EP3194276B1 - Method and device for producing packs for cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing packs for cigarettes according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device according to the preamble of claim 9.

In particular, the invention relates to methods and devices for the production of cigarettes, in which it is provided that the packs have predetermined dimensions in terms of width, depth and height and at least one dimension of the interior of the box part is larger than a corresponding dimension of the cigarette block, so that the cigarette block does not fill the interior of the box part with respect to at least one dimension, and it is provided that a specially designed collar serves to compensate for at least one different dimension of the cigarette block and the interior of the box part.

Out DE 10 2013 101 118 A1 a method and a device for handling specially designed collars is known. However, these collars are not suitable for compensating for the different dimensions in question.

In practice, it can happen for various reasons that the pack sizes or the dimensions of packs for cigarettes are predetermined, for example for legal, tax or technical reasons. In order to ensure cost-effective production of the packs, however, it is desirable that the packs can be filled with different contents at constant (external) dimensions in order to be able to react flexibly to corresponding requirements in different markets, without costly retrofitting of the packaging machines would be required. In particular, it is of interest to accommodate a smaller number of cigarettes or cigarette blocks with smaller dimensions in conventional packs.

US 5,480,025 shows a pack in which a collar is designed to allow the inclusion of shorter cigarettes. For this purpose, an additional base is formed by the collar, which is arranged at a distance from the bottom wall of the pack and on which the cigarettes are placed. However, the collar described there is complex and requires some additional folding steps in the manufacture of the pack which are time-consuming and therefore costly.

Against this background, the object of the invention is to further develop methods and devices for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular with a view to making packs for cigarettes as simple as possible in which the dimensions of the pack contents and interior of the pack differ at least partially.

A method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1.

If it is mentioned in the context of this application that one or more folding flaps are folded against the cigarette block, this is understood to mean that the folding flap is folded in the direction of the cigarette block, the folding flap not necessarily having to be in direct contact with the cigarette block at the end of the folding movement . It may also be that there are still one or more blanks, in particular a section of the collar, between the folded-over folding tab and the cigarette block, so that the folding tab or tabs only abut the cigarette block indirectly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that a folding flap is folded by a folding switch which is arranged in a stationary manner on the folding turret and which folds the folding flap located at the front in the direction of rotation of the folding turret.

Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that another folding flap is folded by a folding member which is assigned to the folding turret and preferably rotates and which folds the folding flap during a brief standstill of the folding turret.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the folding flaps are folded after the side walls of the collar have been folded against the cigarette group, one folding flap protruding further from the cigarette group than the other folding flap, so that the folding flap which protrudes further during the rotation of the folding turret the folding switch is gripped and folded, whereas the other folding flap is not gripped by the folding switch, but is folded by the folding member.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, together with the folding tabs of the collar, folding tabs are folded in the region of the side walls of the box part, whereby a folding tab of the collar and a folding tab of the box part are folded by a common folding element, i.e. the folding switch or the like Folding organ to be folded at the same time.

Another special feature can be that the collar is inserted into the pocket of the folding turret by means of a slider and there the front wall of the collar is folded into a Z-shaped position by a folding element, in which the collar has the at least one different dimension of the cigarette block and Compensates the interior of the box part. The folding flaps are then preferably folded over in the region of the side walls in order to secure the folded position of the collar.

According to an alternative solution it can be provided that the or each folding flap is folded by a folding member assigned to the pocket of the folding turret, the or each folding member being pivotably arranged in the region of the pocket and being movable into the pocket for folding at least one folding flap.

A device according to the invention for producing packs for cigarettes has the features of claim 9.

The device preferably has a folding switch, which is arranged in a fixed position on the folding turret, as a folding member, for folding a folding flap of the collar located in the direction of rotation of the folding turret.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the device has a folding member assigned to the folding turret and preferably rotating, for folding another folding flap during a brief standstill of the folding turret.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that, together with the folding tabs of the collar, folding tabs can be folded in the region of the side walls of the box part, with a folding tab of the collar and a folding tab of the box part each using a common folding element, that is to say the folding switch or the folding element, can be folded at the same time.

