EP3476752B1 - Device and method for manufacturing cigarette packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing (cigarette) packs with the method steps of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for implementing the method according to the preamble of claim 9.

The subject of the invention is the treatment of packs in which the pack contents or an inner pack is encased by a blank made of packaging material which is problematic with regard to exact folding. In particular, it is about the production of correct folding edges in the area of folding tabs and the control of restoring forces in the area of the folding tabs after the folding step.

This problem occurs particularly in the case of inner wrappings of cigarettes, namely of formed cigarette groups which are wrapped by an inner blank - inner liner - made of tinfoil, paper, foil or the like to form a tinfoil or inner block of a cigarette pack. The production of (right-angled) folding edges to delimit folding tabs, in particular side tabs, which form side surfaces of the pack or the inner block under mutual (partial) coverage, is particularly problematic. Due to the restoring forces, the folding tabs tend to deform again after the folding step, in such a way that the folding tabs are directed at an angle deviating from 90 °.

The above problem is addressed in EP 1 016 593 B1 . To create precise folding edges, the blank for an inner pack is provided with embossing lines for longitudinal and transverse folding edges. The embossing lines are designed as groove-like deformations of the material. Due to the low dimensional stability of the material, this method cannot effectively eliminate the problems.

The object on which the invention is based is therefore to achieve exact folds for, in particular, thin-walled, critical (internal) blanks and, in particular, to avoid restoring forces in the region of side tabs.

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

The technology of the invention therefore consists in pre-folding the folding edge to be produced by way of a pre-folding or auxiliary folding beyond the desired folding position (usually 90 °), in particular with the formation of a folding of (approximately) 180 °. This pre-folding or auxiliary folding takes place in the area of a material supply formed by deformation of the blank, in particular in the area of a curved deformation of the inner blank adjacent to the folding edge to be produced, but at a distance from it. The blank deformation can consist of a material curvature directed towards the free side, in particular in the form of a folding bead, which forms an approximately U-shaped fold in cross section. This folding, which goes beyond the standard folding (90 °), prepares an exact folding edge. Furthermore, the stresses that generate the restoring forces in the folding tabs are eliminated.

A folding web positioned in the plane of the folding flaps or parallel to these is preferably provided, which, due to the corresponding dimensions and / or arrangement, projects with a folding edge over the contour of the pack and thereby produces the folding bead as a pre-fold. A counterfold is preferably assigned to the folding web, which causes the folding around the folding edge of the folding web, in particular a (stationary) folding switch which, during the transport of the inner pack, folds the initially flaps - side flaps - around the folding edge of the web so that the folding flaps start the outside of the folding web. Due to the (larger) dimension of the folding webs, the side tabs form a material protrusion protruding beyond the contour of the inner packing, namely the folding bead. In connection with the folding of the side tabs, a folding of approximately 180 ° is created. Outside the area of the folding bars the folded bead is eliminated, in particular with the formation of a further (intermediate) folding curvature of the material until the longitudinal edges are finished and the side tabs are correctly positioned.

The folding steps, i.e. the preforming or pre-folding of the blank in the area of the longitudinal edges, is preferably carried out during the transport of the cigarette group and (partially folded) blank with the aid of stationary folding and shaping elements which change in the manner of folding switches, i.e. with changing ones Dimension and / or contour along the path of movement, preferably on both sides of the package.

It is advantageous to use the pre-folding technique in the production of double block packs, that is to say packs with two groups of cigarettes each having a separate inner cut, as the content of the outer pack. These are conveyed and processed in parallel in two parallel tracks using the method according to the invention with regard to the folds, in particular with regard to the production of the longitudinal folding edges. After the (two) inner packs have been completed, they are brought into contact with one another by transverse movement until they come into contact, with the folding tabs of the side walls facing one another being formed or folded into the exact, pack-appropriate position, in particular with the lifting of sideways-directed folding arches.

Double block cigarette packs are known, including the manufacture of the two inner packs in parallel cigarette lanes. In the area of a packing platform, the inner packs are pushed together in the transverse direction by a corresponding cross slide to the system and then inserted into a partially folded outer pack ( DE 28 10 586 C2 ).

