EP3999431A1

EP3999431A1 - Method and device for handling a blank made of a dimensionally stable material

Info

Publication number: EP3999431A1
Application number: EP20745114.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Broek; Torsten MAREK
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-07-18
Filing date: 2020-07-16
Publication date: 2022-05-25
Also published as: WO2021009278A1; DE102019004965A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handling a blank (15, 15') made of a dimensionally stable material, for a packaging for receiving one or more products as the packaging contents, which is provided with a first and a second large side wall (16, 17) for forming large packaging sides, of which at least the first large side wall (16) is bordered by a pair of spaced-apart opposing longer fold lines (16a, 17a) and a pair of spaced-apart opposing shorter fold lines (16b, 17b), and which is also provided with a narrow side wall (18) connecting the first and the second large side walls (16, 17) to form a narrow side of the packaging connecting the large packaging sides, which is connected to the first large side wall (16) via one of the longer fold lines (16a) bordering same and connected to the second large side wall (17) via a further fold line (17a) parallel to the one longer fold line (16a). The invention is characterised in that, in an in-feed station (48), the blank (15, 15') is introduced into a pocket of a folding turret (40), having a plurality of pockets arranged around the circumference thereof, and orientated in such a way that when the blank (15, 15') is then located in the pocket, at least one of the longer fold lines (16a) bordering the first large side wall (16) runs transverse (or substantially transverse) to a notional connection line running perpendicular to the in particular vertical folding turret axis of rotation, said connection line connecting the folding turret axis of rotation and the fold line centre to one another.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING A CUT OUT OF SHAPE-STABLE MATERIAL

description

The present invention relates to a method for handling a blank made of dimensionally stable material, in particular made of (thin) cardboard, for a pack for receiving one or more products as the pack content, preferably for products of the cigarette industry, in the context of the production of such a pack, the 5 The blank has a first and a second large-area side wall for the formation of large-area pack sides, in particular the pack front and back of the pack, of which at least the first large-area side wall is delimited by a pair of longer, spaced apart and a pair of spaced, opposite, shorter fold lines, Preferably, the fold lines 10 of each pair of fold lines are each of the same length and parallel to one another, and the furthermore via a narrow side wall connecting the first and second large-area side walls to form a narrow side connecting the large-area pack sides of the pack, which is connected to the first large-area side wall via one of the longer fold lines delimiting it and to the second large-area side wall via a further fold line parallel to this one longer fold line. The invention further relates to a device suitable for this, having the features of the preamble of claim 17.

The invention is particularly concerned with blanks for packs for so-called alternative smokable products of the cigarette industry or for products that are related to such. For example, for packs for aroma capsules arranged in blister packs for e-cigarettes or for exchangeable mouthpieces packed in aroma-tight flow packs for e-vaporizer units for e-cigarettes. However, the invention is not restricted to these products.

25th

Such blister packs or flow packs are usually sold together with an information supplement (for example a coupon) in a cardboard box. The folding boxes for this are processed in a linear production flow as sleeve-like folding boxes, which are first erected, then filled with the blister packs or flow packs from one side and finally closed will. The sleeve-like folding box blanks themselves, on the other hand, are prefabricated in a separate manufacturing process and glued to the respective sleeve, which is costly and time-consuming.

Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to further develop the handling of blanks for such packs in the context of the production of the packs.

A method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1 and a device suitable for this has the features of claim 17.

It is therefore provided that the blank defined at the beginning - also referred to as a cross-wound blank, in which the large-area side walls (front wall and rear wall) are connected at their respective longer edges or fold lines to the narrow side wall connecting them - in an insertion station oriented in this way into a pocket a folding turret having a plurality of in particular shaping pockets arranged along its circumference is inserted, preferably stamped so that - when the blank is then in the pocket - at least one, preferably both of the longer fold lines delimiting the first large-area side wall transversely (or in Essentially transversely) to an imaginary connecting line running perpendicular to the particularly vertical folding turret axis of rotation, which connects the folding turret axis of rotation and the center of the folding line to one another. In simplified terms, the blank is inserted into the pocket in such a way that this fold line (s) is / are oriented tangentially or essentially tangentially to the circumference of the folding turret.

This orientation of the blank in the pocket allows, among other things, a simplified introduction of the package contents over the "wider" side of the later package.

When inserting the blank into the pocket or while it is in the pocket, the blank is preferably pre-folded or partially folded to form a receiving space open on one or two sides for the contents of the pack, the receiving space being limited on the one hand by the first large-area side wall and on the other the other by the narrow side wall connecting the first and second large-area side wall and two further folding tabs, which are each folded to form the receiving space along cutting fold lines, in particular by 90 ° to the first large-area side wall. The receiving space is preferably open to a radially outwardly pointing side and / or to a side that is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret, that is, a transverse axial plane. In In the latter case, this would be - if the axis of rotation of the folding turret lies in a vertical plane and the plane of rotation of the same in a horizontal plane - a side that is open at the top.

In the context of the present invention, the axis of rotation of the folding turret can of course also lie in a horizontal plane or its plane of rotation accordingly in a vertical plane.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blank is pre-folded when it is inserted into the pocket in such a way that the receiving space is given a shell shape, corresponding in particular with an open side that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (or possibly one that is open at the top Page). Alternatively, the blank can be pre-folded in such a way that the receiving space has the shape of an open funnel, correspondingly also in particular with an open side that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (or possibly an upwardly open side), but additionally furthermore with a side that is open radially outward or an open side that points radially outward.

More preferably, the package contents and, if necessary, a separate insert blank, for example an information supplement such as a coupon, can be inserted into the receiving space after it has been formed, the preferably linear insertion movement, in particular from radially further outside to radially further inside, preferably perpendicular to Axis of rotation of the folding turret arranged plane or obliquely to this takes place, in particular obliquely from above to obliquely below.

