EP3569531B1 - Method and device for handling a tear strip - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for handling a tear strip web, in particular for conveying the same, as part of a packaging process in which products, in particular cigarette packs, are each packaged in a foil wrapper provided with a tear strip. The invention further relates to a method for handling such a tear strip web and a device for packaging products, in particular cigarette packs, in each case in a film envelope provided with a tear strip with such a handling device.

In the packaging of cigarettes, it is known, inter alia, to first pack groups of cigarettes in a pack made of paper or cardboard and then to provide this with an outer wrapping made of film. In order to facilitate the removal of the film, the film wrapping is usually provided with a circumferential tear strip or tear strip with gripping tips glued to it, with which the user can easily separate the film wrapping into two parts.

As part of the production of a film wrapping with tear strips, a tear strip strip is unwound from a reel in the packaging process and fed to a connecting device on which a tear strip strip (with adhesive on the underside) is placed on the film strip, which is also unwound from a bobbin, and connected to it. The film web and the tear strip web are regularly exposed to strong (possibly also negative) accelerations. For example, in a splicing process in which the running material web of a reel is connected to the material web of a new reel. This regularly creates tensions or Excess web length that has to be compensated for with pendulum or dancer systems, in particular roller pendulum systems, in order to avoid creases from forming when the tear strip web is placed. Such systems are relatively heavy and sluggish in the prior art due to the high weights of the rollers. This inertia can lead to unwanted fluctuations in the web tension of the respective material web. This also applies in particular to the tear strip strip.

From the EP 0 703 149 A1 It is known to guide a tear strip web through a cup-shaped loop storage device and to apply a constant negative pressure to the tear strip web in the loop storage device. One disadvantage here is that, due to the unstable properties of the tear-open strip, sealing of the tear-open strip with respect to the cup-shaped loop storage device is difficult or difficult to achieve. This can lead to fluctuations in the forces applied to the tear strip by the negative pressure.

Proceeding from this, it is the object of the present invention to provide devices of the type mentioned at the beginning and a corresponding method in which the fluctuations in the respective web tension can be avoided or limited as far as possible even in the case of strong web accelerations.

This object is achieved by devices having the features of claims 1 and 17 and by a method having the features of claim 13.

A device for handling the tear strip web has a loop storage device, which is arranged in a vertical plane, preferably as a loop box with a rectangular cross section and in which a slide, preferably L-shaped in section, is arranged for guiding the tear strip web, which is guided in particular in a vertical plane. The slide can be moved back and forth within the loop storage device, taking along an in particular U-shaped section of the tear strip web, in particular linearly in two opposite directions, preferably up and down in a vertical plane. According to the invention, the device also has a vacuum device which is designed such that it can build up a vacuum in the loop storage device on one side of the slide, which exerts a force on the slide in one of the directions of movement, in particular a downward force.

The loop memory is used to compensate for changes in the web tension of the tear strip web that occur during operation or for any excess lengths or short lengths. The use of negative pressure in the loop accumulator allows, on the one hand, the force that acts on the carriage in the loop accumulator and thus the web tension of the tear strip web to be easily adjusted by setting the respective negative pressure value, depending on the requirements. In addition, the effect of the force emanating from the negative pressure can achieve high dynamics of the carriage or the web tension adjustment without having to make the carriage particularly difficult.

Accordingly, the device is preferably part of a pendulum or dancer system, with which speed differences between the film web and the tear strip can be compensated.

It is furthermore preferably provided that the negative pressure device, which generally has a pump, can be controlled in such a way that it can generate various negative pressure values.

According to a first development of the device according to the invention, the loop storage device has an elongated interior space in which the carriage back and forth between a first narrow loop storage side, preferably a lower narrow narrow side, and a second, at a distance from the first narrow narrow side of the loop storage case opposite, preferably a lower narrow narrow side is movable, wherein the loop storage is closed on the first loop storage side and open on the second loop storage side, so that the interior of the loop storage there is adjacent to the environment.

The tear strip web can preferably be guided over the second, open loop storage side into the interior of the loop storage, in the interior with the formation of a loop open in the direction of the second loop storage side along a deflection element arranged on the slide with a particularly cylindrical contact surface, preferably along a rotatable the pulley mounted on the carriage, and be guided out of this again via the second, open loop storage side.