Fig. 1

eine (Zigaretten-)Packung in der Ausführung mit zwei Zigarettenblöcken in Öffnungsstellung, in Perspektive,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch zwei nebeneinander angeordnete Zigarettengruppen während einer ersten Phase der Faltung von Längskanten,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt analog Fig. 2 während einer nachfolgenden Phase der Faltung,

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt der Zigarettengruppen bei der Vollendung der Faltung unter Zusammenführen der Gruppen,

Fig. 5

einen Ausschnitt einer Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Packungen in perspektivischer Draufsicht,

Fig. 6

einen Abschnitt der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in Draufsicht, bei vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 7

die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 6 in einem Querschnitt der Schnittebene VII-VII in Fig. 6, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt in der Schnittebene VIII-VIII der Fig. 6,

Fig. 9

einen Querschnitt in der Schnittebene IX-IX,

Fig. 10

einen Querschnitt in der Schnittebene X-X der Fig. 6,

Fig. 11

einen Längs- bzw. Horizontalschnitt der Vorrichtung in Schnittebene XI-XI der Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

einen Detail-Längsschnitt der Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 11 in Schnittebene XII-XII,

Fig. 13

einen Teilbereich der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in Draufsicht entsprechend Pfeil XIII,

Fig. 14

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht bzw. Längsschnitt XIV-XIV der Fig. 6, in nochmals vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 15

einen Querschnitt in Schnittebene XV-XV der Fig. 13,

Fig. 16

einen entsprechenden Querschnitt XVI-XVI der Fig. 13,

Fig. 17

einen weiteren, versetzten Querschnitt XVII-XVII in Fig. 13,

Fig. 18

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 13 im Längsschnitt XVIII-XVIII der Fig. 13, in vergrößertem Maßstab.

Further features and designs of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a (cigarette) pack in the version with two cigarette blocks in the open position, in perspective,

Fig. 2

3 shows a cross section through two cigarette groups arranged next to one another during a first phase of folding longitudinal edges,

Fig. 3

a cross section analog Fig. 2 during a subsequent phase of folding,

Fig. 4

a cross section of the cigarette groups at the completion of the folding by bringing the groups together,

Fig. 5

a detail of a device for producing packs in a perspective top view,

Fig. 6

a portion of the device according to Fig. 5 in plan view, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 7

the detail according to Fig. 6 in a cross section of the section plane VII-VII in Fig. 6 , on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 8

a cross section in the sectional plane VIII-VIII of the Fig. 6 ,

Fig. 9

a cross section in the section plane IX-IX,

Fig. 10

a cross section in the section plane XX of the Fig. 6 ,

Fig. 11

a longitudinal or horizontal section of the device in the sectional plane XI-XI Fig. 8 ,

Fig. 12

a detail longitudinal section of the detail Fig. 11 in section plane XII-XII,

Fig. 13

a portion of the device according Fig. 5 in plan view according to arrow XIII,

Fig. 14

a detail of the device in side view or longitudinal section XIV-XIV of Fig. 6 , on a further enlarged scale,

Fig. 15

a cross section in section plane XV-XV of Fig. 13 ,

Fig. 16

a corresponding cross-section XVI-XVI the Fig. 13 ,

Fig. 17

another, staggered cross-section XVII-XVII in Fig. 13 ,

Fig. 18

a detail of the device according to Fig. 13 in longitudinal section XVIII-XVIII the Fig. 13 , on an enlarged scale.

The production of block or cuboid packs, in particular of inner packs 10 as the content of an outer pack 11, involves the precise formation of folded edges and / or the trouble-free positioning of folding tabs after folding along a folded edge.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the inner pack 10 contains a group of shaped cigarettes 12 to form a cigarette group 13, in the present case with a formation of two rows of cigarettes with the same alignment in pairs.

The cigarette group 13 is enveloped by an inner blank 14. This is a tinfoil cut, a paper cut or a (multilayer) film cut, in principle in any case a thin-walled, unstable material.

The inner blank 14 envelops the cigarette group 13 in such a way that upright and transversely oriented packaging edges are formed as folded edges. In the present case, upright or longitudinal edges 15, 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes 12 are the subject of the innovation. Four of these longitudinal edges 15, 16 are formed in pairs opposite one another at the corners or in the area of corner cigarettes of the cigarette group 13, so that a block-shaped inner pack 10 is formed in each case.

For the complete package shown as an example ( Fig. 1 ) two inner packs 10 are arranged side by side as the content of the outer pack 11 to form a so-called double block pack.