The collar can preferably be fed to the pocket of the folding turret by means of a slide and the front wall can be folded there into a Z-shaped position by means of a folding member, in which the collar compensates for the at least one different dimension of the cigarette block and the interior of the box part.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the or each folding flap can be folded by a folding element assigned to the pocket of the folding turret, the or each folding element being arranged pivotably in the region of the pocket and being movable into the pocket, for folding at least one folding flap.

Fig. 1

eine Packung für Zigaretten mit geöffnetem Deckel in räumlicher Darstellung,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch die Packung entlang Schnittlinie II - II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Zuschnitt für die Packung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

einen Zuschnitt für einen Kragen der Packung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

eine teilweise gefaltete Packung gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Zwischenfaltstellung,

Fig. 6

eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Packungen gemäß Fig. 1 in räumlicher Darstellung,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 und 9

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie VIII - VIII in Fig. 7, während aufeinanderfolgender Phasen der Herstellung einer Packung,

Fig. 10 bis 12

einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung entlang Schnittlinie X - X in Fig. 9, während aufeinanderfolgender Phasen der Herstellung einer Packung,

Fig. 13

ein alternatives Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 7, und

Fig. 14

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 13 in vergrößertem Maßstab.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a pack of cigarettes with the lid open in a spatial representation,

Fig. 2

a section through the pack along section line II - II in Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

a cut to size for the pack Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 4

a cut for a collar according to the pack Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 5

a partially folded pack according to Fig. 1 in an intermediate folding position,

Fig. 6

a device for producing packs according to Fig. 1 in spatial representation,

Fig. 7

a plan view of the device according to Fig. 6 ,

8 and 9

a vertical section through the device along section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 , during successive stages of the manufacture of a pack,

10 to 12

a vertical section through the device along section line X - X in Fig. 9 , during successive stages of the manufacture of a pack,

Fig. 13

an alternative embodiment of a device in a representation accordingly Fig. 7 , and

Fig. 14

a detail of the device according to Fig. 13 on an enlarged scale.

The invention is described below on the basis of various exemplary embodiments which relate to a pack 10 of the hinge-lid pack type for cigarettes. It is explicitly pointed out that the invention can also relate to other types of packs for cigarettes.

The in the 1 to 5 The package 10 shown consists of a box part 11 and a cover 13 which is pivotably mounted in the region of a rear wall 12 of the box part 11. The box part 11 also consists of a (lower) bottom wall 14 and a (upright) front wall 15 which is opposite the rear wall 12. Side walls 16, 17 connect rear wall 12 and front wall 15 to one another and are formed from overlapping inner and outer side tabs 18, 19. The lid 13 also consists of the front wall 20, rear wall 21, end wall 30 and side walls 22, 23. The side walls 22, 23 of the lid 13 are also formed by overlapping inner and outer side tabs 24, 25.

Another component of the package 10 is a collar 26 in a special configuration. The basic components of the collar 26 are a front wall 27 which bears against the front wall 15 of the box part 11 and, if appropriate, is connected thereto by adhesive bonding. Furthermore, the collar includes 26 side walls 28, which extend along side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11. An upper region of the collar 26 protruding from the box part 11 is enclosed by the cover 13 in the closed position of the pack 10.

The cuboid-shaped pack 10 made of thin cardboard is particularly suitable for holding cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects. The cigarettes are formed as a cigarette group and are surrounded by an inner cut, for example made of tin foil. A cigarette block 29 is thus created. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cigarette group or cigarette block 29 is essentially cuboid, that is to say with a rectangular cross section.

There is a special feature with regard to the dimensions of the cigarette block 29. The dimensions (width, height, depth) do not at least partially correspond to the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10, so that a cavity would arise without countermeasures, or the cigarette block 29 would not be held securely or properly in the box part 11. Accordingly, at least one dimension of the cigarette block 29 is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10.