Furthermore, the device preferably has at least one further deflecting member with an in particular cylindrical contact surface for the tear strip web upstream and additionally or alternatively downstream of the deflection roller mounted on the carriage. Preferably above the same, in particular in the same, preferably vertical Level. In this case, a first side with adhesive and an opposite, second side without adhesive is a tear strip strip - with the same twisting in an area, if necessary, between the possibly respective further deflecting element and the deflecting roller mounted on the carriage, preferably by 180 ° - guided along the possibly respective further deflecting element and the deflecting roller in such a way that the second, non-adhesive side of the tear strip web rests on the contact surface of the possibly respective further deflecting element and on the contact surface of the deflection roller, the first side of the tear strip strip provided with adhesive correspondingly facing away from the respective contact surface.

The deflection roller of the carriage can have a pair of spaced-apart guide surfaces at an angle to the contact surface of the deflection roller, in particular each at an angle between 25 ° and 65 °, preferably between 30 ° and 60 °, for the lateral guidance of the tear strip web, between which the tear strip web is arranged. Each guide surface can be part of a respective lateral shoulder or a lateral cheek of the deflection roller.

The height of the guide surfaces - relative to or above the contact surface of the deflection roller - is in each case between 2.5 mm and 5 mm. In other words, the guide surfaces end between 2.5 mm and 5 mm above the contact surface.

The further deflection element can also be designed as a deflection roller, preferably also as a deflection roller with guide surfaces for the lateral guidance of the tear strip strip at an angle to the contact surface of the deflection roller, in particular in each case at an angle between 25 ° and 65 °, preferably between 30 ° and 60 °, between which the tear strip web (16) is arranged. In particular, likewise with guide surfaces, the height of which - relative to or above the contact surface of the deflecting roller - is between 2.5 mm and 5 mm.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide, in particular at least one section of the slide, preferably one side of the slide facing the first, closed loop storage side, in particular its underside, is adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the interior of the loop storage. In particular to the cross-sectional contour of an inner surface of the loop storage device that laterally delimits the interior space and extends between the first, closed loop storage device side and the second, open loop storage device side. In such a way that the slide is closed between the slide and the first Loop storage side located first sub-space of the interior compared to a second sub-space of the interior, which is between the carriage and the second, open Loop storage side is located, completely or partially sealed, so that the negative pressure device in the first subspace can build up the negative pressure causing the force on the carriage.

A suction opening of the vacuum device is preferably assigned to the first subspace of the interior, via which the first subspace can or will be acted upon with the vacuum.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a sensor device is provided with which the current position of the carriage in the loop memory can be or is monitored, in particular a sensor device comprising a magnetic cylinder sensor, a sensor device using the principle of laser triangulation or an ultrasound device Sensor device.

The magnetic cylinder sensor can for example be elongated and arranged parallel to the direction of movement of the slide on / in the loop storage device. A magnet which interacts with the cylinder sensor and whose position is determined by the magnetic cylinder sensor can then be arranged on the slide.

Insofar as the sensor device makes use of the principle of laser triangulation, the loop memory can, for example, have a transparent window element in one of its walls through which the sensor device (located outside the interior) sends light beams into the interior, in particular light beams running parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage . These light beams are then reflected by the carriage and, after reflection, are detected by the sensor device for determining the position of the carriage.

As far as the tear-strip web is concerned, it is preferably guided from a tear-strip reel arranged upstream of the loop storage device to the loop storage device. A connecting device is arranged downstream of the loop storage device, which connects the tear strip web with a film web for producing the film wrapping in which the products are packaged.

Downstream of the connecting device, in particular in a horizontal plane, a further loop memory can be arranged as part of a further pendulum or dancer system through which the film web connected to the tear strip web is guided, the film web connected to the tear strip web in the further Loop storage is guided in a vertical plane, and wherein the film web connected to the tear strip web is movable to and fro in the horizontal direction in the loop storage to form a loop open to one side.

In the first subspace in the movement path of the slide, a stop for the slide is preferably arranged at a distance from the first, closed loop storage side, which prevents or stops further movement of the slide in the direction of the first, closed loop storage side, in particular an elongated delimiting part, such as for example an elongated limiting pin.

The stop is preferably arranged at a distance from the first, closed loop storage side on a side wall of the loop storage which extends between the first, closed loop storage side and the second, open loop storage side and delimits the interior of the loop storage.

