EP4103478A1

EP4103478A1 - Method and device for producing packages

Info

Publication number: EP4103478A1
Application number: EP21704786.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Förstmann; Corvyn Sommer
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-02-12
Filing date: 2021-02-11
Publication date: 2022-12-21
Also published as: CN115087596A; DE102020000896A1; WO2021160748A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing packages for products of the tobacco industry, in particular rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry, comprising an outer package (11) which is made of a blank made of a dimensionally stable material and in which a product group in the form of a product block (28) is arranged in an inner casing (15). The product block (28) together with a collar blank, for forming a collar (20) of the outer package (11), is conveyed to a partly folded blank, which is provided in a pocket (29) of a folding turret, (30) in order to form the outer package (11), namely at least in a section along a stationary product block guide path (32), wherein the preferably initially flat collar blank is folded upstream of the folding turret (30) such that two collar narrow lateral walls (24), in particular a collar front wall or collar rear wall, which adjoin a large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank and which are connected to said collar wall via a respective folding line, run at an angle after the folding process, and the collar blank is placed against the product block (28) upstream of the folding turret (30) such that both collar narrow lateral walls (24) rest against a respective paired narrow face (18) of the product block (28). The collar blank is folded at a folding station (35) which is arranged in the region of the stationary product block guide path (32).

Description

Method and device for the production of packs

description

The present invention relates to a method for the production of packs for products of the tobacco industry with an outer pack made of a blank made of dimensionally stable material, in which a product group located in the inner wrapping is arranged as an in particular cuboid product block, preferably a product block designed as a sealing block made of film with a through a Multiple closable closure label with covered removal opening for the products. The invention also relates to a device for producing such packs.

Packs for cigarettes or other products of the tobacco industry with an outer pack made of dimensionally stable material and having a pack collar and a product group contained in an inner pack made of film are well known. In many cases, the inner packs are designed as sealing packs in order to avoid a loss of aroma in the products, etc. With regard to the manufacture of the pack and, in particular, the application or processing of the pack collar, the applicant proposed the following procedure in an earlier (as yet unpublished) application: The corresponding collar blank is placed on the product group already wrapped with the inner foil wrapping. The collar narrow side walls are then folded around the cigarette group relative to the large-area collar wall, so that the two collar narrow side walls each rest on an associated narrow side of the product block. These folding processes take place while the product block is on a transfer platform, which is cyclically moved back and forth between a folding turret and a fixed guideway for the product group, along which the product group is conveyed or pushed by a driver. The transfer platform serves to overcome the distance between the stationary ones Guideway and the folding turret and finally transfers the product group to the folding turret.

The aforementioned folding process in the area of the transfer platform is, however, structurally and economically disadvantageous, not least because of the small space that is available on the movable transfer platform.

Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to further develop the pack production process and the device of the type mentioned at the beginning.

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

Accordingly, a method mentioned at the beginning is specified in which the product block, together with a collar blank to form a collar of the outer pack, is conveyed to a partially folded blank held ready in a pocket of the folding turret to form the outer pack, preferably in a horizontal plane, namely at least in one Section along a stationary product block guideway. This is done in particular by means of a first product block carrier moving the product block along the stationary product block guide track, the preferably initially flat collar blank upstream of the folding turret being folded in such a way that two adjacent to a large-area collar wall of the collar blank, in particular the collar front or collar rear wall, with this Collar narrow side walls connected via fold lines after folding run at an angle, in particular essentially perpendicular to the large-area collar wall. The collar blank is applied to the product block upstream of the folding turret in such a way that the two collar narrow side walls each rest on an associated narrow side of the product block. The folding of the collar blank takes place - in contrast to the previous procedure of the applicant - advantageously at a folding station which is arranged in the area of the stationary product block guide track. In other words, the folding takes place while the product block and the associated collar blank are (still) in the area of the stationary product block guide track and not while these are (already) arranged on a / the transfer platform.

The collar blank can preferably be folded in the folding station with the assistance of two spaced-apart folding means of the folding station, in particular folding rails or folding walls, which either interact with a folding element, preferably designed as a stamping element, which moves back and forth in the center between the folding means, in particular in a plane perpendicular to the stationary product block guide track, preferably in a vertical plane, or which interact with stationary folding switches.

Preferably, the collar blank can be conveyed, in particular at an angle or transversely to the fixed product block guide track and preferably in a conveying plane that is arranged above the conveying plane of the product block, into a takeover position located upstream of the folding station, in particular above the fixed product block guide track. In this embodiment of the invention, the collar is then conveyed from this transfer position to the folding station, namely - in particular resting on a stationary collar guide track located above the stationary product block guide track - along a conveyor path that is preferably parallel above the stationary product block guide track to this extends. This conveyance along the conveying path can in particular take place by means of a separate, moving collar driver, preferably a pusher that moves the blank along the stationary collar guide track, or by means of the above-mentioned first product block driver that moves the product block along the product block Guide track moved in the direction of the folding turret.

