preferably a plurality of tobacco articles or packages are arranged for transferring tobacco articles or packages containing tobacco articles from one conveying means to the subsequent conveying means.

A further special feature relates to the arrangement of the conveying means such that the article webs or packing webs of the conveying means have a U-shaped course, wherein at least in the region of the two crossing points at least one conveying device, in particular pick-and-place device, is positioned.

Further preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description, moreover, and from the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Handhaben von Snus-Portionen in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 2

einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung im Bereich II der Fig. 1 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 3

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie III - III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie IV - IV in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht eines Teils der Vorrichtung entsprechend Pfeil V in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil der Vorrichtung gemäß Pfeil VI in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung im Bereich VII der Fig. 1 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 8

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie VIII - VIII in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht eines Teils der Vorrichtung entsprechend Pfeil IX in Fig. 1,

Fig. 10

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie X - X in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung im Bereich XI der Fig. 10 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 12

einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung im Bereich XII der Fig. 1 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 13

eine Seitenansicht eines Teils der Vorrichtung entsprechend Pfeil XIII in Fig. 12,

Fig. 14

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XIV - XIV in Fig. 13,

Fig. 15

einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung im Bereich XII der Fig. 1 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 16

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XVI - XVI in Fig. 15,

Fig. 17

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XVII - XVII in Fig. 16,

Fig. 18

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XVIII - XVIII in Fig. 15,

Fig. 19 bis Fig. 23

eine schematische Darstellung des Bewegungsablaufs von Gruppierorganen aus Fig. 16 zu verschiedenen aufeinanderfolgenden Zeitpunkten,

Fig. 24

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XXIV - XXIV in Fig. 15,

Fig. 25

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entsprechend Fig. 24 zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt beim Einschieben einer Gruppe von Snus-Portionen,

Fig. 26

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XXVI - XXVI in Fig. 15 und

Fig. 27

einen Querschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie XXIV - XXIV in Fig. 26.

A preferred embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a device for handling snus portions in a plan view,

Fig. 2

a section of the device in area II of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3

a vertical section through the device along section line III - III in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a vertical section through the device along section line IV - IV in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 5

a side view of a portion of the device according to arrow V in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 6

a plan view of a part of the device according to arrow VI in Fig. 5 .

Fig. 7

a section of the device in the area VII of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 8

a vertical section through the device along section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 .

Fig. 9

a side view of a portion of the device according to arrow IX in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 10

a vertical section through the device along section line X - X in Fig. 9 .

Fig. 11

a detail of the device in the area XI the Fig. 10 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 12

a section of the device in area XII the Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 13

a side view of a portion of the device according to arrow XIII in Fig. 12 .

Fig. 14

a vertical section through the device along section line XIV - XIV in Fig. 13 .

Fig. 15

a section of the device in area XII the Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 16

a vertical section through the device along section line XVI - XVI in Fig. 15 .

Fig. 17

a vertical section through the device along section line XVII - XVII in Fig. 16 .

Fig. 18

a vertical section through the device along section line XVIII - XVIII in Fig. 15 .

Fig. 19 to Fig. 23

a schematic representation of the movement of Gruppierorganen from Fig. 16 at different successive times,

Fig. 24

a vertical section through the device along section line XXIV - XXIV in Fig. 15 .

Fig. 25

a vertical section through the device accordingly Fig. 24 at a later time when inserting a group of snus portions,

Fig. 26

a vertical section through the device along section line XXVI - XXVI in Fig. 15 and

Fig. 27

a cross section through the device along section line XXIV - XXIV in Fig. 26 ,

The invention is described below with reference to a device for handling chewing tobacco snus (Snus) with reference to the Fig. 1 to 27 explained. Since the corresponding device is also suitable in substantial parts for handling other lumpy or granular tobacco articles 10, reference will not be made below to snus or snus portions but the general term tobacco article 10 is used synonymously.

Starting point of the device is a manufacturing machine 11 or more manufacturing machines 11 for the tobacco article 10. In the present case, there are two manufacturing machines 11 for snus portions, which are placed side by side. The described device thus operates in this area two lanes. Alternatively, only one production machine 11 can be used.

The manufacturing machines 11 produce tobacco products 10 in the form of portioned tobacco which is packed in small bags of cellulose (snus). Preferably, a tubular bag packaging in which the tobacco portion is wrapped and which is closed in the region of the free ends.

Out Fig. 2 and 3 It can be seen that each of the manufacturing machines 11 in turn works two lanes, that is, the tobacco products 10 leave the manufacturing machine 11 in two parallel, side by side running tracks. Again, it is conceivable that the manufacturing machines 11 only work in one lane.