It preferably extends transversely to the movement path of the slide, in particular horizontally.

As far as the suction opening of the vacuum device is concerned, it is preferably arranged behind the stop position in relation to a movement of the slide in the direction of the first, closed loop storage side, in which the slide stops on contact with the stop, so that the slide does not cover the suction opening in the lateral direction . In particular on a side wall of the loop memory that extends between the first, closed loop memory side and the second, open loop memory side and delimits the interior of the loop memory.

The suction opening is preferably arranged between the stop part and the first, closed loop storage side, in particular on a side wall of the loop storage that extends between the first, closed loop storage side and the second, open loop storage side and delimits the interior of the loop storage.

Fig. 1

eine Zigarettenpackung mit Folienumhüllung und Aufreißfaden bzw. Aufreißstreifen in Schrägansicht,

Fig. 2

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Handhaben einer Aufreißstreifenbahn als Teil einer Verpackungsmaschine zum Verpacken von Zigarettenpackungen in eine Folienumhüllung (Seitenansicht),

Fig. 3

die Einzelheit III aus Fig. 2 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 4

die Einzelheit IV aus Fig. 3 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie V-V in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie VI-VI in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

eine alternative Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 5,

Fig. 8

die Einzelheit VIII aus Fig. 7 in vergrößerter Darstellung.

Further features of the invention emerge from the attached patent claims, the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the attached drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a cigarette pack with foil wrapping and tear strip or tear strip in an oblique view,

Fig. 2

an embodiment of a device according to the invention for handling a tear strip web as part of a packaging machine for packaging cigarette packs in a film envelope (side view),

Fig. 3

the detail III Fig. 2 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 4

detail IV Fig. 3 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 5

a section along the section line VV in Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 6

a section along the section line VI-VI in Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 7

an alternative embodiment of the invention in a representation accordingly Fig. 5 ,

Fig. 8

the detail VIII Fig. 7 in an enlarged view.

In the Fig. 2 a device 10 according to the invention for handling a tear strip web is shown, which is used in the context of a packaging process in which products 11 are packaged in an outer film envelope 12.

In the present case, the products 11 to be packaged are cigarette packs, for example so-called hinge-lid packs, which are each surrounded on the outside by the film envelope 12. It goes without saying that, according to the invention, the type of packs enclosed by the film envelope 12 is not important.

The film wrapping 12 has - this is known in the prior art - a circumferential tear strip 13 with a handle 14 arranged approximately in the upper third of the film wrapping 12 The tear-open strip 13 is gripped in a known manner on the gripping lug 14 and the film wrapping 12 is separated by hand along the tear-open strip 13 into two parts which can then be removed from one another.

In the present embodiment, the handling device 10 serves, among other things, within the packaging process in which the pack 11 is packaged in the film wrapping 12, to convey a tear strip web 16 originating from a reel 15 to a connecting device 23 on which the tear strip web 16 is connected to a Foil web 17 originating from a reel 18 is connected. The film web 17 with the tear strip web 16 connected to it is then fed into the actual packaging process.

In the present case, the handling device 10 is part of a corresponding packaging machine 19 for packaging the packs 11 in the film wrapping 12 (cello). The essential components of such a packaging machine 19 are known in the prior art and are therefore only briefly described.

As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the tear strip web 16 connected to the film web 17 is conveyed in the area of a sealing turret 32 to a film apparatus 21 of the packaging machine 19, which separates the film web 17 provided with the tear strip web 16 into individual blanks and keeps these blanks ready at an insertion station 20, namely Packs arriving transversely to the conveying direction 11.

The packs 11 are then pushed into the prepared pocket 22 of the sealing turret 32, each with a blank. In the sealing turret 32 and in the area of subsequent stapling, shrinking and sealing sections, the film wrapping 12 is produced by means of suitable, known folding, stapling, shrinking and / or sealing actions. The above-mentioned connection of the tear strip web 16 to the film web 17 at the connecting device 23 takes place separately from this, cf. in particular Fig. 4 , or outside of this main production flow.