If it is assumed in the context of this application that the dimensions (of the cigarette block 29 on the one hand and the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10 on the other) are different, this does not relate to the usual deviations that arise in the course of dimensions and Manufacturing tolerances or for the purpose of easy removal of the cigarettes are usually present, but rather deviations that go beyond this measure.

Rather, the invention relates to deviations in the dimensions that result from the fact that one or more cigarette blocks 29 are accommodated within the pack 10, which due to the number and / or dimensions of the cigarettes have a smaller pack content than is customary with packs 10 of this type, so that there are significant differences in the dimensions which must be compensated for in a suitable manner in order to securely accommodate the cigarette block 29 in the pack 10 despite the deviating dimensions.

To reduce the depth of the box part 11, the front wall 27 of the collar 26 is folded along two folding lines 31, 32. The fold lines 31, 32 extend transversely to an imaginary upright longitudinal axis of the collar 26 or the pack 10.

The fold lines 31, 32 divide the front wall 27 into three sections, namely an upper section 34, a middle connecting section 35 and a lower section 36. The three sections are folded around the fold lines 31, 32 such that the section 34 bears against the inside of the front wall 15 of the box part 11, whereas the section 36 is arranged parallel to the section 34 but at a distance from the front wall 15 of the box part 11, and the distance is given by the corresponding dimension of the connecting section 35. The front wall 27 of the collar 26 is accordingly folded in a Z shape around the fold lines 31, 32. The connecting section 35 is directed transversely to the two sections 34, 36. The fold lines 31, 32 are preferably formed as perforation lines.

It goes without saying that the collar 26 can of course also have more than two fold lines 31, 32, so that the front wall 27 of the collar 26 is folded differently. For example, it is conceivable that a plurality of sections 34 spaced apart from one another abut the inside of the front wall 15 of the box part 11 and / or that a plurality of sections 36 each spaced apart from one another are arranged at a distance from the front wall 15 of the box part 11.

In order to be able to fold the front wall 27 of the collar 26 in the manner shown, separating cuts 37 are also provided between the front wall 27 and the two side walls 28. The separating cuts 37 extend at least partially along the fold line 38 between the front wall 27 and the two side walls 28 from the first fold line 31 to the underside 39 of the collar 26. In the region of an upper side 40 of the collar 26, a customary recess 41 is formed, for cigarettes easier to remove from the package 10. So-called cover brakes 42 are arranged on both sides of the recess 41.

A further special feature relates to measures for securing the Z-fold of the front wall 27 of the collar 26. For this purpose, a holding means 43 can be arranged in the region of one or both side walls 28 of the collar 26.

The cigarette block 29 is preferably additionally secured in its position in the box part 11, for example by gluing to the rear wall 12 of the box part 11 or by gluing to the side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11 or the side walls 28 of the collar 26 or by gluing to the section 36 the collar 26.

The holding means 43 are formed by folding tabs 48 which are formed in the side walls 28 of the collar 26.

The folding flaps 48 are delimited on the one hand by the separating cut 37, and on the other hand by a further separating cut 49, which extends in each case in the extension of the folding line 31 into the side walls 28 of the collar 26, and also a folding line 50 which extends from the free side end of the Separating cut 49 extends parallel to the separating cut 37 in the direction of the underside 39 of the collar 26. Correspondingly, the folding tabs 48 are each delimited by the separating cuts 37, 49 and the folding line 50.

A special feature is that the two folding tabs 48 have different dimensions, namely a different width. During the in Fig. 4 shown left folding tab 48 has a constant width over its height and thus has a substantially rectangular shape, the right folding tab 48 is (partially) formed with a larger width.

In an upper section, which in this case is at the level of section 35, the right folding tab 48 has the same width as the left folding tab 48. Below this, the separating cut 37 is designed such that the right folding tab 48 has a greater width than in the section lying above it. The width of the right folding tab 48 in the lower section is also greater than the width of the left folding tab 48.