The tobacco products 10 coming from the production machines 11 are conveyed on conveyor belts 12, 13, 14, 15 along an imaginary horizontal article web. Overall, each article flow is conveyed on its own conveyor belt 12... 15, so that a total of four conveyor belts 12... 15 are provided, which together form a first conveying means 16. The tobacco products 10 are each transported on an upper run of the conveyor belts 12 ... 15 lying in several (four) parallel paths, namely, starting from the manufacturing machines 11 in the direction of a conveyor 17 for receiving and depositing tobacco articles 10th

With the aid of the conveyor 17, the tobacco products 10 are transferred from the conveyor belts 12 ... 15 to a second conveyor 18, which is designed as a conveyor belt 19. The conveyor belt 19 extends centrally between the two inner conveyor belts 13, 14 of the first conveyor 13. In addition, the second conveyor belt 19 transversely to the transport direction of the second conveyor 18 has a greater width than the conveyor belts 12 ... 15 of the first conveyor 16th

On the conveyor belt 19, the tobacco articles 10 are also conveyed in an imaginary horizontal article web in the longitudinal direction of the second conveyor 18, this article web being parallel to the article web of the first conveyor 16 and beyond the end of this article web. The second conveyor 18 thus extends on the one hand between the conveyor belts 12, 13 on the one hand and conveyor belts 14, 15 on the other hand, the first conveyor 13 and in extension of the first conveyor 16. In the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 are endless belt conveyor , wherein the tobacco products 10 are each transported on the upper run of the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 lying. On the narrower conveyor belts 12 ... 15 are the tobacco products 10 in one lane behind the other, whereas on the wider conveyor belt 19 more tobacco products 10 are in a row next to each other. The conveyor belts are driven 12 ... 15, 19 via arranged below the same drives 20 which are coupled via drive belts 21 each with shafts 22. On the shafts 22 are each drive wheels for the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 mounted on the circumference of the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 abut and thus rotationally driven by the drives 20. The shafts 22 are in turn mounted on a machine frame 23.

The conveyor 17 is formed in the present case by two pick-and-place devices 24, each of which is arranged a copy on both sides of the first conveyor 16.

The pick-and-place devices 24 are basically known as such and each have a controllable gripping device 25 which is movable in all three planes. In addition, each gripping device 25 has a plurality of suction cups 26 for detecting each of a single tobacco article 10 by means of negative pressure.

A special feature in the present case is that the pick & place devices 24 are arranged rotated by 90 ° to the usual position, so that the X-Y plane in a horizontal plane parallel to the top of the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 runs.

With the aid of the conveyor 17, it is possible to remove the tobacco article 10 from the conveyor belts 12 ... 15 and settle on the conveyor belt 19. This is done during the continuous drive of the conveyor belts 12 ... 15, 19 by the drives 20. The required movement of the gripping devices 25 are in Fig. 3 exemplified for one of the two conveyors 17. First, a number of adjacent tobacco articles 10 are detected by the outer conveyor belt 12 and lifted. These tobacco articles 10 are then deposited on the conveyor belt 19 as an outer one of four rows of tobacco articles 10. Thereafter, the gripping device 25 moves to the adjacent conveyor belt 13 where again the same number of tobacco products 10 are removed and placed adjacent to a middle row on the conveyor belt 16. The other two rows of tobacco articles 10 on the conveyor belt 19 are filled by the second pick-and-place device 24, to which tobacco products 10 are removed from the two conveyor belts 14, 15 in a corresponding manner.

Each of the two pick-and-place devices 24 can detect with their gripping device 25 by a corresponding number of suction heads 26 each 10 tobacco articles 10. The number of tobacco articles 10 to be detected can be adapted to the respective circumstances, so that a larger and a smaller number of multiple suction heads 26 is also conceivable. The multi-lane mode of operation of the device in this area makes it possible to form a seamless stream of several adjacent tobacco articles 10 on the conveyor belt 19, wherein the pick-and-place devices 24 are not responsible for the transport of the tobacco products 10 but also for the grouping thereof ,

The groups of tobacco articles 10 formed on the conveyor belt 19 each consist of four tobacco articles 10 and are conveyed on the conveyor belt 19 in the direction of a further, second conveyor 27, which is also designed as a pick-and-place device 28. The pick-and-place device 28 detects with its mounted on the gripping device 30 suction cups 31 several groups of tobacco products 10 on the conveyor belt 19. In the present case, the gripping device 30 has a total of twelve suction cups 31, so in a single operation three groups of four Tobacco article 10, so a total of twelve tobacco products 10 can be detected. With the aid of the pick-and-place device 28, the tobacco articles 10 are transferred into prepared packages 29. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the packages 29 are blister packs that have not yet been closed at this time.

The packages 29 are transported on a further, third conveying means 32 along an imaginary packaging web which runs transversely to the article web of the conveyor belt 19. The third conveying means 32 is a conveyor belt 33, wherein the packages 29 are transported past on the upper run of the conveyor belt 33 at the pick-and-place device 28.

The packages 29 are arranged in rows of several pieces next to each other on the conveyor belt 33, wherein the number of packages 29 per row is adapted to the formation of groups of tobacco articles 10 to be packaged. Accordingly, here three packages 29 are arranged in a row, so that a series consisting of three packages 29 filled in one step by the pick-and-place device 28 can be. In this way, four adjacent tobacco products 10 each arrive in a package 29.

It is understood that, depending on the desired number of tobacco articles 10 in the packages 29, the formation of the tobacco articles 10 and the packages 29 can be adapted. It is also conceivable that each package 29 is filled in several steps by the pick-and-place device 28, ie by repeated picking and settling successively.