The outer pack 11 as a hinged box consists of a (lower) box part 17, a cover 18 and a collar 19. The latter is designed such that the (two) inner packs 10 lying next to one another are encompassed by the common collar 19. In the present exemplary embodiment, a coupon 20 designed as a rectangular blank is arranged in the outer pack 11, specifically on the front side between a collar front wall 21 and the two inner packs 10.

The preferably rectangular inner blank 14 is placed around the cigarette group 13 such that a closed bottom wall 22, large front wall 23 and Rear wall 24 arise. Narrow upright side walls 25, 26 and an upper or end wall 27 are formed from folded, partially overlapping folding tabs.

The side walls 25, 26 consist in particular of trapezoidal side flaps 28, 29 which are connected to the front wall 23 - outer side flaps 28 - on the one hand and to the rear wall 24 - inner side flaps 29 - on the other hand. The side tabs 28, 29 are arranged due to appropriate folding along the longitudinal edges 15, 16 with mutual partial overlap in the region of the side walls 25, 26.

The end wall 27 also consists of (trapezoidal) end flaps 30, 31, likewise in connection with the front wall 23 (end flap 30) and with the rear wall 24 (end flap 31). Further folding tabs are formed on the upper and lower end regions of the side walls 25, 26, namely bottom corner tabs 32 and end corner tabs 33 connected to the bottom wall 22 on the one hand and the end wall 27 on the other hand and folded into the plane of the side walls 25, 26.

When producing an inner pack 10, the procedure is such that (two) cigarette groups 13 are transported along a pack or fold path, hereinafter: cigarette path 34, at a distance from one another — continuously — and pass through work stations or fold stations. In the area of a cutting station 35, inner blanks 14 are kept ready in a plane transverse to the transport direction and folded around the (free) cigarette ends lying forward in the transport direction with a U-shaped fold.

In a subsequent, first folding station, namely in a bottom folding station 36, the bottom corner flaps 32 are folded against the side areas of the cigarette group 13. Another folding station follows, namely side folding station 37, in which the side flaps 28, 29 are successively folded, the inner (lower) side flap 29 first. Thereafter, the front corner flaps 33 and then the front flaps 30, 31 are folded in a forehead folding station 38. The cigarette block thus finished can be inserted as an inner pack 10 into a blank of an outer pack 11.

A special feature are folding measures in the production of folding edges or packing walls from folding tabs of the inner blank 14. The production of the longitudinal edges 15, 16 of the inner packing 10 is particularly critical. On the one hand, it is a matter of correct formation of the folding edges there and, on the other hand, the dismantling from Restoring forces of the material in the area of folding tabs, in particular in the area of the side tabs 28, 29.

The folding, in particular of the longitudinal edges 15, 16 of the inner pack 10, is carried out in several successive folding steps, in particular during the transport.

In a first preliminary or auxiliary folding position ( Fig. 2 ) in the area of the folded edges, material deformations are preferably carried out at the same time at a distance from the end position of the longitudinal edges 15, 16, in the present case by elevations in shape or with the formation of folded beads 39, 40. These are offset in one plane from the front wall 23 or rear wall 24 of the Inner blank 14, with the inner pack lying flat, directed upwards and downwards, that is to say above the front wall 23 on the one hand and below the rear wall 24 on the other hand. The folding beads 39, 40 of the inner blank 14 result from an essentially U-shaped deformation of the material in the region of the longitudinal edges 15, 16, so that a fold of approximately 180 ° is produced. The side tabs 28, 29 are positioned approximately in the final folding position, that is to say directed transversely to the front wall 23 and rear wall 24 ( Fig. 2 ).

In a subsequent folding step ( Fig. 3 ) the folding beads 39, 40 are applied transversely to the plane of the front wall 23 and rear wall 24, in the formation shown ( Fig. 3 ) in the downward or upward direction. As a result of this removal of the folding beads 39, 40, the folding tabs, namely the side tabs 28, 29, can be moved into the end position appropriate for the pack. However, an intermediate deformation of the material during the deformation of the folding beads 39, 40 is advantageous, namely in such a way that folding arches directed sideways or transversely to the side walls 25, 26 arise ( Fig. 3 ). These are finally deformed or eliminated by transverse loading and by deformation in the plane of the side walls, as a result of which the side tabs 28, 29 reach the final folding position without tension ( Fig. 4 ).