The insertion movement can take place in a plane which runs at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the folding turret, in particular at an angle between 70 ° and 90 °.

It can also be provided that the first large-area side wall of the blank is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret, in particular a horizontal plane, after it has been inserted into the pocket of the folding turret, resting against a pocket wall of the pocket.

It can also be provided that one of the longer fold lines is arranged radially further out than the other of the longer fold lines after the blank has been inserted into the pocket of the folding turret - especially when the first large-area side wall of the blank rests against the pocket wall. The first Large side wall can be connected to a folding flap of the blank via the longer fold line arranged radially further outward, which (while the blank is in the pocket) is folded over around this longer fold line while the blank is in the pocket of the folding turret. This folding over takes place preferably by 90 ° in relation to the first large-area side wall, in particular before or, alternatively, after the contents of the pack are introduced into the receiving space.

The aforementioned folding flap can preferably be a first side flap which, while the blank is in the pocket, is glued to a second side flap of the blank to form a double-layer narrow side wall of the pack. This can be done in particular in such a way that the blank located in the pocket is first conveyed to an adhesive station or an adhesive application station at which the first or the second side tab is provided with portions of adhesive. The adhesive can be, for example, a hot melt adhesive or, in particular, PSA adhesive. The blank in the pocket can then be conveyed to a pressing station in which the side flaps are pressed against one another.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the second large-area side wall is delimited by a pair of shorter fold lines that are spaced apart from one another and either by a pair of longer fold lines that are spaced apart from one another or by a longer fold line and a (longer) marginal edge of the blank, which at least in sections runs parallel to the longer fold line, and that (while the blank is in the pocket) to form double-layer narrow side walls of the pack, one folding flap each is connected to the second large-area side wall via one of the two shorter fold lines - in particular one to the outer one Side flaps of the double-layered narrow side wall forming folding flaps - is glued to one associated, other folding flap of the blank, with which the first large-area side wall is connected via one of the shorter folding lines bounding it; in particular with a folding tab forming the inner side tab of the double-layer narrow side wall.

It can further be provided that the blank with the package contents located in the receiving space is conveyed out of the folding turret, that it is then conveyed to a (further) adhesive application station, which is arranged in particular along a straight conveying path, in which one of the folding tabs to be glued together with portions of adhesive is preferably provided from hot melt adhesive or PSA adhesive, in particular the folding flap forming the outer side flap, and that it is then conveyed to a folding station in which the folding flaps to be glued together are folded and pressed together. According to a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided, within the framework of the pre-folding to form the receiving space, to fold the second large-area side wall together with the narrow side wall around the longer fold line via which the narrow side wall is connected to the first large-area side wall, preferably by 90 ° the first large-area side wall. This in particular with the participation of a shaping pocket wall when the blank is inserted into the pocket, so that the second large-area side wall is arranged together with the narrow side wall perpendicular to the first large-area side wall.

It can also be provided that in this vertical position of the second large-area side wall and the narrow side wall, the package contents are introduced into the receiving space, and that then the second large-area side wall to close the receiving space around the longer fold line over which the narrow side wall with the second large-area Side wall is connected, is folded in the direction of the first large-area side wall until the first and the second large-area packing wall are arranged parallel (at a distance) from one another. This in particular by 90 ° to the narrow side wall. It can also be provided that (while the blank is in the pocket) then the second side flap, which is connected to the second large-area side wall via the other of the two longer fold lines delimiting the second large-area side wall, in particular in a folding station around the other longer fold line is folded in the direction of the first side flap until the two side flaps lie against each other. This in particular by 90 ° to the second large-area side wall. In this case, the two side tabs can then be pressed against one another and glued together in this position, in particular in the pressing station to which the blank located in the pocket is fed. This in particular by means of the adhesive portions which were previously applied to the first or the second side tab in the adhesive application station to which the blank in the pocket was conveyed.

The first large-area side wall can preferably be connected via one of the two shorter folding lines to a first folding tab which, together with an associated second folding tab connected to the second large-area side wall via one of the shorter folding lines, forms a double-layered narrow side wall of the pack, the first folding tab is connected via a particularly perforated fold line to a plug-in flap, on the outside of which the second large-area side wall is folded (while the blank is in the pocket). In fact when it is folded in the direction of the first large-area side wall, which aligns the second large-area side wall parallel to the first large-area side wall.

It can further be provided that the inside of the second large-area side wall is glued to the outside of the plug-in flap by means of the outside of the plug-in flap and / or on the inside of the second before the folding process in which the second large-area side wall is folded onto the plug-in flap large-area side wall applied adhesive portions, in particular of cold adhesive.

It can further be provided that the package contents are introduced into the receiving space linearly in a plane arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret by an insertion movement directed radially from further outside to radially further inward, namely via a radially outwardly open side of the receiving space.

Preferably, the folding tab connected to the first large-area side wall via the longer fold line arranged radially further outward can be connected via a further fold line to a tuck-in flap which is folded together with the folding tab around the longer fold line. Thereafter, the second large-area side wall to close the receiving space and the plug-in flap can be folded in the direction of the first large-area side wall, so that the second large-area side wall and the plug-in flap are arranged parallel to the first large-area side wall at the end of the folding movement and the inside of the second side wall the outside of the plug-in tab and this in particular with the exception of a region of a preferably curved grip recess in the second large-area side wall covers at least some areas.

To reduce restoring forces during gluing phases, one or more folding tabs of the blank, preferably in a bending station to pre-bend or pre-break an associated fold line, in particular in a bending station (upstream of the insertion station), which is arranged along a conveyor path along which the blank is fed to the insertion station in which the blank is inserted into the pocket of the folding turret.

In particular in this bending station or in another bending station, one of the two side flaps can also be used to reduce the restoring forces, each of which is connected to the first or second large-area side wall via one of the longer fold lines and which, together with the other side flap, is one or the double-layered Narrow side wall forms, pre-bent or pre-broken, and that is, the side tab that is on the outside when glued to the other side tab.