Fig. 4 schematically shows the movement of the gripping device 30 of the pick-and-place device 28 when transferring the tobacco article 10 from the conveyor belt 19 in the packaging 29. Further, it can be seen that the drive of the conveyor belt 33 is solved in principle as the conveyor belt 19, namely with a rotationally driven shaft 34 which is mounted in a machine frame 35. Furthermore, it can be seen that the upper runs of the conveyor belts 19 and 33 are arranged substantially at a height. In the present embodiment, the conveyor belt 33 is positioned only slightly below the level of the conveyor belt 19.

In contrast to the conveyor belt 19, the conveyor belt 33 is not driven continuously, but cyclically advanced after filling with tobacco products 10. In order to prevent the tobacco articles 10 from falling out of the packages 29 when the conveyor belt 33 is started, a special covering element is provided which is used for this purpose. The cover member is formed as Abdeckgurt 36 which is movable above the conveyor belt 33. The Abdeckgurt 36 is parallel to the top of the conveyor belt 33 back and forth, so that the filled packages 29 can be covered during transport before the packages 29 are closed.

The Abdeckgurt 36 is disposed upstream of the crossing point between the conveyor belt 19 and conveyor belt 33. How out Fig. 5 can be seen, the Abdeckgurt 36 is guided over a plurality of guide rollers 37, 39 and driven by a drive roller 38 circumferentially. A lower strand of the cover 36 runs parallel to the top of the conveyor belt 33 at a small distance from the open top of the packaging 29th

The horizontal extent of the lower run of the Abdeckgurts 36 can be changed by moving two pulleys 39 in the horizontal direction. This is done for the purpose of temporarily releasing or covering the working area of the pick-and-place device 28, namely for supplying tobacco articles 10 on the one hand and for transporting the filled packages 29 on the other hand. The deflection rollers 37, 39 are arranged such that when moving the deflection rollers 39, the total length of the Abdeckgurts 36 does not change.

The working area of the movable cover belt 36 is adjoined by another stationary covering element, namely a cover plate 40, which prevents tobacco articles 10 from falling out of the filled packages 29 on the further transport. The cover plate 40 is arranged above the conveyor belt 33 in the same way as the lower run of the cover belt 36. Cover belt 36 and cover plate 40 extend in a manner transverse to the transport direction such that the open upper sides of the packages 29 are also covered in this direction. In the plan view according to Fig. 6 is still a drive 41 for the drive roller 38 to recognize.

Downstream of the station for filling the packages 29, a device 42 for processing the packages 29 is provided on the third conveyor 32. The device 42 is not shown in detail in the drawings. Here is the closing of the packaging 29 as usual blister packs. The blister packs are then sealed all around.

In addition, the packages 29 are separated from a continuous web of suitable packaging material in the device 42. Namely, as far as the device 42, the packages 29 are not transported as individual packages 29, but are formed as a continuous web of material in which side-by-side recesses corresponding to the packaging formation are formed, which are spaced apart from one another. To separate the packages 29, the material web is then separated in the device 42 in the region between the depressions. In this way, the packages 29 leave the device 42 on the conveyor belt 33 as a single, sealed blister packs with corresponding packaging content of tobacco articles 10. By dividing the packages 29, the originally predetermined in the material web formation remains unaffected.

Furthermore, a coding of the packages 29 can take place in the device 42. The corresponding code or coding 77 applied to the packaging 29 may contain, for example, manufacturing or product information or the like. Preferably, the coding takes place after the separation of the packages 29 in the usual way in blister packs.

Transverse to the third conveyor 32 extends at the end of another, fourth conveyor 43. This conveyor 43 is formed as a conveyor belt 44 and has a running in a horizontal plane, imaginary packaging web along which the packages 29 are transported. The packaging web runs transversely to the packaging web of the upstream third conveying means 32. For converting the filled and separated packages 29 from the conveyor belt 33 onto the conveyor belt 44, a third conveying device 45 is again provided, which is arranged near the point of intersection of the two belts 33, 44.

The conveyor 45 is formed as in the previous cases as a pick-and-place device 46, with a gripping device 47 and a single or single suction head 48. With the help of the pick-and-place device 46, the individual packages are individually from Conveyor belt 43 is received and deposited in the same relative position on the transverse conveyor belt 44 of the fourth conveyor 43. The fact that the conveyor belt 44 is arranged transversely to the conveyor belt 33 and no change in the relative position of the individual packages 29 results in a rotated position of the packages 29 in relation to the conveyor belt 44, d. H. the approximately rectangular packages are now aligned with their longitudinal extent transversely to the transport direction. In addition, the movement of the pick-and-place device 46 is set up so that the packages 29 are deposited on the conveyor belt 44 almost in a sealed position one behind the other. This results in a one-line flow of transversely oriented packages 29.

The packages 29 are held on the conveyor belt 44 by means of negative pressure. For this purpose, the conveyor belt 44 is designed as a suction belt. Below the upper run of the conveyor belt 44, a vacuum chamber 49 is formed, which holds the underside of the packages 29 on the conveyor belt 44 via apertures 55 in the conveyor belt 44.

The conveyor belt 44 is driven continuously by a drive wheel 50 which is mounted on a shaft 51 on the machine frame 52. The shaft 51 is also connected via a drive belt 53 with a drive 54 below the conveyor belt 44.