Another special feature of the method is that the steps described for pre-folding the inner blanks 14 are carried out along two parallel cigarette lanes 34, the (two) inner packs 10 assigned to an outer pack 11 passing through the individual stations 36, 37, 38 in parallel and simultaneously. In the final phase of folding the side tabs 28, 29 ( Fig. 4 ) the mutually assigned inner packs 10 in the transverse direction (based on the cigarettes 12) brought together with the aid of cross-slides 43, preferably arranged on both sides, until the adjacent side walls 25, 26 abut against one another.

The transverse slides 43 have a double function in that they perform the final phase of the folding in the region of the inner side walls 25, 26 during the transverse thrust movement, namely the lifting of the folding arches 41, 42. The folding arches 41, 42 in the region of the side walls 25, 26 facing each other of the two inner packs 10 are removed by pressing them together, so that the folds on both side walls 25, 26 are completed by the process of pushing the two inner packs 10 together.

The means to carry out the pre-folding ( 2, 3 ) are preferably fixed organs designed in the manner of folding switches in the region of the movement path of the cigarette groups 13 with an inner cut 14, that is to say in particular along the cigarette paths 34.

Each cigarette web 34 is assigned top guides 44 and underpasses 45, the latter serving as a support for the units of cigarette groups 13 and inner cut 14 transported in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes 12. Side guides 46 and 47 are arranged on the opposite side walls 25, 26 and are dimensioned in this way that the material deformations of the inner blank 14 can be carried out in the area of the longitudinal edges 15, 16, in particular the formation of the (sideways) folding arches 41, 42.

The (first) deformation of the inner blanks 14 is brought about by - upright - folding webs 48, 49 on either side of the inner packs 10 or the cigarette groups 13. These lie to form the upward and downward folding beads 39, 40 on the side regions of the cigarette groups 13. The side flaps 28, 29 are folded around (upper and lower) folding edges 50, 51 of the folding webs 48, 49, so that the side flaps 28, 29 temporarily rest against the folding webs 48, 49, namely on their free (outer) side ( Fig. 2 ).

In the present case, the folding takes place in two steps. In a first position ( Fig. 8 (right part), the side flaps 28, 29 are deformed by the folding edges 50, 51 of the folding webs 48, 49 in a (upper and lower) plane offset from the front wall 23 and rear wall 24, initially while maintaining the (horizontally) transverse position. Thereafter, folding organs take effect, preferably the side tabs 28 successively fold over against the outside of the folding webs 48, 49 and thereby bring about the 180 ° folding ( Fig. 8 , left part and Fig. 9 ).

The folding webs 48, 49 are designed to carry out these folding steps with a larger dimension than the relevant dimension of the inner packs 10, namely protrude by a dimension 52 beyond the plane of the front wall 23 or the rear wall 24. As a result, the folded edges 50, 51 are spaced above and below the aforementioned levels of the inner pack 10.

The device shown as an embodiment is directed to the parallel processing of two inner packs 10 as the content of a common outer pack 11. The cigarette groups 13 and - below - the inner packs 10 are transported by an endless conveyor, in the present case consisting of two lateral conveyor belts 53, which are connected to one another by supporting webs 54. On this (two) - upward - drivers 55 are attached for each cigarette group 13.

In the region of the cutting station 35, correspondingly prepared inner blanks 14 are folded around them in the manner described during the transport of the cigarette groups 13. At the same time, the bottom corner flaps 32 are folded in the bottom folding station 36 by appropriate folding members.

The units of cigarette group 13 and inner blank 14 then reach the area of the side folding station 37. During the transport of the cigarette groups 13 in this area, the folding webs 48, 49 extending on both sides of the cigarette web 34 become effective. These are formed relatively thin-walled in the manner of leaf springs and fixed with angled web ends 56 in the region of side boundaries 57, 58 on both sides of the cigarette web 34. The web ends 56 are anchored by means of detachable screws in such a way that replacement, for example when the dimensions of the inner packs 10 change, is facilitated.

The (counter) folding organs interacting with the folding webs 48, 49 are preferably arranged as fixed organs along the cigarette web 34, in the present case as part of the side boundaries 57, 58. These are preferably part of a channel-like guide for the cigarette groups 13 with an inner cut 14 along at least one Section of the cigarette lanes 34. The guide channel essentially consists of the upper guide 44, the lower guide 45 and side boundaries 57, 58.

The latter form laterally directed upper and lower guide slots 59 for the entry of the initially laterally directed, unfolded side tabs 28, 29 (in particular Fig. 11, Fig. 12 ).