The advantage resulting from the different width in the production of the package 10 becomes clear in connection with the device described below.

Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable that the right folding tab 48 overall (continuously or over the entire height) has a greater width than the left folding tab 48.

The folding tabs 48 are each pivoted about the folding line 50 towards the inside of the box part 11 or towards the section 36 of the collar, so that a free edge of the folding tab 48, which is formed by the separating cut 49, lies linearly on the underside of the connecting section 35 and supports it. In this way, as in the other exemplary embodiments, the Z-fold of the collar 26 can be prevented from being lost due to the restoring forces of the material of the collar 26.

The folding of the folding tab 48 can preferably take place after the collar 26 has been placed on the cigarette block 29, for example by means of folding members which act laterally against the Folding tabs 48 are moved to fold over or toward portion 36, as schematically shown in FIG Fig. 2 and 5 shown.

In an intermediate step according to Fig. 5 the inner side tabs 19 of the side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11 are already folded or erected against the contents of the pack. In order to be able to fold the folding tabs 48 of the collar 26 in this intermediate folding position, corresponding folding tabs 52 are formed in the inner side tabs 19 of the side walls 16, 17 by separating cuts 53 and a folding line 54 which are folded over together with the folding tabs 48. The corresponding recess in the inner side tab 19 is later covered by the outer side tab 18 of the side walls 16, 17. The position and / or dimensions of the folding tabs 52 correspond to the position and / or dimensions 48 such that both folding tabs 48, 52 can be folded over together.

It is not necessary for the folding tabs 48, 52 to have the same dimensions and / or the same position. The folding tabs 52 are preferably arranged and dimensioned such that there is the possibility of folding the tabs 52, 48 together even if the collar 26 fluctuates in position. In practice it will also be the case that the folding tabs 52 are arranged (slightly) lower than the folding tabs 48.

The cut 51 ( Fig. 3 ) is otherwise constructed like a custom blank for a hinge-lid pack 10. In addition to the walls already described shows Fig. 13 nor the position of folding tabs 55, 56, 57 which, in the folded pack 10, rest against the inside of the bottom wall 14, the box part 11 or the front wall 20 or end wall 30 of the cover 13.

It goes without saying that the folding flaps 52 in the side flaps 19 can also be dispensed with if the folding flaps 48 are folded over before the cigarette block 29 and collar 26 are brought together with the blank 51, or if the folding flaps 48 take place before the inner ones Side tabs 19 are erected. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to provide corresponding recesses in the inner side tabs 19 at the location of the folding tabs 52.

It is further provided that the cigarette block 29 only deviates in one dimension from the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11, namely in depth. But it can of course be that the dimensions of the Cigarette blocks 29 deviate in more than one dimension or direction from the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11.

Furthermore, care should be taken that the cigarette blocks 29 should have a width greater than depth, if possible, in order to be able to properly fold the inner blank in the area of the upper side.

The contents of the pack can basically be cigarettes with normal dimensions, but also cigarettes with a smaller diameter than normal cigarettes, namely so-called slim or superslim cigarettes.

The method briefly described above and the associated device for producing such packs are described in detail below with reference to 6 to 14 described. Show 6 to 12 a first embodiment and Fig. 13 and 14 a second embodiment.

First embodiment (Figs. 6 to 12):

A cigarette group 33 is transported along a cigarette path 45 by means of a carrier 44. The driver 44 rests on the back of the cigarette group 33, namely in the region of an end face thereof, so that the cigarettes of the cigarette group 33 are conveyed parallel to their longitudinal extent.

The cigarette group 33 is pushed through a mouthpiece 46 by means of the driver 44. Following the mouthpiece 46, the cigarette group 33 is wrapped in a customary manner in an inner blank 47 and the cigarette block 29 is thereby formed.