In particular in this bending station or in another bending station, the folding tabs, which are connected to the second large-area side wall via the shorter fold lines and each form the outer side tab of the respective double-layer narrow side wall of the pack, can be pre-bent or pre-broken around the respective shorter fold line.

A special feature of its own is a pack, the cut of which can be handled with the above method (or possibly another method) in the course of its manufacture and which serves to hold one or more products as the contents of the pack, preferably for products in the cigarette industry. As such, it comprises a first large-area side wall, a second large-area side wall, two narrow side walls (arranged opposite one another) connecting the two large-area side walls, and a bottom wall and a top wall. The pack has an especially continuous perforation line with a preferably curved section in the area of the second large-area side wall and two sections in the area of the top wall, each of which runs at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal extension of the top wall, in particular in the area of the edges between the top wall and each adjoining narrow side wall, and along which a lid part can be (partially) detached when the pack is first used, which is connected to the first large side wall via a line hinge located in particular in the edge area of the first large-area side wall, the corresponding section which can be detached along the curved section of the perforation line the large-area second side wall as well as a corresponding section of the cover wall that can be separated along the two sections in the region of the cover wall, and that for exposing a removal opening of the pack in the frame an opening pivoting movement about the line hinge is pivotable relative to the rest of the pack part.

The detachable section of the second large-area side wall of the lid part can be glued on the inside to a plug-in flap protruding laterally or downwardly above the latter, which can be inserted around the line hinge behind the second large-area pack wall in the frame or to complete a closing pivoting movement of the lid part that closes the removal opening . Further features of the present invention emerge from the attached claims, the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and the attached drawings. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a pack for products from

Cigarette industry in oblique view with closed lid part before first use,

FIG. 2 shows the pack according to FIG. 1 after it has been used for the first time with the lid part opened and separated along the perforation line sections,

3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a pack for products from

Cigarette industry, also in a spatial representation with the lid closed before first use,

4 shows the pack according to FIG. 3 with the lid part open,

5 shows a blank for the pack according to FIGS. 1, 2 in plan view,

6 shows a blank for the pack according to FIGS. 3, 4 in plan view,

7 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a device for handling blanks during the production of the packs according to FIGS. 1, 2,

FIG. 8 shows a section along section line VIII from FIG. 7,

9 shows a section along the section line IX-IX from FIG. 7, FIG. 10 shows a section along the section line X-X from FIG. 7,

11 shows a section along the section line XI-XI from FIG. 7,

Fig. 12 shows a device for handling blanks in the context of

Production of the packs according to FIGS. 3, 4.

The invention is concerned with the production of packs 10 for products 11 of the cigarette industry as pack contents. The products 11 in the present embodiment in FIGS. 1, 2 are flow packs in which interchangeable mouthpieces for e-vaporizer units of e-cigarettes are included. The packs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 contain replaceable aroma capsules for e-cigarettes as products 1 1 packed in blister packs.

Naturally, products 11 of the cigarette industry include not only new types of alternative smokable products, such as the aforementioned or heat-not-burn products, but also conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos and the like. These could also be packed in the packs 10.

In addition to the actual products 11, the packs 10 each also contain an information supplement, for example in the form of a coupon 14, but this is not mandatory.

The packs 10 are designed as hard packs, that is to say packs made of dimensionally stable material, in particular made of (thin) cardboard.

In the following, the packs 10 of FIGS. 1, 2 will now be discussed first.

The packs 10 are cuboid with a first large-area side wall, hereinafter referred to as rear wall 16, and a second large-area side wall, hereinafter referred to as front wall 17. The rear wall 16 forms one or the large-area rear side of the pack 10, and the front wall 17 forms the large-area front side thereof.

The packs 10 are made from a (one-piece) blank 15 made of dimensionally stable material, in particular (thin) cardboard.

In the blank 15, the front wall 17 and the rear wall 16 are each delimited by two associated pairs of fold lines, namely the rear wall 16 by a pair of longer fold lines 16a and a pair of shorter fold lines 16b and the front wall 17 by a pair of longer fold lines 17a and a pair shorter fold lines 17b.

The two longer folding lines 16a of the corresponding pair of folding lines of the rear wall 16 are arranged parallel to one another at a distance from one another and are of equal length. The same applies to the two shorter fold lines 16b of the corresponding pair of fold lines, the two longer fold lines 17a of the front wall 17 and the two shorter fold lines 17b of the front wall 17. Between the rear wall 16 and the front wall 17 of the blank 15 there is arranged a narrow side wall 18 connected to the latter via a longer fold line 16a or 17a, which in the finished pack 10 has one of two upright, the large-area rear side of the pack and one of two, the large-area Forms the front of the pack connecting narrow sides or narrow walls.

The narrow side wall 18 is connected on the one hand to the rear wall 16 via the longer fold line 16a and on the other hand to the front wall 17 via the longer fold line 17a.

The other of the two upright pack narrow sides or walls is a narrow side wall 19 opposite the narrow side wall 18 in the finished pack 10, which is formed by a first side tab 20, which is on the inside in the finished pack 10, and a second side tab 21 is formed, which lies outside in the finished pack and is also called the outer side flap in the following.

The inner side tab 20 is connected to the rear wall 16 via the longer fold line 16a located further out in the blank 15, the outer side tab 21 to the front wall 17 via the longer fold line 17a located further out in the blank 15.

To form a bottom wall 22 of the pack 10, the blank 15 also has a first side flap 23, which will be on the inside in the later pack, hereinafter also referred to as the inner bottom side flap, which is connected to the rear wall 16 via one of the two shorter fold lines 16b. Furthermore, the blank has an associated second side flap 24 connected to the front wall 17 via the shorter fold line 17b, hereinafter referred to as the outer bottom side flap. The inner and outer bottom side tabs 23, 24 are glued together in the finished pack to form the double-walled bottom wall 22. In the finished pack, the outer bottom side tab 24 rests on the outside of the inner cover side tab 23.