For this purpose, the connecting device 23 comprises a deflection element 24, in the present case a (stationary) deflection rod or deflection mandrel 24, on which the film strip web 16 is placed on the film web 17. Correspondingly, both the film web 17 and the tear strip web 16 are fed to the deflecting element 24 (via a guide roller 25). On the underside of the film strip web 16 there is in each case adhesive material or adhesive 55, so that the film strip web 16 adheres to the film web 17 when it is placed on the latter and is firmly connected to it.

The film web 17 and the tear strip web 16 are each conveyed with a certain tension. The tension of the film web 17 on the one hand and the tear strip web 16 on the other hand must be coordinated with one another in order to prevent the respective tear strip 13 from wrinkling on the later film envelope 12. Dash-dotted is in Fig. 1 such a faulty wrinkling of a tear strip 13 is shown. Different tensions can also lead to the tear strip 13 having a tendency to detach from the film envelope 12.

In the packaging process or during the conveyance of the tear strip web 16 and the film web 17 through the handling device 10, there are always stronger Accelerations or decelerations of the respective web 16 or 17. This can occur, for example, when the film web reel 18 runs empty and shortly beforehand a filled reel 18 'has to be attached to or connected to the running film web 17. The effect of a web tension of the tear strip web 16 that is too low, for example, is shown in FIG Fig. 4 Shown by way of example, see dash-dotted track section 16 ', which "sags".

In order to counter such accelerations / decelerations of the tear strip web 16 or the film web 17 with the tear strip web 16 already glued on, loop memories 26 and 27 are provided as part of a respective associated pendulum or dancer system.

The reel 15 for the tear strip strip 16, the loop memory 26 for the tear strip strip 16, the connecting device 23 for connecting the tear strip strip 16 and film strip 17 and the bobbin 18 for the film strip 17 are arranged in a common horizontal plane above the packaging machine 19.

The loop storage device 26 is positioned between the tear strip web reel 15 and the connecting device 23 in the conveying path of the tear strip web 16. The loop storage 27 is positioned in the conveying path of the film web 17 with the tear strip web 16 applied, namely between the connecting device 23 and the film apparatus 21.

The loop storage 27 is designed as a film loop box with a vacuum chamber 28. Such a loop storage 27 has, in a manner known per se, one or more suction air connections 29 in the area of a floor, via which the negative pressure chamber 28 can be subjected to negative pressure. The film web 17 with the tear strip 16 glued on is passed over an open side 30a of the loop storage device 27 to form a (U-shaped) loop 31 of the film web 17 open to the open side 30a in a vertical plane through the loop storage device 27 and can be moved back and forth in the horizontal direction.

Negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber 28 provides a force on the loop 31 in the direction of the closed side 30b of the loop storage device 27 facing away from the open side 30a.

If the web tension changes due to acceleration or deceleration or if the web length is too long or too short, the loop memory 27 serves to compensate accordingly.

The current fill level of the loop memory 27 assigned to the film web 17 with the tear strip web 16 resting thereon can be detected by means of a fill level sensor device 33. In the present case, this sensor device 33 comprises an ultrasonic sensor which detects the current position of the loop 31 in the loop memory 27 and forwards it to a controller, for example to the central machine controller or a local controller.

The control regulates the filling level of the loop storage device 27 in such a way that the loop 31 is arranged approximately in a central position within the loop storage device 27.

The loop memory 26 for the tear strip web 16 is designed in a special way. It is designed as a box with a substantially rectangular cross-section, which in the present case is aligned in a vertical plane.

The loop storage device 26 is open towards one narrow side 35 and closed towards the opposite narrow side 36. It has an essentially cuboid interior 34 which adjoins the surroundings on the open narrow side 35.

A slide 37 with an L-shaped cross-section is arranged within the interior 34 and has a deflection roller 38 rotatably mounted on it. The tear strip web 16 is introduced into the interior space 34 of the loop memory 26 via the open loop storage side 35.

In the interior space 34, the tear strip web 16 is guided along the deflection roller 38, forming a (U-shaped) loop 39 open in the direction of the loop storage side 35 (with a corresponding reversal of direction by 180 °).

The tear strip web 16 is then led out of the interior space 34 again via the open side 35 of the loop storage device 26.

To form the loop 39, two deflection rollers 40a, 40b spaced approximately the width of the loop 39 are arranged outside the loop storage 26 (in the same vertical plane as the loop storage 26) in the same horizontal plane.