The cigarette block 29 is fed to a stage 58. The stage 58 is already known in terms of the basic structure and the mode of operation from older applications by the applicant, which is why a detailed description of the structure and the mode of operation of the stage 58 is dispensed with at this point. Reference is only made to the fact that the stage 58 can be moved back and forth in the transport direction according to arrow 59 in order to bridge the distance between the cigarette web 45 and a folding turret 60 and to insert the cigarette block 29 with a collar 26 into a pocket 61 of the folding turret 60 .

The collars 26 are also separated in a known manner from a continuous material web 62 and in the region of a collar web 63 is fed to a cigarette block 29 transversely to the cigarette web 45 and placed thereon. Thereafter, the cigarette block 29 and collar 26 are inserted in a known manner through a rotary insert 64 in the area of the stage 58 into a pocket 61 of the folding turret 60.

The structure of the folding turret 60 is also largely configured as is customary in the prior art. The blanks 51 are fed unfolded to a feed station and stamped into a pocket 61 of the folding turret 60 by means of a stamp 65, the blank 51 being partially folded, namely essentially accordingly Fig. 5 , ie with erected side tabs 19 and upright bottom wall 14 and front wall 15. The folding turret 60 is then moved one position at a time. In the next station, an inner lid flap is folded by means of a corresponding organ 66. In the subsequent station (insertion station) a cigarette block 29 and a collar 26 are then inserted into the partially folded blank 51.

Furthermore, pivotable collar folding switches 67 are arranged in the region of the insertion station or the stage 58, which serve to fold over the side walls 28 of the collar 26. With the help of the collar fold switches 67, the side walls 28 are folded against corresponding narrow sides of the cigarette block 29.

In addition, a so-called collar presser 68 is assigned to the pocket 61 of the folding turret 60 in the region of the insertion station. The collar presser 68 is also fundamentally already known from the prior art and serves to press the collar 26 in the pocket 61 against the cigarette block 29. For this purpose, the collar presser 68 has a folding arm 69 which is placed on the collar 26 from above in order to press it into the pocket 61. At the end of the folding arm 69 there is also an angled folding projection 70 which is brought to bear against the collar 26 in the region of the rear end face of the cigarette block 29 in order to position it.

As a special feature, a folding element 71 is assigned to the pocket 61 in the insertion station, which, when the collar 26 or the cigarette block 29 is fed to the pocket 61, ensures that the front wall 27 of the collar 26 moves into the Z-shaped folded position Fig. 5 brought in which the collar 26 the different Dimensions of the depth of the interior of the box part 11 and the depth of the cigarette block 29 compensates.

The folding member 71 is brought into contact with the front wall 27 of the collar 26, namely below the folding line 31, so that the section 35 is folded downward by approximately 90 ° with respect to the section 34. Furthermore, the folding member 71 bears against the section 36 and presses it against the cigarette block 29, so that a new folding by approximately 90 ° results. This ensures that the collar 26 is properly folded into the Z-shaped folded position.

It is also provided that the collar 26 is held in the folded position by the folding member 71 until the holding means 43, namely the folding tabs 48, are at least partially folded against the cigarette block 29 to secure the folded position.

To fold over a first folding flap 48, a stationary folding switch 72 is provided as a folding member, which is located above the pockets 61 on the turret 60 and extends along the further transport path. How in particular Fig. 10 shows, the folding switch 72 extends over the edge of the pocket 61 in the insertion station, so that a folding flap 48 lying forward in the conveying direction is grasped and folded over by the folding switch 72 and folded almost immediately at the beginning of the rotation of the folding turret 60, so that the folded position of the collar 26 is stabilized.

This takes advantage of the fact that the folding tab 48 lying in the conveying direction has a greater width or height than the folding tab 48 lying in the conveying direction. In this way, only the folding tab 48 lying forward in the conveying direction can be captured by the folding switch 72 , whereas the folding flap 48 located in the rear in the conveying direction is not captured by the folding switch 72.

The other folding tab 48 is folded over by a further folding member 73. The folding member 73 is designed as a rotating folding member which is arranged on the circumference of the folding turret 60. The shorter folding tab 48 is folded over with a curved folding leg 74 of the folding member 73.