In a similar way, the rear wall 16 and the front wall 17 are provided with a first side tab 25, hereinafter referred to as the inner cover side tab, or a second side tab 26, hereinafter referred to as the outer cover side tab, via their shorter fold lines 16b and 17b, respectively, to form a (Double-walled) cover wall 27 connected or glued together. In the finished pack, the outer lid side tab 26 rests on the outside against the inner lid side tab 25. The blank 15 also has two corner tabs 28 connected to the narrow side wall 18 on opposite sides and two corner tabs 29 connected to the inner side tab 20 on opposite sides.

A plug-in tab 31 is also connected to the inner lid side tab 25 at the edge via a perforation line 30.

The pack 10 further has a continuous line of perforations 32 with several sections. On the one hand with an arcuate section 32a in the area of the front wall 17 of the pack 10, in the present case in an upper area thereof. The arcuate section 32a extends at its two opposite ends to the cover wall 27 or to the outer cover side tab 26. The perforation line 32 further comprises two (in the present case straight) sections 32b, 32c, each of which in the area of the cover wall 27 is transversely spaced apart run for the longitudinal extension of the top wall 27, in the present case in the area of the edges between the top wall 27 and the respectively adjacent narrow side wall 18 or 19. A cover part 33 can (partially) be separated along the perforation line 32 or the sections 32a, 32b, 32c when the pack is first used, which is or remains connected to the rear wall 16 via a line hinge 34, in the present case formed by one of the shorter fold lines 16b. The cover part 33 comprises a corresponding section 36a of the front wall 17 that can be separated along the arcuate section 32a of the perforation line 32 and a corresponding section 36b of the cover wall 27 that can be separated along the two perforation line sections 32b, 32c in the region of the cover wall 27 First use from a closed position in which it is still connected to said walls, see Fig. 1, while maintaining a residual connection via the line hinge 34 along the perforation line 32 separated from the remaining part of the pack 10 and - by pivoting around the line hinge 34 - be pivoted into an open position in which it releases a removal opening 35 via which the products 11 and the coupon 14 can be removed from the pack 10. This release accordingly takes place by pivoting the (separated) cover part 33 relative to the remaining (in this case cup-shaped) pack part. Furthermore, the plug-in tab 31 is glued to the inside of the separable section 36a of the front wall 17 and projects downward beyond this section 36a. This plug-in tab 31 can be used to insert it behind the front wall 17 of the pack 10 within the frame or to complete a pivoting movement of the cover part 33 that closes the removal opening 35 again around the line hinge 34, so that the pack 10 is (opened) closed again.

The pack 10 'of FIGS. 3, 4 and its blank 15' differ (only) in parts from the above pack 10 of FIGS. 1, 2. The key differences are discussed below:

The pack 10 'is also cuboid, but - in contrast to the pack 10 - its upright narrow side walls 18, 19 are shorter than the bottom wall 22 and the top wall 27. When the pack 10' is to be handled, its width is greater than its height or its longitudinal extension is determined by the length of the bottom wall 22 and the length of the top wall 27 and not by the length of the upright narrow side walls 18, 19.

In relation to the blank 15 ', the first and second side tabs 23, 24 together do not form the bottom wall of the pack 10', but rather the upright narrow side wall 19. Furthermore, the first and second side tabs 25, 26 form the opposite, upright narrow side wall 18 and not the one Top wall 27.

The pack 10 ′ also differs from the pack 10 in that the tuck-in flap 31 is not connected to the first side flap 25 (via a perforation line 30), but to the first side flap connected to the rear wall 16 via the longer outer fold line 16a 20, namely via a fold line 37 which runs parallel to the outer longer fold line 16a.

The first side tab 20 forms the top wall 27 of the pack 10 '. This is pivotably connected to the rear wall 16 via a line joint 38 encompassing the longer outer fold line 16a. The cover wall 27 can be pivoted by pivoting around the line hinge 38 from a position releasing the removal opening 35, the pack 10 ', see FIG. 4, into a closed position, see FIG. 3, in order to close the pack 10'.

In the closed position, the tab 31 is or is inserted behind the front wall 17. In order to make it easier to open or grasp the plug-in flap 31 to open the pack 10 ', the front wall 17 has an arcuate recessed grip 39. This is formed by an outer, the inner longer fold line 17a opposite edge 17a 'of the blank and the front wall of the finished pack 10', which - unlike the blank 15 of FIG. 5 - literally does not form a fold line, since this on the outside no further folding flaps are adjacent.

The handling of the blanks 15, 15 'in the context of the production of the packs 10, 10' takes place in a special way.

First of all, the handling of the blanks 15 is explained with reference to FIGS. 7-11:

The central organ for handling the blanks 15 according to the invention is a folding turret 40 which can be rotated about an axis of rotation - in the present case vertical - with pockets 41 arranged along its circumference for receiving the blanks 15.

In or on the folding turret 40, various folding steps for folding the respective blank 15 into a largely completed pack 10 are carried out by folding members arranged on the folding turret or adjacent to it.

Before these folding processes are carried out on an individual blank 15, however, it must first be fed to the folding turret 40. This is done with the aid of a separate blank station 12 arranged outside the folding turret 40, which separates blanks 15 lying one above the other in a blank stack 42.

Starting from the cutting station 12, the individual blanks 15 are then guided along a blank transport path 43 to a bending station 62, in which the outer bottom side tab 24 and the outer cover side tab 26 are pre-bent along the respective shorter fold line 17b to reduce restoring forces of these two folding tabs 24, 26 reduce. The purpose of this measure will be explained in more detail later.