In the conveyor belt 44, the apertures 55 are each arranged in pairs at a small distance from each other, the packages 29 are deposited on the conveyor belt 44 that the bottom of a package 29 are each held with negative pressure through two openings 55 on the conveyor belt 44.

Following the fourth conveying means 43 is followed by another, fifth conveying means 56, in the area of which labels or other print carriers are attached to the packages 29. In contrast to the previous subsidies, the packages 29 are not in the region of the fifth conveyor 56 on a conveyor belt or held by suction on this. The fifth conveyor 56 consists of a total of four conveyor belts 57 between which the lateral free edges of the packages 29 are clamped so that the packages 29 are taken.

Out Fig. 11 it can be seen that a pair of conveyor belts 57 are arranged one above the other on both sides of the imaginary packaging web. These are each positioned so that the lower run of an upper conveyor belt 57 runs a short distance to the upper run of a lower conveyor belt 57. The distance between upper strand and lower strand is chosen so that the packaging 29 can be detected and transported in the edge region. In this way, the top and bottom of the packages 29 in the region of the conveyor 56 are substantially free for the attachment of print carriers. Fig. 11 also shows drive wheels 58 on which the conveyor belts 57 are guided or driven. The drive wheels 58 are mounted on shafts 59 as previously described, which are coupled with drive belts, not shown, with each other and with a drive, also not shown.

The actual attachment of the print carrier is in Fig. 9 and 10 shown. In a transfer station 60, the conveyor belt 44 (suction belt) runs between the Fördergurtpaare 57 of the fifth conveyor 56. The packages 29 pass between the Fördergurtpaarare 57 in the manner described above and are transported further in The longitudinal direction of the fifth conveyor 56. Above and below the transport path of the packages 29 each bobbins 61, 62 are arranged. On these bobbins 61, 62 is a web-shaped carrier material 63, which is wound as a continuous strip of material on the reels 61, 62. On the substrate 63 at intervals labels 64, 65 are applied as a print carrier.

On the above the packaging web arranged bobbin 61 are labels 64, which are aufzuren on the top of the package 29, whereas on the positioned below the packaging path reel 62 labels 65 are applied, which are intended for the bottom of the packages 29.

The carrier material 63 is guided in each case over a plurality of larger and smaller deflection rollers 66. For lifting the labels 64, 65, a deflection roller 66 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the packaging web, in the region of which the carrier material 63 is deflected very strongly, namely almost by 180 °. Because of this strong deflection, the label 64, 65 is released from the carrier material 63 in the region of this deflection roller 66, so that these can be fastened to the packaging 29. The empty carrier material 63 is then led out via further deflection rollers 66 out of the region of the packaging web and wound onto further reels 67.

Fig. 10 shows the lifting of the label 64, 65 from the substrate 63 and the subsequent application of the label 64, 65 to the package 29 in detail. The label 64, 65 are gradually detached in the region of the guide roller 66 from the carrier material 63 and come with the non-adhesive side in contact with a fixedly arranged pressing means 68, which serves as a guide member and the label 64, 65 at the top or the bottom of Packaging 29 applies. A free end of the pressing means 68 also serves to press the label 64, 65 on the packaging 29th

During further transport on the fifth conveyor 56, the packages 29 with the labels 64, 65 applied thereto are subjected to a first inspection, namely with regard to the labels 64, 65. For this purpose, the packages 29 are located above and below the packaging web Lighting units 69 positioned on the one hand, the top and on the other hand, the underside of the packaging 29 illuminated.

The illumination units 69 are aligned so that the light emitted by these obliquely falls on the top and the bottom of the packages 29, namely between each parallel upper and lower conveyor belts 57 therethrough.

Furthermore, above and below the packaging web inspection organs 70 are arranged, which scan on the one hand the top and on the other hand, the underside of the illuminated packages 29. The checking devices 70 may be cameras with which a respective label 64, 65 is checked. In this way, for example, the correct positioning of the label 64, 65 on the package 29 can be checked. This can be done, for example, by comparing the recorded image with a reference image. If a defective package 29 is detected, it can be registered in the machine control so that later sorting out of this package 29 can take place.

From the fifth conveyor 56, the packages 29 are transferred to an adjoining sixth conveyor 71 with a conveyor belt 72, which is designed as a suction belt as the fourth conveyor 43. To avoid repetition is with regard to the structural design and the connection of the sixth conveyor 71 at the fifth subsidy 56 referred to the statements there. In the drawing according to Fig. 13 and 14 are the same organs of the device provided with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 7 and 8th that concern the fourth funding 43.

On the sixth conveyor 70 another inspection takes place, namely with regard to the coding of the packages 29. For this purpose, a further lighting unit 73 is provided in the region of the sixth conveyor 71, which illuminates the top of the packages 29 obliquely. In order to check the coding of the packages 29, two checking devices 74 are provided which scan the upper side of the packages 29 essentially vertically. The checking devices 74 may also be cameras. The test organs 74 are like the test organs 70 by means of support arms 75 attached to the machine frame 76.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, two testing devices 74 are provided, which each check a transverse edge of the packages 29 in whose area the coding 77 is arranged in the exemplary embodiment shown. Each of the two codings 77 is scanned and tested with its own camera or its own test device 74. Possibly defective packaging 29 can be discarded later.