Before or upstream of the entry into the loop storage device 26, the tear strip web 16 is guided along the deflection roller 40a, downstream of the loop storage device 26 or, after exiting the same, along the deflection roller 40b.

The tear strip web 16 is twisted in three areas 56, 57a and 57b, each by 180 ° around the respective longitudinal axis of the tear strip web 16. This is to ensure that the tear strip web side on which the adhesive material 55 is located does not coincide with the or comes into contact with the pulleys along which the tear strip web 16 is guided.

Specifically, the first twist takes place in the area 56 in front of or in the area of a deflection roller 58, cf. Fig. 3 . The tear strip web 16 conveyed upstream of the deflecting roller 58 with the adhesive side pointing upwards is twisted there so that the adhesive side does not come into contact with the contact surface when the tear strip web 16 is conveyed along the deflecting roller 58. The adhesive side of the tear strip web therefore points outwards or away from the contact surface of the deflecting roller 58 when it is conveyed along the deflecting roller 58 and in the further course to the deflecting roller 40a.

The second twist, again by 180 °, takes place in the area 57a upstream of the deflecting roller 38 of the carriage 37, so that the adhesive side of the tear strip web 16 points outwards when it is guided along the deflecting roller 38 of the carriage 37. In Fig. 8 the contact surface 59 of the deflecting roller 38 is shown, against which the respective section of the tear strip web 16 rests during the conveyance of the tear strip web 16. In the present case, the contact surface 59 is the (cylindrical) jacket surface of the deflection roller 38.

The third twist, also by 180 °, takes place in the area 57b downstream of the deflection roller 38 of the carriage 37, so that the adhesive side of the tear strip web 16 again points outwards or away from its contact surface when it is guided along the next deflection roller 40b.

As in Fig. 8 As can be clearly seen, the deflection roller 38 of the carriage 37 has a pair of spaced-apart guide surfaces that run at an angle to the contact surface 59 of the deflection roller 38, in particular at an angle between 25 ° and 65 °, preferably between 30 ° and 60 ° 60a, 60b for the lateral guidance of the tear strip web 16 arranged between them. Each guide surface 60a, 60b is part of a respective lateral shoulder or a lateral cheek of the deflection roller 38.

The height of the guide surfaces 60a, 60b - relative to or above the contact surface 59 of the deflecting roller 58 - is preferably between 2.5 mm to 5 mm (height perpendicular to the contact surface 59). In other words, the guide surfaces end between 2.5 mm and 5 mm above or beyond the contact surface.

In a similar way, the deflection rollers 40a, 40b (and possibly also the deflection roller 58) can each have corresponding (in particular cylindrical) contact surfaces and lateral guide surfaces for the tear strip web 16.

The slide 37 can be moved up and down in the vertical plane within the interior space 34 while taking along the tear strip web 16 or the loop 39 thereof, see the double arrow in FIG Fig. 4 .

A suction or negative pressure opening 41 of a negative pressure device having a negative pressure or vacuum pump is arranged below the slide 37, namely in the lower region of the interior space 34.

Via the suction opening 41, the partial space of the interior space 34 arranged below the slide 37 can be acted upon with negative pressure. During operation of the loop storage device 26, this negative pressure provides (in addition to the force of gravity) an (additional) force on the slide 37 downwards or in the direction of the suction opening 41 and thus for excellent dynamics of the loop storage device 26.

In order to be able to generate a sufficient negative pressure, it is necessary to seal the subspace below the carriage 37 at least predominantly from the subspace of the interior 34 which is arranged above the carriage 37 and adjoins the surroundings.

For this purpose, the cross-sectional contour of the interior 34 is adapted to the underside 42 or the bottom of the slide 37 (or another slide section) in such a way that between the underside 42 of the slide 37 and the inner surface 44 of the loop storage 26 delimiting the interior 34 narrow (in the present case circumferential) gap 43 is present.

The inner surface 44 is part of one or more upright side or housing walls 45 of the loop storage device 26; they extend between the open loop storage device side 35 and the closed loop storage device side 36.

Depending on whether an additional web length or less web length of the tear strip web 16 is required in the course of the packaging process, for example due to accelerations or delays, the carriage 37 automatically moves up or down within the loop memory 26.