The blanks 15 are then fed individually to a (first) adhesive application station 44 which applies cold adhesive portions 46 to the respective blank 15 by means of corresponding adhesive valves 45 (in the present case cold adhesive valves). Namely, cold glue portions 46 (in particular cold glue dots) each on the inner side tabs 20 for the later connection of the corner tabs 29 with this inner side tab 20 and on the inner bottom and cover side tabs 23 and 25 for the subsequent connection of the corner tabs 28 to these inner side tabs 23 or 25. Furthermore, the separable section 36a of the front wall 17 is provided with cold adhesive portions 46 for the later connection of the plug-in tab 31 to this separable section 36a.

Optionally, provision can also be made for the outer bottom and cover side tabs 24 and 26 to be provided with cold adhesive portions 46, with the main adhesive effect between these outer side tabs 24, 26 and the respectively associated inner base - as will be explained in more detail below. or cover side tabs 23, 25 to form the respective bottom wall 22 or cover wall 27 is produced by hot melt or hot glue portions 47 and 60, respectively.

From the adhesive application station 44, the blanks 15 provided with the adhesive portions 46 are fed to an insertion station 48 at which the blanks 15 are individually gripped by an insertion element 49, here a patch, and the respective blank 15 is pre-folded or partially folded into a shaping pocket 41 be pushed in or introduced.

According to the invention, this introduction into the respective pocket 41 takes place in a special way. Namely in such a way that afterwards, that is, when the blank 15 is in the pocket 41, at least one of the two longer fold lines 16a of the rear wall 16 runs perpendicular to an imaginary connecting line running perpendicular to the folding turret axis of rotation, which is the folding turret axis of rotation and the center of the longer one Fold line 16a connects together. In other words, the longer fold lines 16a of the rear wall 16 should be oriented tangentially or essentially tangentially to the circumference of the folding turret 40.

As a result, this is equivalent to the fact that the package 10, which is at least partially folded in the folding turret 40, is aligned in the pocket 41 with its longitudinal extension tangential to the circumference or perpendicular to the radial direction.

During the insertion process, the blank, see FIG. 7, is stamped into the pocket 41 in such a way that the rear wall 16 is then arranged in a transverse axial plane, that is, in a plane perpendicular to the folding turret axis of rotation, in the present case essentially in the plane of rotation of the folding turret 40.

The rear wall 16 rests against an (interrupted) pocket rear wall 50 which also runs in a transverse axial plane. As part of the folding or shaping process of the blank 15 during the stamping of the blank 15 in the pocket 41, the narrow side wall 18 together with the outer base and cover side tabs 24, 26 and the outer side tab 21 of the narrow side wall 19 are furthermore longer fold line 16a is folded relative to the rear wall 16, in the present case by 90 °, so that the aforementioned cut parts are perpendicular or in a plane parallel to the axial plane or a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the folding turret.

In addition, the corner tabs 28, 29 are raised by means of a folding member (not shown), the inner bottom and cover side tabs 23 and 25 are each folded around the associated shorter fold line 16b by 90 ° relative to the rear wall 16 and the inner side tab 20 around the fold line 16a folded relative to the rear wall 16, also by 90 °. The corner tabs 28, 29 are placed against the respectively assigned side tabs 20 or the base and cover side tabs 23 and 25 and are glued to these by the cold adhesive portions 46 previously applied in the adhesive application station 44 (as described). The restoring forces of the corner tabs 28 and 29 folded around the respective fold lines ensure sufficient contact pressure or holding pressure while the corner tabs 28, 29 each rest on the folding tabs 20, 23 and 25 assigned to them and the adhesive sets.

As a result of these folds described, a cup-shaped receiving space 51 is created during the insertion process which is closed except for one open side by the blank walls or folding tabs described. The side that is open (in the present case upwards) lies parallel to the rear wall in a transverse axial plane and is only closed by the front wall 17 in a later folding step.

The blank 15, which is arranged in the pocket 41 at the insertion station 48 after the end of the insertion process, is then moved further (in particular in the next machine or conveying cycle of the folding turret 40) by rotating the folding turret 40 along the conveying path of the folding turret 40 into the area of an insert feed station 52, in which in the present case a coupon 14 is inserted into the receiving space 51 so that it rests against the rear wall 16 parallel to the latter. The individual supplements or coupons 14 are generally fed in linearly from radially further outside to radially further inside, specifically in a feed plane arranged at an angle or inclined to the plane of rotation of the folding turret 40. In the present case from obliquely above to obliquely below. It goes without saying that other feed movements are also conceivable. Subsequently, by further rotation of the folding turret 40, the pre-folded blank 15 provided with the coupon 14 is conveyed to a product feed station 53 in which the receiving space 51 is filled with the products 11 or the same is inserted into the receiving space 51 these are, for example, two flow packs.

The products 11 are also introduced via the open side of the receiving space 51. At the same time (but this can also be done before or after) the outer side flap 21 connected to the front wall 17 via the longer fold line 17a around this fold line 17a in a (further) Bending station, not shown, pre-bent or pre-broken in order to reduce restoring forces of this outer side flap 21 during the later gluing to the inner side flap 20.

After further movement of the folding turret 40, it is guided along a folding element 63, in this case a folding switch, for the plug-in flap 31, with which the flap is folded around the perforation line 30 in the plane of the open side of the receiving space 51, namely parallel to the rear wall 16, and by 90 ° relative to the inner cover side tab 25.

The folding turret is then moved further and the front wall 17 together with the outer base and cover side flaps 24, 26 connected to it and the pre-bent outer side flap 21 are folded around the longer fold line 17a, which connects the front wall 17 with the narrow side wall 18, by means of folding elements (not shown) , namely at 90 ° to this narrow side wall 18.

In other words, the front wall 17 is folded together with the folding tabs 24, 26 and the pre-bent outer side tab 21 to close the open sides of the receiving space 51 in the plane of this open side, namely parallel to the rear wall 16. The front wall 17 is on the tab 31 launched. The cold adhesive portions 46 previously applied to the inside of the front wall 17 at the cold adhesive application station 44 then ensure the adhesive connection between the separable section 36a of the front wall 17 and the plug-in tab 31.