A first folding switch 60 in the conveying direction serves to erect the inner side flaps 29. The folding switches 60 are attached to both sides of the cigarette web 34, specifically on the outside of the folding webs 48, 49, in such a way that the side flap 29 directed sideways by an obliquely directed one Leading edge 61 is erected during transport until it rests on folding web 48, 49 ( Fig. 2 ).

In the conveying direction there follows a folding element which acts from above and which is assigned to the (outer) side tab 28. It is a (second) folding switch 62, which is formed with a downward, sloping guide edge 63. Their relative position is selected such that due to the transport of the cigarette group 13 with an inner blank 14, the outer side tab 28 lying in an upper plane is grasped and folded downward by the transport movement through the guide edge 63 until the position according to FIG Fig. 2 - Support on the folding webs 48, 49. To support the folding process, auxiliary elements can be arranged in the area of the folding edges 50, 51, preferably support surfaces 64, 65 in the area of the upper guides 44 and the underpasses 45.

Following the side folding station 37, namely after leaving the area of the folding webs 48, 49, the side guides 46, 47 become effective, preferably as web-like projections of the side boundaries 57, 58. The side guides 46, 47 fix the side tabs 28, 29 after they have been carried out the folding steps - initially in the area of the folding bars 48, 49 ( Fig. 10 , left) and then during the (re) deformation of the folding beads 39, 40 or the folding arches 41, 42 ( Fig. 10 , right).

The inner packs 10, which are largely finished with regard to the design of the side walls 25, 26, now reach the area of the front folding station 38. This is preferably located on a separate folding platform 66. In the area of this processing station, the rear side in the transport direction, that is to say the front wall 27 of the Inner pack 10, completed.

Furthermore, separate blanks are fed in this area (if necessary), in particular the collar 19 for the outer pack 11 designed as a hinged box and the coupon 20. Both blanks 19, 20 become transverse or longitudinal to the Direction of transport of the inner packs 10 supplied and stored in levels above the same up to the union with the outer pack 11 or with the inner packs 10th

In the area of the folding platform, the front corner flaps 33 are first folded in by lateral pivoting folds 67. For this purpose, the swivel folders 67 are arranged on both sides of each inner pack 10 on the folding platform 66. Then the (trapezoidal) front flaps 30, 31 are folded against the back of the cigarette group 13 - filter ends - first the lower front flap 31 and then the upper front flap 30, in each case by front folding members 68, 69. The front folding member 68 for the upper or outer end flap 30 is at the same time designed as a slide which conveys the (two) inner packs 10 together into a union station 70.

In this position - preferably on the common folding platform 66 - the (two) inner packs 10 are pushed together in the transverse direction until they abut ( Fig. 17 ). Collar 19 and, if applicable, coupon 20 are put on beforehand. The unit thus created is inserted into a pre-folded blank of the outer pack 11.

In the area of the bottom folding station 36 for producing or folding the bottom corner flaps 32 there are stationary folding pieces 71 on both sides of the cigarette web 34 ( Fig. 7 ). Due to their arrangement and dimensions, the folding pieces 71 serve to fold in the bottom corner flaps 32 due to relative movement of the inner blanks 14. On both sides or above and below the folding pieces 71 there are laterally directed recesses 72 which have a slot-like profile and are in the conveying direction extend, in the plane of the side-facing folding tabs 28, 29, during the initial phase ( Fig. 7 ) in the plane of the front wall 23 and rear wall 24 of the inner pack 10. Furthermore, sensors 73 are positioned in this area, which detect the presence of the inner packs 10, in particular the side tabs 28, 29 in the starting position.

The tunnel-like transport channels for the inner pack (s) are provided with slot-like recesses 72, into which the side tabs 28, 29 directed sideways after the first folding step enter ( Fig. 8 ). These forms of transport channels change according to the folding steps. After the folding beads 39, 40 have been eliminated, the upper guide 44 is adapted to the contour of the inner packs 10, namely to the (upward) front wall 23 ( Fig. 10 , right).

The folding webs 48, 49, which at the same time take over the effect of lateral guide members for the inner packs 10, end at the transition into the front folding station 38. In the area of the folding webs 48, 49, but in particular following them, the side boundaries 57, 58 of the cigarette web 34 with the side guides 46, 47, which are preferably designed as web-like projections, but which have a lower height than the inner packs 10 ( Fig. 10 ).