How out Fig. 6 and 7 can be seen, the folding switch 72 extends over several stations of the folding turret 60. In addition, the folding flap 48 is first pre-folded by a correspondingly contoured underside of the folding switch 72 and then completely folded over.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the folding member 73 is located in the station immediately following the insertion station. However, it goes without saying that both the folding member 73 and the folding switch 72 can be arranged further downstream on the folding turret 60. If necessary, the folding member 71 can then also be removed from the insertion station and arranged further downstream.

It should also be noted that, in the present case, the folding flaps 52 are folded together with the folding flaps 48, i.e. a folding flap 48 and the associated folding flap 52 are folded together by a common folding element, namely folding switch 72 or folding element 73.

In particular Fig. 8 and 9 show that the folding member 71 is designed as a separate folding member. However, it is also conceivable that the folding member 71 is fixedly arranged or formed on the collar push-in 68, so that no separate folding member is used to fold the collar 26 into the Z-shaped folded position, but rather by a suitably designed collar push-in 68 takes place, which has a corresponding folding organ.

Beyond show Fig. 8 and 9 still further components of the folding stage known per se, namely a side folder 75, a lower folder 76, a control lever 77 for the side folder 75, and a corner flap folder 78.

Second embodiment (Figs. 13 and 14):

The second embodiment according to Fig. 13 and 14 differs from the first exemplary embodiment essentially in the construction of the folding members for folding the folding tabs 48, 52.

Each pocket 61 of the folding turret 60 is assigned two hook-like folding members 79 which can be moved laterally into the pockets 61 in order to fold over the folding flaps 48, 52 and to secure the Z-shaped folding position of the collar 26.

The construction and mode of operation of the folding members 79 result from the applicant's earlier patent application DE 10 2010 018 238 A1 to which reference is made for the purpose of complete disclosure.

The solution used in the present case essentially corresponds to that in Fig. 7 the variant shown in the earlier application. Reference list 10th pack 58 stage 11 Box part 59 arrow 12th Rear wall (box part) 60 Folding turret 13 cover 61 bag 14 Bottom wall (box part) 62 Material web 15 Front wall (box part) 63 Collar panel 16 Side wall (box part) 64 Inserter 17th Side wall (box part) 65 stamp 18th Side tabs 66 organ 19th Side tabs 67 Collar fold switch 20 Front wall (lid) 68 Collar pushers 21 Rear wall (cover) 69 Folding arm 22 Side wall (lid) 70 Folding tab 23 Side wall (lid) 71 Folding organ 24th Side tabs 72 Folding switch 25th Side tabs 73 Folding organ 26 collar 74 Folding thighs 27 Front wall (collar) 75 Side moth 28 Side wall (collar) 76 Unterfalter 29 Block of cigarettes 77 Control lever 30th Front wall (cover) 78 Corner flap moth 31 Fold line 79 Folding organ 32 Fold line 33 Cigarette group 34 section 35 section 36 section 37 Separating cut 38 Fold line 39 Bottom (collar) 40 Top (collar) 41 Recess (collar) 42 Lid brake 43 Holding means 44 Carrier 45 Cigarette train 46 Mouthpiece 47 Internal cut 48 Folding rag 49 Separating cut 50 Fold line 51 Cutting 52 Folding rag 53 Separating cut 54 Fold line 55 Folding rag 56 Folding rag 57 Folding rag

Claims (13)