The pocket 41 is then guided by further rotation of the folding turret 40 to a first hot-melt adhesive application station 54, at which hot-melt adhesive portions 55 (in the present case spaced apart from one another, in particular along an imaginary arcuate line) are applied to the inside of the pre-bent outer side flap 21. The pocket 41 is then conveyed to a folding and pressing station 56 by further rotation of the folding turret 40, in which the outer side tab 21 against the inner side tab 20 by means of a folding member 56a (rotating roller segment) and a pivoting pressing member 56b, cf. folded, pressed against them and, if necessary, held there (briefly) so that they adhere to one another. The previously described pre-bending of the outer side flap 21 ensures a sufficient reduction in the restoring forces of the outer side flap 21 so that the hotmelt adhesive can set in this position of the side flaps 20 and 21 without the bond cracking open again.

The pre-folded blank 15 is then conveyed to an ejection station 57, at which it is ejected from the folding turret 40 and, in the present case, conveyed along a particularly linear conveying path 58 to a (further) hot-melt adhesive application station 59, with transversely protruding in a plane parallel to the conveying path outer bottom and lid side tabs 24 and 26.

In this second hot-melt adhesive application station 59, the insides of the outer bottom side tabs 24 and 26 are provided with hot-melt adhesive portions 60. The partially folded blanks 15 or almost finished packs 10 are then conveyed to a side flap folding station 61 in which the outer base and cover side flaps 24, 26 are pressed against the inner base and cover side flaps 23, 25. Since the outer base and cover side tabs 24, 26 have been pre-bent in the bending station 62 as described above, their restoring forces are also reduced, so that the outer base and cover side tabs 24, 26 are in position during the setting of the hot melt adhesive portions 60 stay.

The handling of the blanks 15 'for the production of the packs 10' takes place in a very similar manner to that described above for the blanks 15 or the packs 10.

Essential differences are discussed below with reference to FIG. 12. The processes not mentioned correspond to those described above in connection with the handling of the blanks 15.

An important difference is that during the process of inserting the blanks 15 'into the pocket 41 at the insertion station 48 with appropriate folding of the side tabs 23, 25 and the corner tabs 28, 29 perpendicular to the rear wall 16 and the folding of the narrow side wall 18 perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 ( together with the front wall 17 and the outer side tabs 24, 26) not just one to one side, but one to two Pages open receiving space 51 is created. In addition to the open side, which is closed by the front wall 17 when it is folded later, a radially outwardly directed side of the receiving space 51 is also open. This receiving space 51 is formed in the manner of a funnel. This is because - in contrast to the folding processes when inserting the blank 15 of the pack 10 into the pocket 41 - the first side flap 20, which is connected to the rear wall 16 via the longer fold line 16a, does not follow this insertion around this longer fold line 16a is folded up, but only at a later point in time, after the products 11 have already been introduced into the receiving space 51.

Consequently, in this exemplary embodiment, the products 11 can then be introduced into the receiving space 51 linearly from radially outside to radially inside via this open side in a corresponding transverse axial feed plane.

The respective coupons 14 are only introduced into the receiving space 51 after this product introduction, in the present case placed on the products 11.

The folding turret 40 is then moved further and the side tab 20 together with the plug-in tab 31 is folded around the fold line 16a by 90 ° to the rear wall 16.

In a subsequent folding step, the plug-in tab 31 and the front wall 17 are then folded by 90 ° relative to the narrow side wall 18 to close the receiving space 51, so that the front wall 17 and the plug-in tab 31 are arranged parallel to the rear wall 16 at the end of the folding movement and the inside of the Front wall 17 rests against the outside of the plug-in tab 31. The front wall 17 covers the plug-in tab 31 with the exception of an area in which the front wall 17 has the recessed grip 39.

It goes without saying that due to the different construction of the pack 10 'or the blank 15' or due to the lack of the side flap 21 in the blank 15 ', the hot-melt adhesive application station 54 and the pressing station 56, which are used when handling the blank 10 for application the hot melt adhesive portions 47 are provided on the outer side tabs 21 and the pressing of the outer side tab 21 against the inner side tabs 20 is (can) be omitted here. The same applies to the bending station (not shown in FIG. 7) at which the outer side tab 21 is pre-bent. List of reference symbols