In the area of the longitudinal edges 15, 16, laterally directed, groove-like depressions 74 are formed, into which the lateral folding arches 41, 42, which are preferably formed during transport, enter ( Fig. 10 , right).

When the inner blank 14 is deformed in the region of the longitudinal edges 15, 16, the guide members preferably act by appropriate shaping.

In the position according to Fig. 10 , on the left, the folding beads 39, 40 (pointing upwards or downwards) enter the corresponding recesses 72 in the upper guide 44 or lower guide 45.

The support surfaces 64, 65 are deformed in such a way that they deform the folding beads 39, 40 during transport, forming the laterally directed folding arches 41, 42 ( Fig. 10 left and Fig. 10 right).

The upper guide 44 and the lower guide 45 are designed in this phase so that they are (approximately) flush with the front wall 23 and rear wall 24 of the inner pack 10.

In this constellation, the inner packs 10 leave the area of the tunnel-like guides of the cigarette web 34 and are placed on the folding platform 66 by the conveyor 53. The folds are completed in the manner described, namely in the region of the rear end wall 27.

The completion of the folds in the region of the side walls 25, 26 is of importance. The transverse slides 43 arranged on both sides with corresponding slide heads remove the folding arches 41, 42 on the outer, exposed side walls 25, 26 by flat pressure ( Fig. 17 ).

Then the two inner packs 10 come to rest against one another with the side walls 25, 26 facing one another, as a result of which also in this area Folded arches 41, 42 can be eliminated with a corresponding displacement of the side tabs 28, 29.

The folding platform 66 is designed as an independent unit in a special way. In continuation of the preferably parallel (two) cigarette lanes 34, channel-like guides are formed on the plate-shaped support member ( Fig. 15, Fig. 16 ), which surround the inner packs 10 almost completely, namely preferably except for an upper slot 75, which ensures access by guiding or conveying members for the transport of the inner packs 10 in the area of the folding platform 66. The channel-like guide for the inner packs 10 extends in a partial area of the folding platform 66, namely up to a merging station 76, in the area of which the (two) inner packs 10 are pushed together in the transverse direction ( Fig. 17, Fig. 18 ).

The channel-shaped guides in the area of the folding platform 66 consist of an upper guide 44 - analogous to the cigarette lanes 34 - an underpass, which is formed here by the folding platform 66 in the form of a support plate, and of side boundaries 57, 58 which have the contour of the side boundaries 57, 58 following the folding webs 48, 49 correspond ( Fig. 10 , right). The blanks, in the present case blanks for the collar 19 and coupons 20, are fed and positioned in the region of the guides 44, 66, 57, 58.

After leaving the guides, the two inner packs 10 are brought together in a transverse direction. In this area, preferably only the side boundaries 57, 58 are omitted for the transverse movement of the cross slide 43. The upper guide 44 and the underpass - folding platform 66 - can expediently be retained in this area .

In the manufacture of individual packs or of individual inner packs 10, the folding step to complete the folding in the region of the side walls 25, 26 is effected by suitable folding members which exert the required (flat) folding pressure on the side walls 25, 26, in particular also to eliminate the Folded curvatures 41, 42. These can be transversely movable sheet-like folding members in the manner of the cross slide 43 or fixed folding members which carry out the pressing process due to a shape which changes in the direction of movement. <b> List of reference symbols: </b> 10th Inner pack 44 Overpass 11 Outer pack 45 underpass 12 Cigarette 46 Side guide 13 Cigarette group 47 Side guide 14 Internal cut 48 Folding bridge 15 Long edge 49 Folding bridge 16 Long edge 50 Folded edge 17th Box part 51 Folded edge 18th cover 52 Measure 19th collar 53 Conveyor belt 20th coupon 54 Supporting bridge 21st Collar front wall 55 Carrier 22 Bottom wall 56 Rising 23 Front wall 57 Page boundary 24th Back wall 58 Page boundary 25th Side wall 59 slot 26 Side wall 60 Folding switch 27th Front wall 61 Leading edge 28 Side lobes 62 Folding switch 29 Side lobes 63 Leading edge 30th Forehead lobe 64 Support surface 31 Forehead lobe 65 Support surface 32 Floor corner cloth 66 Folding platform 33 Forehead corner flap 67 Swivel butterfly 34 Cigarette train 68 Forehead folding organ 35 Cutting station 69 Forehead folding organ 36 Floor folding station 70 Unification station 37 Side folding station 71 Folding piece 38 Forehead folding station 72 Recess 39 Folding bead 73 sensor 40 Folding bead 74 deepening 41 Folding curvature 75 Top slot 42 Folding curvature 76 Reunification station 43 Cross slide