The collar blank can preferably be placed against the outer pack at least in some areas in the area of the stationary guide track, in particular in or downstream of the folding station.

It can further preferably be provided that the product block, together with the collar blank folded in the folding station, is conveyed as a unit to a transfer platform that moves back and forth, in particular in a horizontal plane, which takes over the product block and the folded collar blank and then moves it into Direction of the folding turret is moved towards this, and from which the product block with the collar blank, in particular with a (in particular further / second) product block driver, preferably designed as a slide, is introduced into a pocket of the folding turret facing the transfer platform, in which a blank to form the outer pack the pack is kept ready.

The collar blank can be folded in the folding station by the reciprocating folding member stamping the initially flat collar blank into the space between the spaced-apart folding means, in particular from above, forming a U-shape.

It can further preferably be provided that the folding means of the folding station are formed by two folding walls which are spaced apart from one another and which extend at an angle, in particular essentially perpendicular to the product block guide track, on both sides of the product block guide track, the distance between the two folding walls at least in a (folding) area essentially corresponds to the width of the large-area collar wall of the collar blank, wherein a) the initially flat collar blank is positioned in particular resting on the two folding walls in such a way that the large-area collar wall is arranged between the folding walls, and b) the reciprocating folding organ then stamps the collar blank into the space between the two folding walls, in particular downwards, that the large-area collar wall is guided between the folding walls and the collar narrow side walls through contact with the folding walls relative to the large-area collar wall d folded over and folded into the angular position relative to the large-area collar wall.

During the stamping process, the product block can be located upstream of the folding station or upstream of the collar blank in relation to its position along the product block guide path, the large-area collar wall being arranged below and parallel to an underside of the product block, which is arranged in a horizontal plane, and in this position is kept ready, and wherein the product block is moved along the product block guide track to the collar blank that is kept ready, in particular by means of the first product block driver, and with it in this way a unit is brought together so that the two collar narrow side walls of the collar blank each face the corresponding narrow side of the product block, in particular bear there, and the large-area collar wall faces an underside of the product block, in particular rests there.

The product block can then be conveyed to the transfer platform as a unit together with the collar blank resting on it and transferred to the transfer platform as a unit, in particular by means of a moving transfer member, preferably the first product block carrier.

The collar blank can preferably be folded by placing the initially flat collar blank in the folding station in the area of its large-area collar wall, in particular on top of the spaced-apart folding means designed in particular as folding rails, and by then placing the two narrow side walls of the collar in particular by means of the - and moving folding organ or by means of folding switches are each folded over on the outside around the folding means, in particular downwards into the angular position relative to the large-area collar wall.

During the folding process, the product block can be located next to, in particular below, the collar blank in relation to its position along the product block guide track, so that the two collar narrow side walls of the collar blank are each folded onto the corresponding narrow sides of the product block while resting against them.

As far as the large-area collar wall is concerned, it can be located at a distance from one or the large-area, in particular upwardly facing, side of the product block during and after the folding process.

Each collar narrow side wall can be guided along an associated lateral, curved guide surface during the folding process.

The collar blank can be conveyed to the transfer platform as a unit together with the product block while maintaining the distance between the large-area collar wall and the large-area side of the product block, in particular by means of a second product block carrier. Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that the product block and the collar blank are transferred as a unit to the transfer platform, the collar blank being brought up to the product block in the transfer area, in particular being lowered onto it, so that the large-area collar wall after the lowering process has been completed on the large-area side of the Product blocks.

Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that the collar rear walls adjoining the collar side walls, in particular with these each connected via a fold line, are each folded onto a further large-area side of the product block, which is at a distance opposite the large-area side of the product block, while the unit is expanding Product block and collar blank is located on the transfer platform, preferably on an underside of the product block, in particular resting against the other large-area side.

The object according to the invention is further achieved by a device for producing the aforementioned packs having the features of claim 17.

According to this, such a device has a folding turret, which can be rotated in a horizontal plane in particular, with pockets for receiving a blank for the outer pack, a preferably linear, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, stationary product block guide track, along which a product block is in particular by means of one or the first movable product block carrier can be moved in the direction of the folding turret, a folding station in which an in particular initially flat collar blank can be folded in such a way that two collar narrow side walls adjoining a large-area collar wall, in particular collar front or collar rear wall, and connected to it via folding lines after the folding run at an angle to the large-area collar wall, in particular essentially perpendicular, the folding station being arranged upstream of the folding turret in the area of the stationary product block guide track.