Furthermore, the test devices 74 can be used to detect the correct position of the package contents, ie the tobacco articles 10 in the packages 29. It is conceivable, for example, that individual tobacco articles 10 are not positioned correctly within the recess of the packages 29, but protrude laterally beyond them and can thereby impair the sealing of the top side of the packages 29.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to use the test devices 74 to check the correct closure of the packages 29, wherein the circumferential seal is checked.

Following the sixth conveying means 72, a further seventh conveying means 78 is arranged, which is structurally designed like the fifth conveying means 56, ie with four conveyor belts 79. The conveyor belts 79 are in turn driven by drive wheels 80 which are mounted on shafts 81. The shafts 81 are coupled to each other with drive belts 82 and a drive 84 via a further drive belt 82. The shafts 81 are in turn mounted on the machine frame 83.

The vertical distance facing each other upper strand or Untertrume the pairwise conveyor belts 79 of the seventh conveyor 78 is slightly larger than the corresponding distance in the region of the sixth conveyor 56, namely such that the packages 29 are detected not only in the edge region, but in the package content even.

The seventh conveyor 78 is designed as a Abschubgurt and is therefore driven at a faster speed than the previous conveyor 71, so that the distance of the packages 29 in the conveying direction during transport or by the transport on the seventh conveyor 78 is increased.

The coming from the seventh conveyor 78 packaging 29 are subsequently transferred to a circulating in a vertical plane fan belt 85. For this purpose, the fan belt 85 has on the outside separating ribs 86 which are directed at an angle to the circumference of the fan belt 85 and between which the compartments 87 of the fan belt 85 are formed. The fan belt 85 itself is guided over a plurality of deflection rollers 88, one of which serves as a drive roller 89. The drive roller 89 is coupled to a motor 91 via a drive belt 90. Furthermore, guide means 92 arranged on the circumference of the fan belt 85 serve for the underside support of the filled fan belt 85.

By feeding the packages 29 from the seventh conveyor 78 (Abschubgurt) a group of packages 29 in successive compartments 87 of the fan belt 85 is filled. The number of packages 29 arranged in successive compartments 87 corresponds to the number of packages 29 contained in a bundle to be formed. The group of packages 29 is transferred by the folding belt 85 to a packaging web 110. The packaging web 110 is initially formed by two L-shaped guide rails 93, the horizontal legs 94 facing each other. The vertical legs 95 of the L-shaped guide rails 93 are spaced such that between these two legs 95 is enough space for a transverse package 29, which rests on the facing horizontal legs 94 of the L-shaped guide rails 93. The free ends of the horizontal legs 94 of the guide rails 93 are spaced apart such that an opening 96 is formed between them through which the fan belt 85 can pass between the two horizontal legs 94.

The transfer takes place in that the fan belt 85 with the packages 29 runs obliquely from above between the substantially horizontally extending guide rails 93. In this case, the packages 29 successively on the horizontal legs 94 of the guide rails 93 and are pushed by subsequent packaging 29 further along the guide rails 93 in the conveying direction. In this way, in the region of the guide rails 93 a group of packages 29 are accumulated, which are arranged in a sealing position.

In order to prevent the individual packages 29 within the packing group 97 from falling over on the guide rails 93, a plurality of supporting members A, A ', B, B' are provided. intended. The support members A, A ', B, B' are placed in pairs at the beginning and end of a packing group 97 against the packages 29 to prevent them from falling over. Furthermore, each packing group 97 is pushed along the guide rails 93 in the conveying direction by means of two supporting members A, A ', B, B'.

As Fig. 20 shows the group of packages 29 is first supported on the front side by the support member A '. This support member A 'is moved together with the coming of the conveyor belt 85 packaging 29 in the conveying direction, so that no backlog results on the fan belt 85. During this phase, the second support member B 'is in a waiting position above the group of packages 29. Meanwhile, a second pair of support members A and B together with a packing group 97 at the end of the packaging web 110 formed by the guide rails 93. A stop 98 prevents in that unwanted packages 29 are conveyed beyond the end of the packaging web 110. While continue packaging 29 are dammed behind the support member A ', the packing group 97 is deported between the support members A and B. This will be described below. Thereafter, the support member A is moved back to an initial position next to the support member B 'above the packaging web ( Fig. 22 ). In the next step, the support members B 'and A are pushed between the dammed-up packages 29 so that the support member B' supports the packing group 97 on the back and the support member A supports the beginning of a new packing group 97. Furthermore, the support member B is moved to the waiting position above the packaging web 110 ( Fig. 23 ). Thereafter, the support members A 'and B' are moved together with the packaging group 97 held therebetween to the end of the packaging web 110 and emptied as described below. This cycle passes through the two pairs of support members A and B on the one hand and A 'and B' on the other hand sequentially.

The support members A, A ', B, B' are shown only schematically in the figures. To drive the support members A, A ', B, B', a drive, not shown, is provided which extends above the packaging web and to which the support members A, A ', B, B' are coupled via a support arm 99. To the support arm 99, a support plate 100 is connected, which supports the packaging 29 and the packaging group 97.

