EP2647576B1 - Apparatus and method for producing cigarette packets - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type, with a folding turret, in particular cyclically driven, which has circumferentially distributed pockets for receiving a blank for a package as well as a package contents, wherein the blank during the Transport on the folding turret, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method according to the preamble of claim 5.

The invention relates to the production of packs for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type. Characteristic of the production of such packages is the folding of folding flaps of a corresponding blank of packaging material along folding lines and the subsequent joining of folding tabs by means of glue. The folding of the folding flaps can be done on a so-called folding turret, which has pockets for each one blank and the contents of the package. The folding turret is rotationally driven so that the bags pass through various stations to form the package, with the blank being folded around the package contents. Such devices are made, for example US 4,202,151 A . EP 1035021 A1 and DE 3941844 A1 known. Preferably, the package is mainly completely folded out of the folding turret and then closed. As a rule, the last step is the gluing and gluing of folding flaps in the area of narrow side walls following the folding turret.

In particular, the invention is concerned with the manufacture of packages of special sizes, for example of smaller size packages or of packages having a particular package content, for example package contents of smaller dimensions than the actual package. The

Production of such special packages is not always satisfactory to accomplish on the known devices and with the known methods.

On this basis, the invention is based on the object of further developing devices and methods of the type mentioned, in particular with regard to the production of special packages.

To achieve this object, a device according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

Particularly in the case of a two-lane design of the folding turret, this solution ensures that the corresponding folding tabs, in particular the lid corner tabs of the blank, are held securely in the folded position until they are held in position by appropriate folding of other folding tabs,

Also in this case it is preferably provided that the folding members of two adjacent pockets by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable curve, independently of the folding turret are actuated. The folding members can be associated with the pockets in the area of side walls of the packs and can be moved into the pockets for folding over corner tabs of the blanks to form a lid of the pack,

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the folding members are hineinbewegbar with a free end in the pockets, wherein the Faltorgane at least in the region of the free end have an arcuate shape and wherein the Faltorgane to the free end a decreasing dimension, in particular width have, in such a way that the folding organs between the folded lid corner flaps and a subsequently folding on the lid corner flaps folding flaps of the blank, in particular a lid end wall, herausbewegbar, in particular herausschwenkbar are.

A corresponding method has the features of claim 5.

(Continuation of the new description introduction by the originally filed description from page 3, line 8, beginning with: "Further details of the invention and advantageous embodiments thereof ..." to the end of the description.)

A corresponding method has the features of claim 6.

According to another preferred special feature of the method according to the invention, the folding organs are gradually moved out of the pocket when closing a cover flap of the blank so that the folding flaps are secured in position by the cover flap.

Further details of the invention and advantageous embodiments thereof are given in the dependent claims and the description of the remainder and the drawing.

Fig. 1

einen teilweise gefalteten Zuschnitt für eine Packung für Zigaretten in räumlicher Darstellung,

Fig. 2

einen Faltrevolver zum Herstellen von Packungen für Zigaretten in Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

eine Einzelheit III des Faltrevolvers in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 4

einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Faltrevolver entlang Schnittlinie IV - IV in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Faltrevolver entlang Schnittlinie V - V in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung der Funktionsweise von Faltorganen im Bereich der Taschen des Faltrevolvers als Draufsicht,

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung der Funktionsweise von weiteren Faltorganen im Bereich der Taschen des Faltrevolvers als Draufsicht, und

Fig. 8

einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Faltrevolver entlang Schnittlinie VIII - VIII in Fig. 7.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a partially folded blank for a package of cigarettes in a spatial representation,

Fig. 2

a folding turret for producing packages for cigarettes in plan view,

Fig. 3

a detail III of the folding turret in an enlarged view,

Fig. 4

a vertical section through the folding turret along section line IV - IV in Fig. 3 .

Fig. 5

a vertical section through the folding turret along section line V - V in Fig. 3 .

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of the operation of Faltorganen in the region of the pockets of the folding turret as a plan view,

Fig. 7

a schematic representation of the operation of other folding organs in the region of the pockets of the folding turret as a plan view, and

Fig. 8

a vertical section through the folding turret along section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 ,

The invention relates to a folding turret 10, which is used in the manufacture of packages for cigarettes.

In the present exemplary embodiment, these are packings of the Hinge-Lid type, that is to say a pack with a box part and a lid which is pivotably mounted on the box part. The package is formed from a blank 11 of packaging material such as paper or thin cardboard, namely by folding along fold lines formed in the blank 11. Correspondingly, the blank 11 has folding flaps, which are separated from one another by fold lines and form corresponding regions of the pack. Since the construction of a blank 11 for hinge-lid packs is largely standardized, a description of the individual areas is dispensed with and only addresses any special features.