The folding station preferably has at least two spaced apart folding means, in particular designed as folding rails or folding walls, as well as a folding member that can be moved back and forth between the folding means and interacting with them. The stationary product block guide track can, as already indicated above, have a sliding wall, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, along the top of which the product block can be moved by means of the moving product block carrier, in particular a sliding wall with a longitudinal slot through which the product block carrier extends.

The folding means can be designed as folding walls which are spaced apart from one another at an angle, preferably essentially perpendicular to the fixed product block guide track, in particular to the sliding wall, preferably integrally connected to the sliding wall and whose distance from one another is essentially at least in one (folding) area corresponds to the width of the large-area collar wall of the collar blank, the folding element and the folding walls interacting in such a way that an initially flat collar blank can be stamped into the space between the two folding walls forming a U-shape.

The first product block driver for taking along a unit of product block and a collar blank on the outside at least partially adjacent to it can have a central driver wall for driving the product block along the stationary guide track while resting it on this central driver wall. In this embodiment, the first product block driver also has a smaller lateral driver wall, in particular integrally connected to the central driver wall, on both sides of the central driver wall, protruding laterally beyond this driver wall for driving the respective collar narrow side wall and / or at least one with which central driver wall in particular integrally connected, smaller driver wall protruding above or below this for driving the large-area collar wall.

As far as the folding walls are concerned, they can each have a recess running in the longitudinal direction in which one of the lateral driver walls of the product block driver extends.

Preferably, on two sides of the sliding wall of the stationary product block guideway, a recess extending in the longitudinal direction can be arranged, in each of which one of the two is in particular integral with the central driver wall engage connected, over this downward protruding, smaller driver walls, while the first product block driver moves the unit of product block and collar blank along the top of the sliding wall in the direction of the folding turret.

The folding means can be designed in such a way, in particular as folding rails, that the collar blank can be placed on it in the area of its large-area collar wall, so that the collar narrow side walls can be moved to and fro by means of the folding member that can be moved to and fro or by means of lateral folding switches, in particular with abutment against associated narrow side walls of one in the folding station The product blocks located can be folded over into a position which is angled relative to the large-area collar wall.

Between the folding turret and the stationary product block guide track can be arranged to bridge the distance between the folding turret and the stationary product block guide track, in particular a transfer platform that can be moved back and forth in a horizontal plane, to which a product block with the associated collar blank can be transferred as a unit and with the this unit can be transported to the folding turret.

As far as the folding rails are concerned, these can extend into the area in which the unit consisting of the product block and the collar blank is transferred to the transfer platform. The unit of product block and collar blank can be transported into this area by the first product block driver, while the large-area collar wall is in sliding contact with a large-area side of the product block on the folding rails, in particular to an upper side of the product block, with the folding rails are flattened in this area so that the collar blank is brought closer to the product block during transport along this area.

The transfer platform can have a collar blank guide which presses the large-area collar wall against the top of the product block when the unit of product block and collar blank is transferred to the transfer platform.

It can further preferably be provided that the transfer platform has folding means with which the collar side walls adjoin and with these over Collar rear walls of the collar blank connected to fold lines can each be folded onto a further large-area side opposite the large-area side of the product block, in particular onto the underside of the product block.

The unit of product block and collar blank can be transferred to the transfer platform with a product block carrier which can be moved back and forth and which pushes the unit onto the transfer platform, in particular with the first product block carrier.

The transfer platform can (also) preferably have a product block guideway with a sliding wall, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, on the upper side of which the unit of product block and collar blank can be pushed by means of the moving first product block carrier.

The product block guide track of the transfer platform can have vertical, spaced-apart guide walls on both sides of the sliding wall, between which the unit of product block and collar blank is pushed with the first product block driver.

Preferably, the unit of product block and collar blank can be moved from the transfer platform by means of a second product block carrier that can be moved back and forth into a pocket of the folding turret that is kept ready.

Like the first product block driver, the second product block driver can also have a central driver wall for driving the unit comprising the product block and the collar blank. This is used to take the product block along the product block guide track of the transfer platform while it is in contact with this central carrier wall. The second product block driver can furthermore have on both sides of the central driver wall a smaller lateral driver wall, in particular integrally connected to the central driver wall, protruding laterally from this, for driving the respective collar narrow side wall and / or at least one with the central driver wall in particular integrally connected, smaller carrier wall projecting upwards or downwards over this for driving the large-area collar wall. On two sides of the sliding wall of the product block guide track of the transfer platform, a longitudinal recess can be arranged in each of which one of two smaller driver walls, which are connected to the central driver wall and protrude downwards, engage, while the second product block- The driver moves the unit of product block and collar blank along the top of the sliding wall into the pocket of the folding turret. On two sides of the sliding wall of the fixed product block guideway or the sliding wall of the product block guideway of the transfer platform, a longitudinal recess can be arranged to receive one end section of a narrow side wall of the collar and / or one end section of one adjacent to the narrow side wall of the collar Collar rear wall and / or spacer segments arranged on a collar narrow side wall, which in the end-folded state of the collar each extend beyond the plane of the large-area collar wall in the opposite direction to the collar narrow side walls. Finally, as far as the above-mentioned guide walls of the product block guide track of the transfer platform are concerned, these can (also) each have a longitudinal recess in which one of the lateral driver walls of the second product block driver extends. Further features of the present invention emerge from the attached claims, the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the attached drawings. It shows:

1 is an oblique view of a first embodiment of the pack for stick-shaped products of the cigarette industry, which can be produced with the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a blank for a package collar of the package shown in FIG. 1, 3 shows a basic illustration of a section of the manufacturing process of the pack that is essential to the invention, in perspective,

4 shows a device for carrying out the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 3, in perspective, FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the device from FIG. 4 from that in FIG. 1 with a

Direction of view marked by arrow V (from above), in perspective,

6 shows a section along section line VI-VI in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows a section along section line VII-VII in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 shows a section along section line VII-VII in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 a section along the section line IX-IX in FIG. 5, FIG. 10 a section along the section line XX in FIG. 5, FIG. 11 a second embodiment of a pack for stick-shaped tobacco products, in perspective,

12 shows a top view of a collar blank for the pack from FIG. 11, FIG. 13 shows a basic illustration of a method according to the invention for producing the pack from FIG. 11, analogous to the illustration in FIG. 3,

14 shows a device for carrying out the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 13, in perspective,

15 shows a plan view of the device from FIG. 14 from that in FIG. 14 with a

Direction of view indicated by arrow XV (from above), in perspective,

16 shows a section along section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15, FIG. 17 shows a section along section line XVII-XVII in FIG. 15, FIG. 18 shows a section along section line XVII-XVI II in FIG. 17, 19 shows a section along section line XIX-XIX in FIG. 15, FIG. 20 shows a section along section line XX-XX in FIG. 15, FIG. 21 shows an oblique view of a third embodiment of the pack for stick-shaped tobacco products, namely a variant of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

22 shows an oblique view of a fourth embodiment of the pack for stick-shaped tobacco products, namely a variant of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The methods and devices shown in the drawings are used to produce packs 10 for, in particular, rod-shaped products in the tobacco industry. In the present case, these are (rod-shaped) tobacco sticks for electronic tobacco heaters ("heat not burn "). However, the invention is not restricted to such tobacco products; it can also be used for standard cigarettes or other preferably rod-shaped products of the cigarette industry.

According to a first embodiment of a method according to the invention and a device according to the invention according to FIGS. 3-10, packs 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are produced.

These packs 10 each have an outer pack 11 made of dimensionally stable material, such as cardboard, and an inner pack 12 made of film.

The outer pack 11 has a (lower) box part 13 and a lid 14, which is pivotably linked to this via a line hinge, for opening and closing the outer pack 11.

The inner pack 12 has an inner casing 15 which surrounds a group of rod-shaped products from the tobacco industry as the present cuboid pack contents.

In the present case, the inner pack 12 is designed as a so-called sealing pack and has a removal opening 17 covered by a closure label 16 that can be used multiple times. However, the invention is not limited to such sealing packs.

In the present case, the inner packing 12 has side seams designed as fin seams 19 on two narrow sides 18.

In order to stabilize the inner wrapper 15 or the inner pack 12, among other things, when it is arranged in the outer pack 11, it is surrounded by a pack collar 20 which is attached to the outer pack 11 and which surrounds the inner pack 12 on several sides, in this case on the two narrow sides 18 and on a rear side 21 of the inner pack 12.

The outer pack 11 is manufactured in a manner known per se from an outer pack blank 22 made of dimensionally stable material (thin cardboard), especially by folding different blank walls around corresponding fold lines.

The collar 20 of the pack or the outer pack 11 is also made from a corresponding blank, see FIG. 2. The collar 20 or the collar blank has a large-area collar wall 23 which in the present exemplary embodiment forms the collar rear wall.

On two opposite sides of the large-area collar wall 23 there is a respective collar narrow side wall 24 connected to the large-area collar wall 23 via a fold line 25.

In the folded state of the collar 20, the two collar narrow side walls 24 each run essentially perpendicular to the large-area collar wall 23 or in corresponding planes that are perpendicular to the plane of the large-area collar wall 23.

In the folded state of the collar 20 or, in the case of the finished pack 10, the collar narrow side walls 24 lie opposite one of the narrow sides 18 of the inner pack 12 and in particular cover the fin seams 19 of the inner pack 12.