After the packaging web 110 has an opening 96 in the region of the guide rails 93, the packaging web 110, following the transfer region, is formed as a closed surface along which the transverse packages 29 can be displaced. On both sides of this region of the packaging web 110 are upright guide elements 101 and 102 are formed ( Fig. 18 ). A first stationary guide member is in the form of a raised edge, ie the material is folded parallel to the conveying plane and thus serves to guide a transverse edge of the packaging 29. On the opposite side of the packing group 97, a movable guide member 102 is provided. In the present case, it is a guide member 102 which can be moved up and down in the vertical direction and which is correspondingly movable via a pneumatic cylinder 103. In the embodiment shown, the guide member 102 consists essentially of an L-shaped rail which is coupled to the pneumatic cylinder 103. A vertical leg 104 is applied laterally to the packaging 29 opposite to the guide member 101 when the pneumatic cylinder 103 has moved to an upper position.

The packaging group 97 can subsequently be pushed off the packaging web 110 transversely to the previous conveying direction. The pneumatic cylinder 106 can be moved back and forth in a horizontal plane, so that the push-off stamp 107 can be brought over the entire length of the packing group 97 to rest on it in the same order Level to promote a parallel packaging web 111. For this purpose, first the movable guide member 102 is lowered in order to clear the way for the packing group 97. Furthermore, the bottom 112 of the packaging web 110 also extends transversely to the original conveying direction into the region of the second parallel packaging web 110, which is also delimited laterally by an upstand or a vertical material leg 108.

The second parallel packaging web 111 also has an upwardly and downwardly movable guide element 109, which is designed like the guide element 102. The vertical legs 104 of the two guide members 102 and 108 pass through corresponding slots in the bottom 112 of the packaging web 111 to serve as a guide for the packing groups 97.

After the packaging group 97 has been pushed onto the second packaging web 111, the stripping device 105 is withdrawn again and the two guide elements 102 and 109 are moved up again, so that a new group of packages 29 can again be introduced in the first packaging web 110 and, on the other hand, the packaging group 97 in the second packaging web 111 prepared for the Abschub in the original conveying direction, namely guided laterally.

Subsequently, the packing group 97 is inserted in the second packaging web 111 in a receptacle. In the present case, the receptacle is a folding carton 113, which is held folded flat in a carton magazine 114 adjacent to the packaging web 111. From the cardboard magazine 114, the flat folding carton 113 is removed by means of a removal device not shown in detail and erected such that a closed tube is formed with open end faces through which the packing group 97 can be inserted. Folding tabs 115, 125, 126 of the folding carton 113 are then sealed on both sides to enclose the package contents. Cardboard magazine 114 and organs for erecting the carton and for folding the folding tabs are part of a carton folding unit 116 which in Fig. 15 is shown schematically.

The final insertion of the packaging group 97 from the packaging web 111 into the carton magazine 114 and the closing of the carton magazine 114 will be described below with reference to FIGS Fig. 24 to 27 The folding carton 113 is positioned with its longitudinal extension in the packaging web 111 in such a way that the packing group 97 can be pushed into the open folding carton 113 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging web 111. For this purpose, a further pneumatic cylinder 117 with which a plug-in head 118 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the packaging web 111. The pneumatic cylinder 117 is arranged above the packaging web 111, wherein the insertion head 118 detects the packaging group 97 on the back and pushes it along the packaging web 111 into the open folding carton 113. In order to prevent that in this process, the individual packages 29 within the packing group 97 tip over, a counter-holder 119 is provided. Again, this is a pneumatic cylinder 120 at the piston 121 a counter-push head 122 is provided. The counter-holder 119 is arranged such that the counter-push head 122 by the prepared empty folding carton 113 along the Packaging web 111 can be pushed to be brought to a forward conveying direction pack 29 of the packaging group 97 to the plant, namely opposite the insertion head 118. In this way, the packing group 97 is secured by the insertion head 118 and the recoil head 122 against falling over. With the help of the two pneumatic cylinders 117 and 120, the two push heads 118 and 122 are moved simultaneously and at a constant distance from each other along the packaging web 111, wherein the packing group 97 is taken and introduced into the empty folding carton 113.

During the insertion process, the empty folding carton 113 is held by suction members 123 in its position. The suction members 123 act on a bottom of the folding cartons 113 with negative pressure.

Subsequently, the folding tabs 115, 125, 126 of the folding box 113 must be closed. This is done on the one hand by known from the prior art - and therefore not shown - Faltorgane and by a folding rail 124. The folding rail 124 is positioned in the region of an end face of the folding box 113 so that it comes into contact with the opened folding tab 115 and closes it and holds together with the folding tab 125 in a closed position. Out FIGS. 26 and 27 it can be seen that the folding carton 113 is pushed off after filling with the packing group 97 transversely to the packaging web 111 by an organ, not shown. In this case, a folding tab 115 lying in the transport direction is pressed by the folding rail 124 into a closed position. The other folding tab 125 is conveyed by an organ, not shown, into the closed position before the filled folding carton 113 reaches the region of the folding rail 24. The folding rail 124 then only serves to hold the folding tabs 115, 125 in the closed position. A large-size cover folding tab 126 with a tab is initially not folded in this folding step. This is done in a third folding station after further Abschub the folding box 113th

During transport of the packing group 97 or when it is being pushed out of the packaging web 110 onto the packaging web 111 by means of the stripping device 105, guide rails 127 are placed on both sides of the packing group 97 in order to prevent the packing group 97 from tipping apart. Basically the guide rails 127 are arranged so that they subsequently extend to the support plates 100.