Of course, the invention described below can also be used in other types of packages.

Fig. 1 shows a partially folded blank 11. A special feature here are support tabs 12, which are formed above the bottom wall 13 in the region of box side walls 14, 15. The box sidewalls 14, 15 are formed as usual from longitudinal fold tabs 16, 17 which are joined together in an overlapping position to form the respective box sidewall 14, 15. Inner longitudinal fold tabs 16 which connect to the box backwall 18 are shown in Figs Support tabs 12, whereas external Längsfaltlappen 17 are formed closed after the box front wall 19 and cover the support tabs 12 in the inner longitudinal folding tabs 16.

The support tabs 12 are formed in the present case by a plurality of die cuts in the Längsfaltlappen 16 so that the support tabs 12 can be folded or pivoted into the box part of the pack. In this folded position according to Fig. 1 the support tabs 12 form a support member as a support or stop for a package contents 20 of the pack. The package contents 20 thus has a lower height than the package. In this way, off-standard package contents 20 may be packaged in a standard wrap-around pack. The deviation from the standard need not be limited only to the length or height of the package contents 20, but may also be in terms of width or depth.

The support tabs 12 are folded in the present case so that they are directed transversely to the corresponding longitudinal folding tabs 16, 17. It can also be done so that the support tabs 12 are folded a little further. At least the support tabs 12 must be folded at an angle to the plane of the corresponding longitudinal folding tabs 16, 17, so that upper edges 37 of the support tabs 12 can be used as a support surface for the package contents.

In principle, other types of support organs or other arrangements of such means are known in the prior art, which can be used in a corresponding manner for a support of the package contents 20. The invention also relates to such solutions.

In the manufacture of packages with a blank 11 according to Fig. 1 a special folding turret 10 is used, which in Fig. 2 is shown. The blanks 11 are removed from a cutting apparatus, not shown, and inserted from above the folding turret 10 in pockets 21 thereof. In this case, folding flaps of the blank 11 are erected, so that the blank 11 in the in Fig. 1 shown configuration, ie with erect longitudinal folding tabs 16 and transverse bottom wall 13 and box front wall 19. This takes place in an in Fig. 2 I designated insertion station. Subsequently, the folding turret 10 is moved on by one station, so that further blanks 11 in the insertion station I can be fed into the next pockets 21. In the folding turret 10 shown in the drawing, the rotation of the same takes place cyclically. But it is also conceivable that a continuously rotating folding turret 10 is used.

During the subsequent transport of the blank 11 in the pockets 21 along the circumference of the folding turret 10 further folding steps are carried out, which are essentially known from the prior art and will not be discussed in detail for the sake of simplicity provided that they are not specific represent.

In position II of the folding turret 10, the supporting organs or supporting lugs 12 of the blanks 11 are folded. This is done by means of special folding members 22. The positioning of the folding members 22 on the pockets 21 results Fig. 3 , Accordingly, the folding members 22 are pivotally mounted on both sides of the pockets 21 at the same. Each folding member 22 is arcuate and pivotally mounted on a vertical axis 23. The folding members 22 have two connected legs. A free end 24 the folding member 22 can be moved into the pocket 21 for erecting or folding the support members or support tabs 12 in the position according to Fig. 1 , To actuate the folding members 22, a connecting rod 25 is provided in each case, which is moved via a drive and coupled to another free end of the folding members 22.

Furthermore, the free end 24 of the folding members 22 is dimensioned such that the package contents 20 are supported not only in the region of a single cigarette but over several adjacent rows. Fig. 4 shows that for this purpose, the free end 24 is widened or widened, so that the package contents 20 is supported in the range of several cigarettes. Furthermore, it can be seen that the folding members are moved through a recess 36 in a wall of the pocket 21 in this.

The operation of the folding members 22 takes place in the station II during a short stoppage of the folding turret 10. For this reason, the drive for the folding members 22 is designed independently of the drive of the folding turret. This will be described below. It goes without saying that the drive for the folding members 22 can be coupled to the drive for the folding turret 10. Then, of course, the folding members 22 can only be moved during the rotation of the folding turret 10. Of course, the folding turret 10 may also be continuously rotating.

Further, the operation of the folding members 22 before the package contents 20 is inserted into the pockets 21. This takes place in Station III. There, first, the package contents 20 in the form of a cigarette block is brought together with a collar 26 or the collar 26 is placed on the package contents 20. Together, package contents 20 and collar 26 are then inserted into open blank 11 in pocket 21. The support tabs 12 and the folding members 22 serve as a stop for the package contents 20, so that the support members or support tabs 12 are not affected by the package contents 20. The package contents 20 are supported by the support tabs 12 and by the folding members 22, which are arranged or aligned substantially flush with an upper side or the upper edge 37 of the support tabs 12. Only after the feeding of the package contents 20, the folding members 22 are moved out of the pockets 21 again.