In the present case, spacer segments 26 are arranged on the collar 20 along the two fold lines 25 of the collar 20, which in the pack 10 ensure a spacing of the collar 20 or, in particular, the large-area collar wall 23 from a large-area wall of the outer pack 11, which is the large-area collar wall 23 (parallel) is opposite.

In the present case, the large-area wall of the outer pack 11 is a rear wall of the outer pack 11, which is formed by a box part rear wall 63 and a lid rear wall 27, the box part rear wall 26 and lid rear wall 27 being the same as previously described Line joint are connected to each other. FIGS. 3-10 deal with an innovative part of the manufacturing process for the pack 10, namely the merging of an inner pack 12, which has already been manufactured using known methods, with the collar blank.

3 shows an example of how the inner packs 12 prefabricated in the pack production process by an upstream machine known from the prior art are conveyed one after the other as cuboid product blocks 28 in the direction of a folding turret 30 (in the present case moved in a horizontal plane). In a pocket 29 of the folding turret 30, a partially pre-folded blank 22 for the outer pack 11 is held ready for each product block 28, into which the respective (assigned) product block 28 is inserted.

As shown, inter alia, in FIG. 4, the illustrated manufacturing process takes place in two lanes. For example, in the present case, the product blocks 28 are conveyed in two lanes along two adjacent separate, stationary product block guide tracks 32 in parallel in the direction of the folding turret 30, in which a blank 22 is held ready in two adjacent pockets 29. In the present case, the product blocks 28 are each conveyed with longitudinal axes aligned in the conveying direction, that is to say perpendicular to the front and bottom walls of the respective inner pack 12 forming the product block 28.

The interrelationships essential to the invention are explained in the following essentially by way of example using only one production path, these being transferable to the other path in each case.

Each or the stationary product block guide track 32 has a sliding wall 43, on the top side of which the product block 28 rests and along which the product block 28 is conveyed in the direction of the folding turret 30.

At right angles to each or the fixed product block guide track 32, individual collars 20 are conveyed one after the other to a takeover position above the fixed product block guide track 32 along a horizontal transverse transport track 33, which is located in a plane above the conveying level of the product blocks 28, in which the collar 20 is above the respective stationary product block guide track 32 is located or above the conveying plane of the product blocks 28.

The individual, flat or unfolded blanks of the collar 20 are cut beforehand in a manner known per se from a continuous collar material web 34, separated and conveyed to the transverse transport web 33.

The respective blank of the collar 20 in the transfer position is then conveyed from the transfer position in a horizontal conveying plane parallel to the respective stationary product block guide track 32 downstream to a folding station 35. In the present case, this conveying process takes place by means of a collar driver 36 designed as a collar pusher, which moves back and forth in the conveying plane of the blanks of the collars 20.

The collar 20 that has arrived in the folding station 35 is combined there with a product block 28 that is later conveyed to the folding station 35. Before that, however, the blank of the collar 20 located in the folding station 35 is moved out of its position above the stationary product block guide path 32 by a folding element 37, which in the present case is designed as a stamp element and extends in a vertical plane perpendicular to the stationary product block guide path 32 moved forward, moved downward and thereby stamped with the cooperation of two spaced-apart, parallel folding means 38 in the space between the folding means 38, to be precise with the formation of a U-shape.

In the present case, the folding means 38 are formed by two essentially vertical folding walls 39 arranged along the stationary product block guide track 32, spaced apart from one another.

The folding walls 39 extend essentially perpendicular to the product block guide track on both sides of the same, the distance between the two folding walls 39 at least in a folding area 40 being approximately the width / transverse extent of the inner pack 12 or the large front side 41 of the inner pack 12 / of the product block 28 corresponds. Before the folding member 37 presses the blank of the collar 20 down into the space between the two folding walls 39, the (flat) collar 20 is transversely to the stationary product block guide track 32 on two sides, namely at least in the area of the collar narrow side walls 24 ( above the same) placed on the presently formed by the folding walls 39, horizontal bearing surfaces 42. It is positioned in such a way that the large-area collar wall 23 is arranged between the folding walls 39.

Through the folding member 37 of the folding station 35, the large-area collar wall 32 is then pressed between the folding walls 39 and the collar narrow side walls 24 are folded over by contact with the folding walls 39 around the fold lines 25 relative to the large-area collar wall 23 and in each case into one to the large-area collar wall 23 folded angled, in the present case vertical position, see FIG. 8.

The blank of the collar 20 is stamped so far into the space between the collar walls 39 that the large-area collar wall 23 after stamping is arranged below and parallel to the underside of the product block 28, which is combined with the folded collar 20 in the next step. Namely, in the present case under the rear side 21 of the inner pack 12 forming the product block 28. In this position, the collar 20 is then held ready for connection with a product block 28 which is still upstream.