10 pack 36b section top wall

10 'pack of 37 fold line

11 Product 38 Line joint

12 Cutting station 39 Recessed grip

14 Coupon 40 folding turret

15 blank 41 pocket

15 'blank 42 blank stacks

16 rear wall 43 blank conveyor

16a fold line 44 cold glue application station

16b fold line 45 glue valve

17 front wall 46 cold glue portion

17a fold line 47 hot melt adhesive portion

17a 'edge 48 insertion station

17b fold line 49 introducer

18 Narrow side wall 50 Pocket back wall

19 Narrow side wall 51 receiving space

20 side tabs 52 insert feeding station

21 Side tabs 53 Product feeding station

22 Narrow side wall 54 Hot melt adhesive application station

23 side tabs 55 hot melt adhesive portion

24 side flaps 56 folding and pressing station

25 side flaps 56a folding organ

26 side tabs 56b pressing member

27 Narrow side wall 57 Extension station

28 corner tabs 58 conveyor line

29 Corner tabs 59 Hot melt adhesive application station

30 perforation line 60 hot melt adhesive portion

31 tuck flap 61 side flap folding station

32 perforation line 62 bending station

32a arcuate section 63 folding member for plug-in tab

Perforation line

32b straight line section

Perforation line

32c straight line section

Perforation line

33 cover part

34 line joint

35 Removal opening

36a section front wall

Claims

1. A method of handling a blank (15, 15 ') made of dimensionally stable

Material, in particular made of (thin) cardboard, for a pack to hold one or more products as pack contents, preferably for products of the cigarette industry, which has a first and a second large-area side wall (16, 17) for forming large-area pack sides, in particular of The front of the pack and the rear of the pack, of which at least the first large-area side wall (16) is delimited by a pair of longer folding lines (16a, 17a) that are at a distance from one another, and a pair of shorter folding lines (16b, 17b) that are at a distance from one another, and preferably the fold lines (16a, 16b; 17a, 17b) of each pair of folding lines are each of the same length and parallel to one another, and furthermore via a narrow side wall (18) connecting the first and second large-area side walls (16, 17) to form a narrow side connecting the large-area pack sides the pack has the first large-area side wall (16) on one of the d This delimiting longer fold lines (16a) is connected and connected to the second large-area side wall (17) via a further fold line (17a) parallel to the one longer fold line (16a), characterized in that the blank (15, 15 ') is in a Insertion station (48) is oriented into a pocket of a plurality of folding turret (40) arranged along its circumference and in particular having shaping pockets, preferably stamped in such a way that - when the blank (15, 15 ') is then in the pocket - at least one, preferably both of the longer fold lines (16a) delimiting the first large-area side wall (16) runs transversely (or essentially transversely) to an imaginary connecting line running perpendicular to the particularly vertical folding turret axis of rotation, which connects the folding turret axis of rotation and the center of the folding line.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank (15, 15 ') when inserted into the pocket or while it is in the pocket, forming a receiving space (51) open on one or two sides for the contents of the pack. or is partially folded, in particular open to one side which is arranged in a plane lying perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40), preferably an upwardly open side, and / or open to a side pointing radially outward, the receiving space (51) for one is bounded by the first large-area side wall (16) and the other by the narrow side wall (18) connecting the first and second large-area side walls (16, 17) and two further folding tabs (23, 25), each of which is used to form the receiving space ( 51) are folded along cutting fold lines, in particular at 90 ° to the first large-area side wall (16).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the blank (15, 15 ') is pre-folded during insertion into the pocket such that the receiving space (51) is given a shell shape (in particular with an open side that is in a plane perpendicular to The axis of rotation of the folding turret (40) lies, preferably a side open to the top), or that the receiving space (51) has the shape of an open funnel (in particular with an open side which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40), preferably one upwardly open side, and with a radially outwardly open side).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the package contents and, if necessary, additionally a separate insert blank, in particular a coupon (14), is introduced into the receiving space (51) after the receiving space (51) has been formed, the preferably linear, in particular radially further outwardly radially further inwardly directed insertion movement takes place in the plane which is preferably arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40) or obliquely to this, in particular obliquely from above to obliquely below.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the insertion movement takes place in a plane which runs at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40), in particular at an angle between 70 ° and 90 °.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first large-area side wall (16) of the blank (15, 15 ') after being inserted in the pocket of the folding turret (40) in contact with a pocket wall of the pocket is arranged to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40) perpendicular plane, in particular a horizontal plane.

7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one of the longer fold lines (16a) after the introduction of the blank (15, 15 ') into the pocket of the folding turret (40), in particular when the first large-area side wall ( 16) of the blank (15, 15 ') rests against the pocket wall, is arranged radially further outwards than the other of the longer fold lines (16a), and that the first large-area side wall (16) over the longer fold line (16a) arranged radially further outwards is connected to a folding flap (20) of the blank (15, 15 '), which is folded over around this longer fold line (16a) while the blank (15, 15') is in the pocket of the folding turret (40), in particular around 90 ° to the first large-area side wall (16), preferably before or after the package contents are introduced into the receiving space (51).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the folding flap (20) is a first side flap which, while the blank (15) is in the pocket, to form a double-layer narrow side wall (19) of the pack with a second side flap ( 21) of the blank (15) is glued, in particular in such a way that the blank (15) located in the pocket is first fed to an adhesive application station (54) at which the first or second side tabs (20, 21) with adhesive portions, preferably made of hot melt adhesive or PSA adhesive is provided, and that the blank (15) located in the pocket is then conveyed to a pressing station (56) in which the side flaps (20, 21) are pressed against one another.

9. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second large-area side wall (17) is delimited by a pair of shorter fold lines (17b) located opposite one another at a distance and either by a pair of longer, longer one located at a distance from one another Fold lines (17a) or through a longer fold line (17a) and a (longer) marginal edge (17a ¹ ) of the blank (15 '), which at least in sections runs parallel to the longer fold line (17a), and that for the formation of double-layer narrow side walls ( 22, 27) of the pack each have a folding tab (24, 26) which is connected to the second large-area side wall (17) via one of the two shorter fold lines (17b), in particular a folding tab (24, 24, which forms the outer side tab of the double-layer narrow side wall)

26), is glued to an associated, other folding flap (23, 25) of the blank (15, 15 ') to which the first large-area side wall (16) is connected via one of the shorter folding lines (16b) delimiting it, in particular with one of the inner side tabs of the double-layer narrow side wall (22,

27) forming flaps (23, 25).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the blank (15, 15 ') with the package contents located in the receiving space (51) is conveyed out of the folding turret (40), that it is then conveyed to an adhesive application station (in particular along a straight conveying path) 59) is fed, in each of which one of the folding tabs (23, 24, 25, 26) to be glued together is provided with adhesive portions, preferably made of hot melt adhesive or PSA adhesive, in particular the folding tabs (24, 26) forming the outer side tabs, and that it is then conveyed to a folding station (61) in which the folding tabs (23, 24, 25, 26) to be glued together are folded and pressed together.

11. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 2, characterized in that in the context of the pre-folding to form the receiving space (51) the second large-area side wall (17) together with the narrow side wall (18) around the longer fold line ( 16a), via which the narrow side wall (18) is connected to the first large-area side wall (16), is folded, preferably by 90 ° to the first large-area side wall (16), in particular with the participation of a shaping pocket wall when inserting the blank (15) 15 ') into the pocket, so that the second large-area side wall (17) together with the narrow side wall (18) is arranged perpendicular to the first large-area side wall (16).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that in this vertical position of the second large-area side wall (17) and the narrow side wall (18), the package content is introduced into the receiving space (51), and that then the second large-area side wall (17) to Closing the receiving space (51) around the longer fold line (17a) via which the narrow side wall (18) is connected to the second large-area side wall (17) is folded in the direction of the first large-area side wall (16) until the first and the second large-area packing wall (16, 17) are arranged parallel (at a distance) to one another, in particular at 90 ° to the narrow side wall (18).

13. The method according to claim 8 and 12, characterized in that then the second side tab (21) connected to the second large-area side wall (17) via the other of the two longer, the second large-area side wall (17) delimiting fold lines (17a) is, in particular in a folding station (56) around this other longer fold line (17a) is folded in the direction of the first side flap (20) until the two side flaps (20, 21) lie against one another, in particular at 90 ° to the second large-area side wall ( 17), and that the two side tabs (20, 21) in this position, in particular in the pressing station (56) to which the blank (15) in the pocket is fed, are pressed together and glued together, in particular by means of the adhesive portions which previously in the adhesive application station (54), to which the blank in the pocket was conveyed, applied to the first or the second side tabs (20, 21).

14. The method according to claim 9 and 12 and optionally one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the first large-area side wall (16) is connected via one of the two shorter fold lines (16b) to a first folding tab (23, 25) which together with an associated second folding flap (24, 26) connected to the second large-area side wall (17) via one of the shorter folding lines (17b) forms a two-ply narrow side wall (22, 27) of the pack, the first folding flap (23, 25) Via a particularly perforated fold line (30) with a Plug-in tab (31) is connected, on the outside of which the second large-area side wall (17) is folded, namely when it is folded in the direction of the first large-area side wall (16), which the second large-area side wall (17) parallel to the first large-area side wall ( 16) aligns.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the inside of the second large-area side wall (17) is glued to the outside of the plug-in flap (31) by means of prior to the folding process, in which the second large-area side wall (17) on the plug-in flap (31) is folded, on the outside of the plug-in flap (31) and / or on the inside of the second large-area side wall (17) applied adhesive portions (46), in particular made of cold adhesive.

16. The method according to one or more of the other preceding claims, at least according to claim 2, 4, 7 and 11, characterized in that the package contents in the receiving space (51) linearly in a plane arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the folding turret (40) an insertion movement directed radially from further outside to radially further inside is introduced, namely via a side of the receiving space (51) which is open radially outward.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the folding flap (20) connected to the first large-area side wall (16) via the longer fold line (16a) arranged radially further outwards is connected to a tuck-in tab (31) via a further fold line (37) which is folded together with the folding flap (20) around the longer fold line (16a), and that then the second large-area side wall (17) to close the receiving space (51) and the plug-in flap (31) in the direction of the first large-area side wall (16) are folded so that the second large-area side wall (17) and the plug-in tab (31) at the end of the folding movement are arranged parallel (at a distance) to the first large-area side wall (16) and the inside of the second large-area side wall (17) the outside of the plug-in tab (31) and this in particular with the exception of an area of a preferably curved grip recess in the second large-area side wall (17) at least area wisely covered.

18. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more folding tabs (21, 24, 26) of the blank (15, 15 '), in particular in a bending station (62) around an associated one, to reduce restoring forces during gluing phases The folding line can be pre-bent or pre-broken, preferably in a bending station (62) which is arranged along a conveyor track along which the blanks (15, 15 ') are conveyed to the insertion station (48), in which the respective blank is placed in the pocket of the folding turret ( 40) is introduced.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that in particular in another or in the bending station (62) to reduce restoring forces during bonding phases of one of the two side tabs (21), each of which is connected to one of the longer fold lines (16a, 17a) first or second large-area side wall (16, 17) are connected and which together with the other side tab (20) forms one or the double-layer narrow side wall (19), is pre-bent or pre-broken, namely the side tab (21) that is the bond with the other side tab (20) is on the outside.

20. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 9 and 18, characterized in that in particular in another or in the bending station (62) the folding tabs (24, 26), which over the shorter folding lines (17b) with the second large-area side wall (17) are connected and each form the outer side tabs of the respective double-layer narrow side wall (22, 27) of the pack, are pre-bent or pre-broken in the bending station (62) around the respective shorter fold line (17b).

21. Device for handling a blank (15, 15 ') made of dimensionally stable material, in particular made of (thin) cardboard, for performing the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, for a pack for receiving one or more products (11) as the pack content , preferably for products (11) of the cigarette industry, the blank having a first and a second large-area side wall (16, 17) to form large-area Pack sides has, in particular the pack front and pack back, of which at least the first large-area side wall (16) is delimited by a pair of longer and a pair of longer, spaced apart and shorter fold lines (16a, 16b; 17a, 17b), as well as Via a narrow side wall (18) connecting the first and second large-area side walls (16, 17) to form a narrow side of the pack which connects the large-area pack sides and which is connected to the first large-area side wall (16) via one of the longer fold lines (16a) delimiting it and with the second large-area side wall (17) via a further fold line (17a) parallel to the longer fold line (16a), with a folding turret (40) with a plurality of pockets arranged along its circumference and with an insertion station (48) , in which the blank (15, 15 ') can be inserted into one of the pockets in such a way that - when the blank (15, 1 5 ') is then located in the pocket - at least one, preferably both of the longer fold lines (16a) delimiting the first large-area side wall (16) transversely (or substantially transversely) to an imaginary connecting line running perpendicular to the folding turret axis of rotation, which the folding turret axis of rotation runs and connects the center of the fold line.

22. Device according to claim 21, characterized by one or more features of claims 1-19.