In the further stations IV to VII, the folding of the blank 11 is completed, in particular the lid of the package and the package front side is folded. In station VII, the blank 11, which is folded up to the outer longitudinal fold tabs 17, is then removed from the folding turret 10 and a gluing station (not shown) supplied, is applied in the glue from below on the longitudinal folding tabs 17. Thereafter, the longitudinal folding tabs 17 are folded in the plane of the side walls and connected to the inner longitudinal folding tabs 16.

The details of the drive of the folding members 22 arise from Fig. 5 and 6 , The folding members 22 are pivotally mounted about the vertical axis 23 as already described. To actuate the folding members 22, the connecting rods 25 are hinged to a free end of the folding members 22 in order to pivot the folding members 22 about the axes 23 can. Another end of the connecting rods 25 is mounted on a connecting bracket 27, which is movable to actuate the folding members 22, as in Fig. 6 shown. The connection carrier 27 is a substantially plate-like element which is arranged below the folding turret 10 and is mounted on this via pivot lever 28. In the present case, three pivoting levers 28 are provided. To connect the connecting rods 25 with the connection carrier pin-like projections 29 are arranged on the underside of the connection carrier.

To generate an approximately linear reciprocating movement of the connecting carrier 27 for actuating the folding members 22, a fixed curve 30 is provided, in which the connecting member 27 is guided via cam rollers 31. By pivoting the curve 30, as in Fig. 6 indicated, the connection carrier 27 can be moved, which leads to the operation of the folding members 22. Alternatively, the curve 30 can also be arranged in a stationary manner and the movement of the connecting carrier 27 can be controlled by a corresponding course of the curve 30.

The movement of the connecting member 27 is decoupled from the rotation of the folding turret 10, so that the connecting member 27 and thus also the folding members 22 can be operated even when the folding turret 10 is stationary. As mentioned above, the drive of the folding members 22 may also be coupled to the drive of the folding turret 10.

Another special feature is that the folding turret 10 is designed for a two-lane operation. Accordingly, the pockets 21 are arranged in pairs and aligned within a pair of pockets parallel to each other. The four folding members 22 of each pocket pair are connected via a respective connecting rod 25 with a common connecting member 27, which thus ensures the simultaneous movement of the four folding members 22.

It is understood that the described invention can of course also be used in a single-lane folding turret 10.

Another solution according to the invention is in Fig. 7 and 8th shown. This solution relates to the folding of lid corner flaps 32 of the blank 11. Normally, the lid corner flaps 32 - also called "dust flaps" - folded by fixedly arranged on the circumference of the folding turret 10 folding organs after insertion of the package contents 20 and during the further rotation of the folding turret 10 held by a switch on the circumference of the folding turret 10 in this position until the lid of the package 10 is folded so far that the lid corner tabs 32 are held in position. However, the solution described below has the advantage that the lid corner flaps 32 can be folded even if the package or the blank 11 due to a special format only very short lid corner flaps 32 and / or the folding turret 10 as in the present case two lanes is trained. In these cases, this may in fact mean that the lid corner tabs 32 can no longer be detected by the switch and held in position. This then leads to an uncontrolled opening of the lid corner tabs 32 after folding. To clarify this problem is in Fig. 7 shown as a dotted line the working area of a conventional switch. It follows that not all lid corner tabs 32 could be detected by such a switch.

In turn, instead of the switch described above, folding members 33 are used, which are mounted laterally in the region of the pockets 21. Construction and drive of the folding members 33 are similar to the solution described above. The folding members 33 are hook-shaped and pivotally mounted on an axis 34. The actuation of the folding members 33 is again via connecting rods 25 which are coupled to a connection carrier 27, which is guided in a curve 30 as in the first exemplary example of the invention via cam rollers 31. By pivoting the curve 30, the connection carrier 27 can be reciprocated to actuate the folding members 33. The above-described alternative to the formation of the drive also apply here.