Above the respective free (horizontal) longitudinal edges of the two collar narrow side walls 24, each folding wall 39 also has a (small) step which covers the respective collar narrow side wall 24 towards the top. This step ensures that the collar 20 is held in position when the folding element 37 is returned to the starting position (i.e. upwards) after the stamping process, even if the collar 20 threatens to move out of the position shown, for example due to static charging of the folding element 37 to be lifted or carried upwards. The free longitudinal edges then each strike the respective step or the part of the respective folding wall 39 that covers the respective longitudinal edge, so that the collar 20 is prevented from further movement.

Along the sliding wall 43 of the stationary product block guide track 32, the product block 28 is moved by the first product block carrier 44 to the folding station 35 conveyed and merged there into a unit in such a way that the two collar narrow side walls 24 of the blank of the collar 20 each face the corresponding narrow side 18 of the product block 28, in particular they are parallel to each other 28 opposite or the rear wall of the inner pack 12.

The first product block driver 44 is in this case also part of an endless conveyor 45 (in this case a belt conveyor), which is arranged below the sliding wall 43 and on which several first product block drivers 44 are arranged at a distance from one another, in particular by being attached to a circulating endless belt 46. The respective first product block driver 44 in the present case passes through a longitudinal slot 47 in the sliding wall 43 and initially guides the product block 28 with it as far as the folding station 35.

The product block 28, while it is being conveyed by the first product block carrier 44, rests against a central carrier wall 48 of the first product block carrier 44, which is arranged between the folding walls 39 and accordingly moves between them.

After the above-described combination of the product block 28 with the collar 20 in the folding station 35, the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 is further conveyed by the first product block carrier 44 along the stationary product block guide track 32 into the area of a horizontal plane reciprocating transfer platform 49.

The transfer platform 49 serves to overcome a distance between the end or an end area of the (respective) stationary product block guide track 32 and the folding turret 30. The transfer platform 49, which - as the person skilled in the art recognizes - is also not an essential part of the invention, becomes specific moved back and forth between the folding turret 30 and the aforementioned end region of the stationary product block guide track 32.

In a manner to be described in more detail later, the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 is transferred to the transfer platform 49, then conveyed from the transfer platform 49 to the folding turret 25 and finally from the transfer platform 49 to the The blank 22 for the outer pack 11 held ready for the respective folding turret pocket 29 is introduced.

In order to convey the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 in the direction of the transfer platform 49, the first product block carrier 44 has lateral carrier walls 50 on two sides of the central carrier wall 48, which are smaller compared to the central carrier wall 48, in particular with the central carrier wall 48 can be connected in one piece and protrude laterally beyond this.

During the transport of the product block 28 together with the associated collar 20, free (vertical) end edges of the collar narrow side walls 24 are in contact with the lateral driver walls 50 and are carried along by them.

During the aforementioned movement, the lateral driver walls 50 each extend in an associated recess 51, which runs in the longitudinal direction, in the respective folding wall 39.

On both sides of the sliding wall 43 there is a recess 52 running in the longitudinal direction, in which the spacer segments 26 protruding downward over the plane of the large-area collar wall 23 in the folded state of the collar 20 are accommodated during the aforementioned transport movement.

The later transfer of the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 to the transfer platform 49 takes place when the first product block driver 44 moves this unit, with the transfer platform 49 held ready in a transfer area, into a product block guide track 53 (correspondingly non-stationary because it moves with the transfer platform) the transfer platform 49 pushes in.

The product block guide track 53 of the transfer stage 49 has, in a manner similar to the stationary product block guide track 32, a sliding wall 54 with a (horizontal) top, on which the product block 28 together with the collar 20 comes to rest after the insertion process.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the product block guide track 53 has lateral, spaced apart, extending perpendicular to the sliding wall 54 Guide walls 55 (the distance corresponds essentially to the product block width or the width of the large-area front or rear side of the inner pack 12).

Also in the guide walls 55 on both sides of the sliding wall 54 there are recesses 56 which run in the longitudinal direction and in which the spacer segments 26 of the collar 20 come to lie.

However, these depressions 56 have a further effect in the area of the transfer platform 49. Because the transfer platform 49 is a second product block carrier

57 assigned, the present component of a particular rotary slide

58 and which - after the transfer platform 49 was moved from its starting position in which it took over the unit, overcoming the distance between the folding turret 30 and the end area of the stationary product block guide track 32 to a transfer area adjacent to the folding turret 30 - for it ensures that the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 is pushed from the transfer platform 49 into the pocket 29 of the folding turret 30.

This takes place in that the second product block driver 57 moves the unit comprising the product block 28 and collar 20 along the sliding wall 53.

Similar to the first product block driver 44, the second product block driver 57 also has a central driver wall 59 and two smaller driver walls 60 protruding laterally on both sides of the central driver wall 59.