Claims (15)

1. A method for producing packs having an essentially square, in particular cuboid-shaped contour, preferably in the embodiment of an inner pack (10) for an outer pack (11), wherein the pack contents, in particular a cigarette group (13), being wrapped by an inner blank of paper, tinfoil, foil or the like, is folded around the package contents or around the cigarette group (13) such that upright folding edges or folding edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes are produced, namely longitudinal edges (15, 16), characterized by the following features:

   a) a prefolding is carried out at one or each longitudinal edge (15, 16) in an offset manner or at a distance from the pack contents, in which the inner blank (14) is folded along the longitudinal edge (15, 16) at an angle that is greater than 90°, in particular (approximately) 180°,

   b) the pack-conforming shape in the region of the longitudinal edges (15, 16) is then produced by displacing or deforming regions of the inner blank (14).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during the prefolding in the region of the longitudinal edge (15, 16) by deformation of the inner blank (14), a folding bead (39, 40) arranged at a distance from the pack contents is formed, in the region of which the inner blank (14) is folded by more than 90°, and in that the folding bead (39, 40) is then eliminated by corresponding deformation of the inner blank (14) to form the correct longitudinal edge (15, 16).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the production of a cuboid-shaped inner pack (10) having front wall (23), rear wall (24) and side walls (25, 26) formed by side flaps (28, 29) which partially overlap one another, material deformations, namely folding beads (39, 40) are formed as deformations of the inner blank (14) in the region of the front wall (23) and of the rear wall (24), projecting beyond the plane of the walls (23, 24), wherein in an intermediate folding position the side flaps (28, 29) are disposed with mutual partial overlapping and wherein the folding beads (39, 40) are subsequently eliminated by corresponding deformation of the inner blank (14), with displacement of the side flaps (28, 29) into the position of the side walls (25, 26) conforming to the pack.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) the inner blank (14) is prefolded in a plurality of steps, in particular two successive forming or folding steps,

   b) in the first folding step, the folding beads (39, 40) are formed transverse to the plane of front wall (23) and/or rear wall (24) and afterwards a laterally directed folding curvature (41, 42),

   c) the folding curvature (41), preferably formed in the second forming or folding step, is produced on account of, or in connection with, the elimination of in particular the folding beads (39, 40),

   d) the folding curvatures (41, 42) are subsequently eliminated by corresponding deformation of the inner blank (14) as a result of forming the inner blank and displacing the side flaps (28, 29) into the definitive position corresponding to the pack.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) during transport of the inner packs (10) along a preferably rectilinear cigarette path (34), the folding beads (29, 40) pointing upwards - above the plane of the front wall (23) - or downwards - below the rear wall (24) - with respect to the cigarette path (34) - are formed in a first folding step by deformation of the inner blank (14),

   b) during continued transport, the folding beads (39, 40) are removed by impacting the inner pack (10) or the inner blank (14), forming transverse or laterally directed folding curvatures (41, 42) of the inner blank (14),

   c) through the elimination of the folding beads (39, 40), or through the elimination of the folding curvatures (41, 42), the side flaps (28, 29) are moved into their corresponding pack position.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 or in one of the further preceding claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) the laterally directed - non-folded - side flaps (28, 29) are deformed during transport of the inner packs (10) by forming or guide members arranged on both sides of the path of movement, in particular by upright folding webs (48, 49) with folding edges (50, 51) running offset with respect to the longitudinal edges (15, 16) of the inner pack (10), in particular in the sense of an offset with respect to the associated front wall (23) or rear wall (24),

   b) then the side flaps (28) are preferably folded successively from the laterally directed position against the outward side of the forming or guide members, in particular folding members (48, 49), forming material deformations, in particular folding beads (39, 40), in the region of folding edges (50, 51) of the folding webs (48, 49) as forming or guide members,