1. Method for producing packs (10) for cigarettes, wherein the packs (10) have a box part (11), which is delimited at least by a front wall (15), a rear wall (12), side walls (16, 17) and a base wall (14), and wherein these walls are formed by corresponding folding of a blank (51) made of packaging material, and

   a) wherein the box part (11) has arranged in it at least one preferably cuboidal cigarette group (33), which is wrapped in an inner blank (47) and is in the form of a cigarette block (29), and

   b) wherein provision is made for the packs (10) to have predetermined dimensions as far as the width, the depth and the height are concerned, and wherein at least the depth of the interior of the box part (11) is greater than the depth of the cigarette block (29), and therefore the cigarette block (29) does not fill the interior of the box part (11), in respect of at least this dimension, and

   c) wherein the box part (11) has arranged in it a collar (26), which butts at least to some extent against the front wall (15) of the box part (11) by way of a front wall (27) and which butts against corresponding side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11) by way of side walls (28) arranged laterally in relation to the front wall (27) of the collar (26), and

   d) wherein the front wall (27) of the collar (26) is folded along two folding lines (31, 32), which extend transversely to an imaginary upright longitudinal axis of the pack (10), and wherein the folding lines (31, 32) divide the front wall (27) into three portions, that is to say an upper portion (34), a central connecting portion (35) and a lower portion (36), and wherein the three portions are folded around the folding lines (31, 32) such that the portion (34) butts against the inside of the front wall (15) of the box part (11), whereas the portion (36) is arranged parallel to the portion (34), but at a spacing from the front wall (15) of the box part (11), and wherein the spacing results from the corresponding dimension of the connecting portion (35), and therefore the collar (26) serves to compensate for at least the different depths of the cigarette block (29) and interior of the box part (11), and

   e) wherein the blanks (51) are each fed to a pocket (61) of a folding turret (60), the blanks being at least partially folded in the process, and wherein a cigarette block (29) and a collar (26) are introduced in each case into a pocket (61) of the folding turret (60), and

   f) wherein at least one folding flap (48), which is formed in at least one side wall (28) of the collar (26), is folded, in the region of the folding turret (60), against the cigarette block (29), that is to say against a side surface of the cigarette block (29) which is oriented towards the front wall (15) of the box part (11).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the folding flap (48) of the collar (26) serves to secure the folding position of the collar (26), which compensates for the at least the different depths, wherein provision is made so that, for this purpose, a respective folding flap (48) is formed in both side walls (28) of the collar (26).
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that one folding flap (48) is folded by a folding diverter (72), which is arranged on the folding turret (60) at a fixed location and folds the front folding flap (48), as seen in the direction of rotation of the folding turret (60) .
4. Method according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that another folding flap (48) is folded by a preferably rotating folding mechanism (73), which is assigned to the folding turret (60) and folds the folding flap (48) during a brief standstill of the folding turret (60).
5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the folding flaps (48) are folded once the side walls (28) of the collar (26) have been folded against the cigarette group (29), wherein one folding flap (48) projects further in relation to the cigarette group (29) than the other folding flap (48), and therefore the further-projecting folding flap (48) is gripped, and folded, by the folding diverter (72) during rotation of the folding turret (60), whereas the other folding flap (48), rather than being gripped by the folding diverter (72), is folded by the folding mechanism (73).
6. Method according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that folding of the folding flaps (48) of the collar (26) is accompanied by folding of respective folding flaps (52) in the region of the side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11), wherein a respective folding flap (48) of the collar (26) and a folding flap (52) of the box part (11) are folded at the same time by a joint folding mechanism, that is to say the folding diverter (72) or the folding mechanism (73).
7. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the collar (26) is pushed into the pocket (61) of the folding turret (60) by means of a pusher (64), and the front wall (27) of the collar (26) is folded there, by a folding mechanism (71), into a Z-shaped position, in which the collar (26) compensates for the at least one different dimension of the cigarette block (29) and interior of the box part (11).
8. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that folding of the folding flaps (48) of the collar (26) is accompanied by folding of respective folding flaps (52) in the region of the side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11), and in that the or each folding flap (48, 52) is folded by a folding mechanism (79), which is assigned to the pocket (61) of the folding turret (60), wherein the or each folding mechanism (79) is arranged in a pivotable manner in the region of the pocket (61) and can be moved into the pocket (61) in order to fold at least one folding flap (48, 52).
9. Apparatus for producing packs (10) for cigarettes, wherein the packs (10) have a box part (11), which is delimited at least by a front wall (15), a rear wall (12), side walls (16, 17) and a base wall (14), and wherein these walls are formed by corresponding folding of a blank (51) made of packaging material, and