The current position of the carriage 37 in the interior space 34 can be influenced by suitably setting the current (rotational) speed of the motor-driven reel 15 or, if necessary, additionally the (rotational) speed of the reel 18, by means of a controller.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the speed of the reel 15 of the tear strip web 16 is regulated in such a way that the carriage 37 is located as centrally as possible within the interior space 34.

For this, it is necessary to know the current position of the carriage 37 within the interior 34 or the loop memory 26.

For this purpose, the loop memory 26 is assigned a level sensor device 47. This has an elongated magnetic cylinder sensor 48, which is positioned outside of the interior space 34 parallel to the latter or parallel to the direction of movement of the slide 37.

The magnetic cylinder sensor 48 interacts with a (permanent) magnet 49 arranged on the slide 37 and can detect the current position of the permanent magnet 49 or, correspondingly, the slide 37 and report it to the controller.

An alternative to the aforementioned position determination is in Fig. 7 shown. There, in the area of the bottom of the loop storage device 26, there is a passage opening 50 which connects the interior 34 to the surroundings and is closed with a transparent plate 51, for example a glass plate.

A laser triangulation sensor device 52 is positioned below the opening 50, specifically outside the interior space 34. This emits laser beams 53, which each end on the underside 42 of the carriage 37, are reflected back and based on known measurement methods with which such devices work, the current one The distance between the underside 42 and the sensor device 52 and thus the position of the carriage 37 in the interior space 34 can be determined.

It can also be provided that the control automatically adjusts the web tension of the tear strip web 16 to a predetermined value by changing the negative pressure in the loop memory 26, in particular after measuring the current actual value of the web tension and depending on this actual value.

In order to prevent the slide 37 from sinking during operation of the loop storage device 26 on its way down to the closed loop storage device side 36 so that it covers the suction opening 41 and thus at least partially blocks it, there is a in the lower area of the loop storage device 26 Arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the carriage 37 extending stop 46. This is placed above the suction opening 41, so that the carriage 37 would also hit the stop 46 above the suction opening 41 and would come to a standstill in a position above the suction opening 41.

In the present case, the stop 46 is a (essentially cylindrical) pin. It goes without saying that the stop can also be designed in a different form.

It is important that on the one hand it ensures that the movement of the slide 37 ends above the suction opening 41 as far as possible. On the other hand, that it hinders the build-up of the negative pressure as little as possible, i.e. has the smallest possible dimensions.

The handling device 10 also has a magnetic gripper 54 comprising a holding magnet, namely in the upper region of the loop storage device 26 above the open side 35.

For maintenance or in order to be able to conveniently place the film web 16 around the deflection roller 38 of the carriage 37 during the setup, the carriage 37 can then be temporarily attached to the magnetic gripper 54, cf. Fig. 5 .

For this purpose, the slide 37 can then have a component that interacts with the holding magnet, for example a magnet of opposite polarity. <b> List of reference symbols: </b> 10 contraption 37 sleds 11 pack 38 Pulley 12th Foil wrapping 39 loop 13th Tear strips 40a Pulley 14th Handle 40b Pulley 15th Bobbin 41 Suction opening 16 Tear strip strip 42 bottom 16 ' Track section 43 gap 17th Film web 44 Inner surface 18th Bobbin 45 Sidewalls 18 ' Bobbin 46 attack 19th Packing machine 47 Level sensor device 20th Slide-in station 48 Cylinder sensor 21 Foil apparatus 49 (Permanent) magnet 22nd bag 50 opening 23 Connecting device 51 plate 24 Pulley 52 Laser triangulation sensor device 25th Leadership role 26th Loop storage 53 laser beam 27 Loop storage 54 Magnetic gripper 28 Vacuum chamber 55 Adhesive material 29 Suction air connection 56 Twist area 30a open side 57a Twist area 30b closed side 57b Twist area 31 loop 58 Pulley 32 Sealed turret 59 Deflection roller contact surface 33 Level sensor device 60a Guide surface 34 inner space 60b Guide surface 35 open side 36 closed side