   c) the forming or guide members, in particular folding beads (39, 40) are then - in the absence of a folding web (48, 49) - removed by impacting on the top side and the bottom side of the inner pack (10), in particular by the corresponding top guide (44) or lower guide (45), with corresponding deformation of the inner blank (14) or the side flaps (28, 29).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 or in one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the folding curvatures (41, 42) in the region of the side walls (25, 26), which are formed preferably by elimination of the material deformations, in particular folding beads (39, 40), and are in particular directed laterally, are eliminated during the further transport of the inner pack (10), in particular by applying planar pressure to the side walls (25, 26) while pressing and displacing the side flaps (28, 29).
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 or in one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that, during the simultaneous production of two inner packs (10) which are transported next to one another in preferably parallel cigarette paths (34), external folding curvatures (41, 42) are eliminated by members for pushing the two inner packs (10) together until they bear against one another, in particular by transverse sliders (43) and interior or mutually facing folding curvatures (41, 42) of the same inner packs (10) by abutting one against the other and applying pressure to the adjacent side walls (25, 26).
9. An apparatus for producing packs (10) having an essentially square, in particular cuboid-shaped contour, for carrying out the method according to one of the previous claims, preferably for producing inner packs (10) comprising a cigarette group (13) and an inner blank (14) surrounding the latter as contents of an outer pack (11), wherein the inner pack (10), due to the corresponding folding of the inner blank (14), has at least one front wall (23), a rear wall (24) and side walls (25, 26) formed by side flaps (28, 29) which overlap one another at least partially, characterized by the following features:

   a) a unit comprising a cigarette group (13) and a (U-shaped) folded inner blank (14) can be conveyed along a preferably rectilinear cigarette path (34) through folding stations, namely bottom folding station (36), side folding station (37) and end folding station (38),

   b) arranged in the region of at least the side folding station (37), preferably on both sides of the inner pack (10), is a folding or guide member, in particular in an upright plane a preferably thin-walled folding web (48, 49) with preferably upper and lower folding edge (50, 51),

   c) the folding or guide member, namely the folding web (48, 49), is designed such that preferably upper and lower folding edges (50, 51) are arranged in a plane offset with respect to the plane of the front wall (23) and the rear wall (24), respectively,

   d) with the aid of preferably stationary folding members, in particular with the aid of folding diverters (60, 62), inner side flaps (29) and outer side flaps (28) are successively folded against the exposed outer side of the folding or guide members, namely the folding webs (48, 49), to form folds in the range of 180° along the folding edge (50, 51),

   e) guide or support surfaces of top guides (44), lower guides (45) of the cigarette path (34) cause the folding beads (39, 40) formed by the folding or guide members, namely by the folding webs (48, 49), to be eliminated with corresponding displacement of the side flaps (28, 29).
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the side flaps (28, 29) deformed into an offset position relative to the front wall (23) or relative to the rear wall (24) due to the action of the folding or guide members, namely the folding webs (48, 49), can be folded by stationary guide members against the outer side of the folding or guide members, namely the folding webs (48, 49), in particular by folding diverters (60, 62) which follow one another in the transport direction, wherein the (lower) inner side flaps (29) can preferably first be folded by folding diverters (62), and then the side flaps (28) can be folded by folding diverters (62).
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, outside the region of the folding or guide members, namely the folding webs (48, 49), namely in particular following the folding or guide members, namely the folding webs (48, 49), the inner packs (10) are assigned lateral guides, in particular web-like lateral guides (46, 47) acting in particular in a central region of the side walls (25, 26) for fixing the side flaps (28, 29) in the final pack position, wherein the lateral guides (46, 47) are preferably realized as web-like projections of side delimiters (57, 58) for the inner packs (10).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or in one of the further preceding claims 10 or 11, characterized in that a merging station (70) for completing the inner packs (10) and in particular for bringing together two adjacent inner packs (10) follows the cigarette paths (34) with preferably continuous conveyance of the inner packs (10) by a conveyor belt (53), wherein members of the merging station (70) are arranged on a preferably common folding platform (66), in particular members for finishing an end wall (27) of the inner pack (10) and for merging the parallel-produced inner packs (10) in a transverse manner, wherein the folding platform (66) has, at least in a partial region, channel-like guides with upper guide (44), lower guide (66) and side delimiters (57, 58), which are interrupted in the region of transverse sliders (43).
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or in one of the other preceding claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the folding webs (48, 49) are arranged at a lateral distance from the top guide (44) and lower guide (66).
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or in one of the other preceding claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the folding webs (48, 49) have a height that is greater than the corresponding depth of the cigarette group (13).
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or in one of the other previous claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the folding webs are arranged (48, 49) at a lateral distance adjacent to the areas of the upper guide (44) and the lower guide (66) which abut the cigarette group (13).

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