In the place of folding boxes 113, other receptacles may be provided, such as metal cassettes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

tobacco products

11

production machine

12

conveyor belt

13

conveyor belt

14

conveyor belt

15

conveyor belt

16

(first) funding

17

Conveyor

18

(second) funding

19

conveyor belt

20

drive

21

drive belt

22

wave

23

machine frame

24

Pick-and-place device

25

gripper

26

suction head

27

Conveyor

28

Pick-and-place device

29

packaging

30

gripper

31

suction head

32

(third) funding

33

conveyor belt

34

wave

35

machine frame

36

cover tape

37

idler pulley

38

capstan

39

idler pulley

40

Cover plate

41

drive

42

contraption

43

(fourth) funding

44

conveyor belt

45

Conveyor

46

Pick-and-place device

47

gripper

48

suction head

49

Vacuum chamber

50

drive wheel

51

wave

52

machine frame

53

drive belt

54

drive

55

breakthrough

56

(fifth) funding

57

conveyor belt

58

drive wheels

59

wave

60

Transfer station

61

reel

62

reel

63

support material

64

Releases

65

Releases

66

idler pulley

67

reel

68

pressure means

69

lighting unit

70

Review body

71

(sixth) funding

72

conveyor belt

73

lighting unit

74

testing members

75

Beam

76

machine frame

77

encoding

78

(seventh) funding

79

conveyor belt

80

drive wheel

81

waves

82

drive belt

83

machine frame

84

drive

85

compartment belt

86

divider

87

subject

88

idler pulley

89

capstan

90

drive belt

91

engine

92

guide means

93

Guardrail

94

horizontal thigh

95

vertical thigh

96

opening

97

packaging group

98

attack

99

Beam

100

support plate

101

guide organ

102

guide organ

103

pneumatic cylinder

104

vertical thigh

105

Abschubeinrichtung

106

pneumatic cylinder

107

Abschubstempel

108

vertical thigh

109

guide organ

110

packaging web

111

packaging web

112

ground

113

folding

114

carton magazine

115

gussets

116

Kartonfalteinheit

117

pneumatic cylinder

118

slot head

119

backstop

120

pneumatic cylinder

121

piston

122

Counter thrust head

123

suction element

124

folding rail

125

Folded tongue

126

Deckelfaltlasche

127

guide rail

A

support organ

A '

support organ

B

support organ

B '

support organ

Claims (14)

1. Method of handling piece-form or granular tobacco articles (10), in particular chewing tobacco or chewing-tobacco substitute (snus), having conveying means for transporting the tobacco articles (10) along an article path, wherein tobacco articles (10), coming from a production machine (11), are conveyed on a plurality of first conveying means (16), in particular conveying belts (12, 13, 14, 15), in a plurality of parallel lines along an imaginary article path in the longitudinal direction of the first conveying means (16), and wherein the tobacco articles (10) are transferred onto a further, second conveying means (18), and conveyed along an imaginary article path in the longitudinal direction of the second conveying means (18), by means of a conveying arrangement (17), characterized by the following features:

   a) at least one pick-and-place arrangement (24) for picking up and setting down a plurality of tobacco articles (10) is used to form a group of tobacco articles (10) on the further, second conveying means (18), in particular a further conveying belt (19),

   b) the groups made up of a plurality of tobacco articles (10) are fed to an open pack (29) from a further, second conveying arrangement (27), wherein in each case one group of tobacco articles (10) is filled into a pack (29) by the second conveying arrangement (27) and, as they are being filled with in each case one group of tobacco articles (10), the packs (29), are transported on a further, third conveying means (32) in the longitudinal direction of an imaginary pack path,

   c) the packs (29) are closed as they are being transported along the pack path on the third conveying means (32),