   a) wherein the box part (11) has arranged in it at least one preferably cuboidal cigarette group (33), which is wrapped in an inner blank (47) and is in the form of a cigarette block (29), and

   b) wherein provision is made for the packs (10) to have predetermined dimensions as far as the width, the depth and the height are concerned, and wherein at least the depth of the interior of the box part (11) is greater than the depth of the cigarette block (29), and therefore the cigarette block (29) does not fill the interior of the box part (11), in respect of at least this dimension, and

   c) wherein the box part (11) has arranged in it a collar (26), which butts at least to some extent against the front wall (15) of the box part (11) by way of a front wall (27) and which butts against corresponding side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11) by way of side walls (28) arranged laterally in relation to the front wall (27) of the collar (26), and

   d) wherein the apparatus is designed to fold the front wall (27) of the collar (26) along two folding lines (31, 32), which extend transversely to an imaginary upright longitudinal axis of the pack (10), and wherein the folding lines (31, 32) divide the front wall (27) into three portions, that is to say an upper portion (34), a central connecting portion (35) and a lower portion (36), and wherein the three portions are folded around the folding lines (31, 32) such that the portion (34) butts against the inside of the front wall (15) of the box part (11), whereas the portion (36) is arranged parallel to the portion (34), but at a spacing from the front wall (15) of the box part (11), and wherein the spacing results from the corresponding dimension of the connecting portion (35), and therefore the collar (26) serves to compensate for at least the different depths of the cigarette block (29) and interior of the box part (11), and

   e) wherein the blanks (51) can each be fed to a pocket (61) of a folding turret (60), the blanks being at least partially folded in the process, and wherein a cigarette block (29) and a collar (26) can be introduced in each case into a pocket (61) of the folding turret (60), and

   f) wherein the apparatus, in the region of the folding turret (60), has at least one folding mechanism (72, 73), by means of which at least one folding flap (48), which is formed in at least one side wall (28) of the collar, is folded against the cigarette block (29), that is to say against a side surface of the cigarette block (29) which is oriented towards the front wall (15) of the box part (11).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the folding flap (48) of the collar (26) serves to secure the folding position of the collar (26), which compensates for the at least the different depths, wherein provision is made so that, for this purpose, a respective folding flap (48) is formed in both side walls (28) of the collar (26), and in that the apparatus has a folding diverter (72), which is arranged on the folding turret (60) at a fixed location and is in the form of a folding mechanism, by means of which a front folding flap (48) of the collar (26), as seen in the direction of rotation of the folding turret (60), is folded, and in that the apparatus has a preferably rotating folding mechanism (73), which is assigned to the folding turret (60) and is intended for folding another folding flap (48) during a brief standstill of the folding turret (60) .
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that folding of the folding flaps (48) of the collar (26) can be accompanied by folding of respective folding flaps (52) in the region of the side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11), wherein a respective folding flap (48) of the collar (26) and a folding flap (52) of the box part (11) are folded at the same time by a joint folding mechanism, that is to say the folding diverter (72) or the folding mechanism (73).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the collar (26) can be fed to the pocket (61) of the folding turret (60) by means of a pusher (64), and the front wall (27) of the collar (26) can be folded there, by a folding mechanism (71), into a Z-shaped position, in which the collar (26) compensates for the different depths of the cigarette block (29) and interior of the box part (11).
13. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that folding of the folding flaps (48) of the collar (26) can be accompanied by folding of respective folding flaps (52) in the region of the side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11), and in that the or each folding flap (48, 52) can be folded by a folding mechanism (79), which is assigned to the pocket (61) of the folding turret (60), wherein the or each folding mechanism (79) is arranged in a pivotable manner in the region of the pocket (61) and can be moved into the pocket (61) in order to fold at least one folding flap (48, 52).

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