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for handling a tear-open-strip web (16), in particular for conveying the same, within the context of a packaging process in which products, in particular cigarette packs, are packaged in a respective film wrapper (12) provided with a tear-open strip (13), having a loop store (26), which is arranged in particular in a vertical plane and is designed preferably in the form of a loop box, characterized in that the loop store (26) has arranged in it a carriage (37), preferably L-shaped in section, which is intended for guiding a tear-open-strip web (16), guided preferably in a vertical plane, and which can be moved back and forth in particular linearly in two opposite directions, preferably up and down in a vertical plane, within the loop store (26), respectively carrying along an in particular U-shaped portion of the tear-open-strip web (16) in the process, and in that the apparatus has a negative-pressure device, which is designed such that it can build up a negative pressure in the loop store (26), on one side of the carriage (37), said negative pressure subjecting the carriage (37) to a force which is directed in one of the movement directions, in particular to a downwardly directed force.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the loop store (26) has an elongate interior space (34), in which the carriage (37) can be moved back and forth between a first loop-store narrow side, preferably a lower loop-store narrow side, and a second loop-store narrow side, preferably a lower loop-store narrow side, which is located opposite, and at a distance from, the first loop-store side, wherein the loop store (26) is closed on the first loop-store side and is open on the second loop-store side, the interior space (34) of the loop store (26) therefore being adjacent there to the surroundings.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided into the interior space (34) of the loop store (26) via the second, open loop-store side, is guided in the interior space (34), with a loop which is open in the direction of the second loop-store side being formed in the process, along a deflecting member which is arranged on the carriage (37) and has an, in particular, cylindrical abutment surface for the tear-open-strip web (16), preferably along a deflecting roller which is mounted in a rotatable manner on the carriage (37), and is guided out of the interior space again via the second, open loop-store side.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that upstream and/or downstream of the deflecting roller which is mounted on the carriage (37), in particular above the same, in particular in the same preferably vertical plane, the apparatus has if appropriate in each case a further deflecting member with an, in particular, cylindrical abutment surface for the tear-open-strip web (16), and in that the tear-open-strip web (16), which has a first side with adhesive and an opposite second side without adhesive, is guided along the further deflecting member and the deflecting roller - while being twisted, preferably through 180°, in a region between the further deflecting member and the deflecting roller which is mounted on the carriage (37) - such that the second side of the tear-open-strip web (16), which is not provided with adhesive, butts against the abutment surface of the further deflecting member and against the abutment surface of the deflecting roller, wherein the first side of the tear-open-strip web (16), which is provided with adhesive, is correspondingly directed in each case away from the respective abutment surface.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the further deflecting member is likewise designed in the form of a deflecting roller, preferably likewise in the form of the deflecting roller with guide surfaces which run at an angle in relation to the abutment surface of the deflecting roller, in particular in each case at an angle between 25° and 65°, preferably between 30° and 60°, are intended for the lateral guidance of the tear-open-strip web (36) and between which the tear-open-strip web (16) is arranged, in particular likewise by way of guide surfaces, of which the height - relative to and/or above the abutment surface of the deflecting roller - is in each case between 2.5 mm and 5 mm.
6. Apparatus according to one or more of preceding Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the carriage (37), in particular at least one portion of the carriage (37), preferably a carriage side which is oriented towards the first, closed loop-store side, is adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the interior space (34) of the loop store (26), in particular to the cross-sectional contour of an inner surface of the loop store (26) which delimits the interior space laterally and extends between the first, closed loop-store side and the second, open loop-store side, such that a first sub-space of the interior space (34), said first sub-space being located between the carriage (37) and the first, closed loop-store side, is wholly or partially sealed by the carriage (37) in relation to a second sub-space of the interior space, said sub-space being located between the carriage and the second, open loop-store side, and therefore the negative pressure which subjects the carriage to force can be built up in the first sub-space by the negative-pressure device.
7. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided to the loop store (26) from a tear-open-strip reel, which is arranged upstream of the loop store (26), and in that the loop store (26) has arranged downstream of it a connecting device (23), at which the tear-open-strip web (16) is connected to a film web (17) for producing the film wrapper (12), in which the products are packaged.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus is part of a pendulum system or dancer system, and by means of which it is possible to compensate for differences in speed between the film web (17) and tear-open-strip web (16).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that a further loop store (27) is arranged, as part of a pendulum system or dancer system, downstream of the connecting device (23), in particular in a horizontal plane, and the film web (17) connected to the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided through said further loop store, wherein the film web (17) connected to the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided in a vertical plane in the further loop store (27), and wherein the film web (17) connected to the tear-open-strip web (16) can be moved horizontally back and forth in the loop store (27) to form a loop which is open on one side.
10. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stop (46) for the carriage (37), in particular an elongate delimiting part, for example an elongate delimiting pin, is arranged in the first sub-space, in the movement path of the carriage (37) and at a distance from the first, closed loop-store side, said stop preventing or stopping further movement of the carriage (37) in the direction of the first, closed loop-store side.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that the stop (46) is arranged, at a distance from the first, closed loop-store side, on a side wall of the loop store (26) which extends between the first, closed loop-store side and the second, open loop-store side and delimits the interior space of the loop store.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, as seen in relation to movement of the carriage (37) in the direction of the first, closed loop-store side, the suction opening of the negative-pressure device is arranged behind the stop position in which the carriage (37) stops when it makes contact with the stop (46), and therefore the carriage (37) does not cover over the suction opening in the lateral direction, in particular it is arranged on a side wall of the loop store (26) which extends between the first, closed loop-store side and the second, open loop-store side and delimits the interior space (34) of the loop store (26).
13. Method for handling a tear-open-strip web, in particular for conveying the same, within the context of a packaging process in which products, in particular cigarette packs, are packaged in a respective film wrapper (12) provided with a tear-open strip (13), wherein a tear-open-strip web (16) is drawn off from a reel and guided, in particular in a vertical plane, through a loop store (26), in particular a loop box, to form a loop which is open on one side, characterized in that, in an interior space (34) of the loop store (26), the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided along a carriage (37), which can be guided back and forth in particular linearly in two opposite directions, preferably up and down in a vertical plane, within the interior space (34) of the loop store (26), carrying along an in particular U-shaped portion of the tear-open-strip web (16) in the process, wherein a negative pressure is built up in a first sub-space of the interior space (34) of the loop store (26), on one side of the carriage (37), said negative pressure subjecting the carriage (37) to a force which is directed in one of the movement directions, in particular to a downwardly directed force.
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided to the loop store (26) from a tear-open-strip reel, which is arranged upstream of the loop store (26), in that, downstream of the loop store (26), the tear-open-strip web (16) is connected to a film web (17), which is used to produce the film wrapper (12), in which the products are packaged, in that the current position of the carriage (37) in the loop store (26) is sensed in particular continuously or cyclically by means of a sensor device, and in that, in accordance with and/or in dependence on the current position sensed, the rotational speed of the tear-open-strip reel is set and, if appropriate, altered.
15. Method according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the web tensioning of the tear-open-strip web (16) is set automatically to a predetermined value by virtue of the negative pressure being altered, in particular following a measurement of the current actual value of the web tensioning and in dependence on this actual value.
16. Method according to Claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the carriage (37) has a deflecting roller which is mounted in a rotatable manner on said carriage, with an, in particular, cylindrical abutment surface for the tear-open-strip web (16) and along which the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided, in that a further deflecting member with an, in particular, cylindrical abutment surface, along which the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided, is arranged upstream and/or downstream of the carriage (37), if appropriate in each case in particular in the same preferably vertical plane, in that the tear-open-strip web (16) has a first side, which is provided with adhesive, and an opposite, second side without adhesive, and in that the tear-open-strip web (16) is guided along the deflecting member and the deflecting roller - while being twisted, preferably through 180°, in a region between the further deflecting member and the deflecting roller - such that the second side of the tear-open-strip web (16), which is not provided with adhesive, butts both against the abutment surface of the further deflecting member and against the abutment surface of the deflecting roller, wherein the first side of the tear-open-strip strip (16), which is provided with adhesive, is correspondingly directed in each case away from the respective abutment surface.
17. Apparatus for packaging products, in particular cigarette packs, in a respective film wrapper (12) provided with a tear-open strip, having an apparatus for handling the tear-open-strip web, in particular for conveying the same, within the context of the packaging process according to one or more of preceding Claims 1-12.
18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterized in that the reel for the tear-open-strip web (16), the loop store (26) for the tear-open-strip web (16), the connecting device (23) for connecting the tear-open-strip web (16) and film web (17), and also a reel for the film web (17), are arranged in a common horizontal plane above a production unit in which the film web (17) connected to the tear-open-strip web (16) is cut into individual film blanks and the products are wrapped in the individual film blanks and/or packaged in film wrappers made from these film blanks.

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