The folding members 33 are actuated after the package contents 20 has been inserted into position III of the folding turret 10 in the pockets 21. The folding members 33 grasp the lid corner flaps 32 and place them against an end wall of the package contents 20. In the further course of the stations, the folding of the lid is completed. In this case, a lid end wall 34 is erected by means of a switch 35 and against the folded Lid corner flaps 32 laid. During this erecting operation, the folding members 33 are gradually withdrawn from the lid corner flaps 32. The movement of the folding turret 10 and the folding members 33 is superimposed accordingly. In order to allow the extraction of the folding members 33 between ceiling corner tabs 23 and cover end wall 34, the folding members 33 are flattened, so that they become narrower to a free end, with which the folding member 33 comes into contact with the lid corner tabs 32 , In this way, the folding member 33 can be moved gradually between the lid end wall 34 and lid corner tabs 32 out without the folding of the lid is impaired or obstructed.

In the Fig. 8 shown construction of the drive for the folding members 33 is substantially analogous to the construction according to Fig. 3 to 5 , A connecting member 27 is pivotally mounted on the folding turret 10 via pivot lever 28. The connection carrier is guided on the one hand via cam rollers 31 in a curve 30. On the other hand, the connection carrier 27 is connected via the connecting rods 25 with the folding members 33. A special feature in the present case is the fact that the two folding members 33 arranged between the adjacent pockets 21 can be actuated by a common connecting rod 25, which is coupled to both folding members 33. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES: </ b> 10 folding turret 36 recess 11 cut 37 edge 12 support tab 13 bottom wall 14 Box side wall 15 Box side wall 16 Längsfaltlappen 17 Längsfaltlappen 18 Box rear wall 19 Box front wall 20 package contents 21 bag 22 folding member 23 axis 24 The End 25 connecting rod 26 collar 27 connection support 28 pivoting lever 29 head Start 30 Curve 31 follower 32 Lid corner tabs 33 folding member 34 Lid front wall 35 switch

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular of the hinge lid type, comprising a folding turret (10) which is rotationally driven in particular in a clocked manner and has pockets (21), which are distributed over the circumference, for receiving a blank (11) for a pack and for receiving a pack contents (20), wherein the blank (11) is folded while being transported on the folding turret (10), wherein the pockets (21) are assigned folding members (33) for folding lid corner tabs (32) of the respective blank (11) and for holding the folded lid corner tabs (32) in the folded position during rotation of the folding turret (10), characterized in that the folding members (33) are arranged on the folding turret (10) so as to rotate together, wherein each pocket (21) is assigned more than one, in particular two, folding members (33) for folding in each case at least one lid corner tab (32) of a blank (11) after feeding a pack contents (20) into the respective pocket (21), and in that the folding members (33) are movable by a free end into the pockets (21), wherein the folding members (33) have a curved design at least in the region of the free end, and wherein the folding members (33) have a decreasing dimension toward the free end in such a manner that the folding members (33) are pivotable out between the folded-over lid corner tabs (32) and a lid end wall (34) of the blank (11) which is subsequently to be gradually folded onto the lid corner tabs (32).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the folding members (33) of more than one, preferably two adjacent, pockets (21) are actuable independently of the folding turret (10) by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable cam (30).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the folding members (33) are assigned in the region of side walls of the packs to the pockets (21) and are movable into the pockets (21) in order to fold over the lid corner tabs (32) of the blanks (11) to form a lid of the pack, wherein, in particular, the folding turret (10) is designed for a two-track manner of operation and every two adjacent pockets (21) are arranged parallel to each other.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the folding members (33) are movable by a free end into the pockets (21), wherein the folding members (33) have a curved design at least in the region of the free end, and wherein the folding members (33) have a decreasing width toward the free end in such a manner that the folding members (33) are movable out, in particular are pivotable out, between the folded-over lid corner tabs (32) and a folding tab of the blank (11), in particular a lid end wall (34), which is subsequently to be gradually folded onto the lid corner tabs (32).
5. Method for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular of the hinge lid type, wherein blanks (11) for the packs are inserted into pockets (21) of a folding turret (10), which is rotationally driven in particular in a clocked manner, and are folded around a pack contents (20), characterized in that lid corner tabs (32) of the blanks (11) are folded against an end wall of the pack contents (20) by folding members (33) arranged on the folding turret (10) so as to rotate together, wherein the folding members (33) have a curved design at least in the region of the free end, and wherein the folding members (33) have a decreasing dimension width toward the free end, and in that, after the folding of the folding tabs (32), the folding members (33) hold said folding tabs in the folded position while the folding turret (10) is rotated further, and in that a lid end wall (34) of the pack is set upright and placed against the folded lid corner tabs (32) while the folding members (33) are gradually pivoted out between lid end wall (34) and lid corner tabs (32).
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the lid end wall (34) is gradually folded against the folded-over lid corner tabs (32) by a distributing guide, which is arranged in a fixed position on the circumference of the folding turret (10) while the folding turret is rotationally driven.

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