The lateral driver walls 60 in turn protrude into corresponding recesses 61 running in the longitudinal direction in the guide walls 55 during the movement of the product block driver 57 relative to the transfer platform 49.

In addition, the product block driver 57 still has at least one, preferably at least two, smaller driver walls 62 protruding downward beyond the central driver wall 59, each of which protrudes into one of the recesses 56 and on which during the transport of the unit from product block 28 and collar 20 a horizontal edge of the large-area collar wall 23 rests and which this edge and accordingly the collar 20 carry with them. In a known manner, after the product block 28 has been pushed in, with the collar 20 placed thereon, the collar 20 is connected, in particular glued, to the blank 22 of the outer pack 11.

The folding turret 30 or the corresponding pockets 29 of the folding turret 30 are moreover assigned folding members 63 in a manner known per se, which then carry out certain further folding processes on the blank 22, see FIG. 10 not shown but known in the prior art.

It goes without saying that with the above method or the described device packs modified in relation to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be produced.

One example (only) of such a modified packing is shown in FIG. It corresponds to the pack of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the design of the collar 20. As can be seen, the narrow side walls 24 of the collar in the area visible to the consumer do not extend essentially over the entire width of the respective narrow side 18 of the inner pack 12, but only about a part, in this case only about half of them. However, at least so far that the lateral fin seam 19 of the respective narrow side 18 is still covered.

In the present case, the collar 20 is designed strictly U-shaped and, moreover, has no spacer segments 26.

A second embodiment of a pack 10 according to FIGS. 11 and 12 and a method according to the invention or a device according to the invention according to FIGS. 13-20 with which this pack 10 can be manufactured are described below. Unless otherwise shown, primarily the differences from the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1-10 are shown. Package features, method steps and device features not explicitly mentioned correspond to those of FIGS. 1-10 unless otherwise stated. The pack of Fig. 11 differs from the pack of Fig. 1 only in the pack collar 20. The pack collar 20, see Fig. 12, is designed as a so-called C-collar or wrap-around collar. In the flat blank of the blank of the collar 20, the collar narrow side walls 24 run essentially at an angle to the large-area collar wall 23 the respective collar narrow side wall 24 connected.

In the folded state of the collar 20, the large-area collar wall 23 is not, as in the embodiment of FIG in this case the collar front wall. Due to the special design as a wrap-around collar, the collar front wall lies (only) opposite or against a lower area of the front side 41 of the inner pack 12, so that the removal opening 17 of the inner pack 12 and the closure label 16 of the collar 20 in no way cover or . be "disturbed".

In the case of the collar 20 of FIGS. 11 and 12, the spacer segments 26 are not arranged on the fold lines 25, but rather on the fold lines 64. In the folded state of the collar 20, the collar rear walls 65 lie at a distance from the rear wall of the outer pack 11 defined by the spacer segments 26, namely parallel to the latter (in the closed state of the pack 10).

Due to the special collar shape, the manufacturing method or the device with which the embodiment of the pack 10 of FIGS. 11, 12 is manufactured also differs from that with which the pack of FIGS. 1, 2 is manufactured is, in particular with regard to the processing or handling of the respective collar 20.

In contrast to FIGS. 3-10, the package collar 20 is folded in the present case in the folding station 35, while the respective product block 28 is located directly below the Collar 20 is located. In other words, the collar 20 is not first folded and then the associated product block 28 is conveyed to the folded collar 20 held ready for union with the same, but the collar 20 and the associated product block are already located in relation to the stationary product block guide track 32 the same position while the folding is in progress (the collar 20, however, in a plane above the associated product block 28).

Furthermore, the collar 20 of the embodiments of FIGS. 11-20 is not folded in the folding station 35 between two spaced apart folding means 38, but around them on the outside. In the present case, the folding means 38 are specifically designed as folding rails 66, see FIG. 18, which run parallel to one another at a distance, see FIG. 18, namely (somewhat) above the upper side of the product block 28, opposite the narrow sides 18 of the product block 28 each moved (slightly) laterally inwards so that their distance from one another is slightly smaller than the width or transverse extent of the product block 18.

The initially flat collar 20 is placed on these folding rails 66 (in a transverse orientation). It is positioned such that the collar 20 rests on the folding rails 66 in the region of its large-area collar wall 23, in the present case directly adjacent to the folding lines 25.

By means of the reciprocating folding member 37, which is approximately U-shaped in cross section in the present embodiment, the two collar narrow side walls 24 in the folding station 35 around the folding lines 25 each outside around the folding rails 66 down into the Folded over angled, in particular vertical position relative to the large-area collar wall 23.

As already indicated, the product block 28 is located below the blank of the collar 20 during this folding process, so that the two collar narrow side walls 24 of the blank of the collar 20 are each folded in the direction of the corresponding narrow sides 18 of the inner pack 12 or the product block 28.