   d) once the tobacco articles (10) have been fed and prior to the packs (29) being closed, the packs (29) are covered in the region of the opening which is to be closed, in order to avoid the situation where the tobacco articles (10) fall out of the packs (29), wherein use is made of a covering mechanism which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the pack path and is arranged in the region of a filling station for feeding the tobacco articles (10) to the packs (29) and, for the purpose of feeding the tobacco articles (10), is moved such that the openings of the packs (29) which are to be closed are exposed in the region of the filling station, the covering mechanism being moved, once the packs (29) have been filled, for the purpose of covering the openings which are to be closed.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the groups made up of a plurality of tobacco articles (10) are fed to an open blister pack by a further pick-and-place arrangement (28) for picking up and setting down preferably a plurality of tobacco articles (10), wherein the pack path of the further, third conveying means (32), that is to say of a conveying belt (33), is directed at an angle, in particular transversely, to the article path of the first and second feeding conveying means (16, 18).
3. Method according to Claim 2 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (29) are closed on the upper side, by virtue of an open upper side of the packs (29) being sealed, as the latter are being transported along the pack path.
4. Method according to Claim 3 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that, following the operating region of the covering mechanism, a fixed covering mechanism is provided, in particular a covering plate (40), by means of which the openings of the filled packs (29) which are to be closed are covered en route along the pack path until the packs (29) are closed.
5. Method according to Claim 4 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (29) are obtained from a continuous material web of a packaging material, wherein a plurality of packs (29) are arranged one beside the other longitudinally or at an angle, in particular transversely, to the pack path in the material web, and wherein the individual packs (29) are formed preferably as spaced-apart depressions in the material web, and in that, once they have been filled with the tobacco articles (10) and the openings have been sealed, the packs (29) are separated by virtue of the material web being severed, wherein the material web is severed in each case in the region between the depressions.
6. Method according to Claim 5 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (29) are identified by virtue of a code being applied, wherein the code may contain production or product information or the like, and in that coding takes place preferably once the packs (29) have been separated from the material web.
7. Method according to Claim 6 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the individual packs (29) are fed from a further, third conveying arrangement (45), in particular a pick-and-plate arrangement (46) for picking up and setting down preferably a plurality of packs (29), to a further, fourth conveying means (43), in particular a conveying belt (44), and are transported thereon along an imaginary pack path running in the longitudinal direction of the conveying means (43), wherein this pack path is directed at an angle, in particular transversely, to an imaginary pack path of the feeding, third conveying means (32).
8. Method according to Claim 7 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying arrangement (45) picks up in each case a group of packs (29) located one beside the other transversely to the (second) pack path, and sets them down with the same relative positioning on the following conveying means (43) such that the packs (29) are transported, in particular, in a single line, and preferably at small intervals apart one behind the other, on the following conveying means (43), wherein the packs (29) are oriented with their longitudinal extent preferably transversely to the conveying direction.
9. Method according to Claim 7 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the fourth conveying means (43) is followed by a further, fifth conveying means (56), wherein the packs (29) are conveyed on the further, fifth conveying means (56) along an imaginary pack path which runs in the longitudinal direction of the fifth conveying means (56) and is directed in extension of the pack path of the preceding conveying means (43), wherein, in the region of opposite literal peripheries on either side of the depressions for the tobacco articles (10), the packs (29) are conveyed between in each case two conveying belts (57) of the fifth conveying means (56), in the longitudinal direction of the same, and in that, during this transportation, printing carriers, in particular labels (64, 65), are applied in the region of an exposed upper side and/or of an exposed underside of the packs (29), preferably for the purpose of identifying the contents or other features of the packs (29).
10. Method according to Claim 9 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the printing carriers are fed on a carrier material (63) which is guided, by means of a deflecting roller (66), into the region of the upper side and/or the underside of the pipe (29) such that, by virtue of a pronounced deflection in the region of the deflecting roller (66), the printing carriers become detached from the carrier material (63) and come into contact with the upper side and/or underside of the pack (29), wherein, following detachment from the carrier material, the printing carriers are brought into abutment against the upper side and/or the underside of the packs (29), preferably by in particular fixed pressure-exerting means (68).
11. Method according to Claim 10 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (29) are transferred from the fifth conveying means (56) to a further, sixth conveying means (71), in particular a conveying belt (72), wherein the packs (29) are conveyed on the further, sixth conveying means (71) along an imaginary pack path which runs in the longitudinal direction of the further, sixth conveying means (71) and is oriented in extension of the pack path of the preceding conveying means (56), wherein, as they are being transported on the sixth conveying means (56, 71), the packs (29) are checked by means of checking mechanisms (70, 74), in particular cameras, scanners or sensors, for the correct configuration, in particular in respect of printing carriers, and/or coding and/or correct position of the pack contents and/or closure of the packs, wherein the pack (29) is irradiated preferably by lighting units (69, 73) arranged along the pack path.
12. Method according to Claim 11 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that following the sixth conveying means (71), the packs (29) are separated by being transported on a pushing-off belt - seventh conveying means (78) - driven at a higher speed than the conveying means (71), and the packs are each introduced into compartments (87) of a compartmentalized belt (85), wherein, thereafter, a group of packs is removed together from the compartments (87) of the compartmentalized belt (85) and introduced into a supplied receiving container, in particular a multipack container, a cassette or the like.
13. Method according to Claim 12 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the groups of packs are transferred from the compartmentalized belt (85) onto a pack path, wherein a transporting section of the compartmentalized belt (85) runs partially through the pack path in the region of an opening (96), obliquely to the plane of the pack path, in so doing setting down the packs (29), which have greater dimensions than the opening (96), on the pack path.
14. Method according to Claim 11 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that, for the purpose of introduction into the receiving container/folding box (113), the packs (29) within the group (97) of packs are arranged in an upright state, and in that the group (97) is secured upstream and downstream against falling over by in each case one movable supporting mechanism (A, A', B, B'), wherein the supporting mechanisms (A, A', B, B') are moved, together with the group (97), in the direction of the receiving container and initially, or once the group (97) has been introduced into the receiving containers, are moved one after the other into a starting position for the purpose of supporting a new group (97) of packs (29).

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