The large-area collar wall 23 lies during and after this folding process of the large-area, upwardly pointing front side 41 of the inner pack 12 or the The top of the product block 28 is at a distance opposite, since it continues to be supported on the folding rails 66.

As shown in FIG. 18, the stationary product block guide track 32 in the region of the folding station 35 is correspondingly not assigned any upright or spaced apart folding walls that run perpendicular to the sliding wall 43.

However, curved guide walls 67 are arranged laterally, along which the respective collar narrow side wall 24 (together with the collar rear walls 65 adjoining them) are guided during the folding process.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the depressions 52 do not serve to accommodate the spacer segments 26, but rather to accommodate the collar rear walls 65 protruding downward beyond the underside of the product block 28, namely in the present case beyond the rear side 21 of the inner pack 12 or the product block 28.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10, after the folding process described, the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 (with collar 20 resting on folding rails 66) is moved by first product block driver 44 in the direction of transfer platform 49.

Since the large-area collar wall in this embodiment is located above the product block 28 (on the folding rails 66), the product block carrier 44 does not have any smaller carrier walls 62 that extend downward beyond the central carrier wall 48, but rather at least one, preferably at least two smaller driver walls 70 which extend upwards beyond the central driver wall 48 and on which the collar 20, namely one or the horizontal edge of the large-area collar wall 23, rest during the transport of the product block 28 and which this edge or the Bring collar 20 with you.

The folding rails 66 extend into the transfer area in which the unit comprising the product block 28 and collar 20 is transferred to the transfer platform 49. In their last section, i.e. in the aforementioned transfer area, the folding rails 66 are flattened compared to one or the previous section, namely reduced in their thickness, so that the collar 20 during transport along this section while reducing its distance from the top of the product block 28 or the front of the inner pack 12 is brought closer to the product block 28.

The transfer platform 49 has a collar blank guide 68, in the present case designed as an angularly arranged folding rail, which presses the large-area collar wall 23 against the upper side of the product block 28 when the unit of product block 28 and collar 20 is transferred to the transfer platform 49, see FIG. 17.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the transfer platform 49 also has folding means 69, in this case back wall folders which can be moved in a horizontal plane and which fold the collar rear walls 65 of the blank of the collar onto the rear side of the inner pack 12 or the underside of the pack block 28, cf. Figures 15 and 19.

Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable that the aforementioned folding processes do not take place in the area of the transfer platform 49, but already in the area of the product block guide track 32, for example by means of suitable (active) folding elements or (passive) folding switches. The transfer platform 49 could then either only serve as a transport element or even be omitted completely, in that the product block 28 together with the collar 20 is transferred directly from the product block guide track 32 to the folding turret 30.

It goes without saying that packs can also be produced with the method described above and the device described above, which packs are modified compared to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

One example (only) of such a modified packing is shown in FIG. It corresponds to the pack of FIGS. 11 and 12 except for the design of the collar 20. As can be seen, the collar narrow side walls 24 are each designed in the upper area or area visible to the consumer in such a way that they exclusively contain the the respective lateral fin seam 19 of the respective narrow side 18 of the inner pack 12, while the collar narrow side walls 24 of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 each cover a further (front) section of the respective narrow side 18. Finally, in this embodiment, the collar 20 does not have any spacer segments 26 either.

List of reference symbols

10 pack of 46 endless belt

11 Outer packing 47 Longitudinal slot sliding wall

12 Inner packing 48 central carrier wall

13 Box part outer packaging 49 Transfer platform

14 Lid, outer pack 50, side carrier wall

15 inner casing 51 recess

16 Closure label 52 recess

17 Removal opening 53 Product block guide way

18 Narrow side inner packing 54 Sliding wall

19 fin seam 55 guide wall

20 packing collars 56 wells

21 Back of inner pack 57 second product block carrier

22 Cut outer pack 58 slider

23 large-area collar wall 59 central driver wall

24 collar narrow side wall 60 lateral carrier wall

25 fold line 61 recess

26 spacer segment 62 lower driver wall

27 Lid back wall 63 Box part back wall

28 Product block 64 folding lines wrap collar

29 Pocket 65 on the back of the collar

30 folding turret 66 folding rails

32 Product Block Guide Track 67 Guide Walls

33 Cross conveyor 68 Collar cutting guide

34 Collar material sheet 69 Back wall folder

35 folding station 70 upper carrier wall

36 collar drivers

37 folding organ

38 folding media

39 folding wall

40 folding area

41 Inner packing front

42 support surface

43 sliding wall

44 first product block carrier

45 endless conveyors

Claims

1. A method for producing packs for, in particular, rod-shaped products in the tobacco industry with an outer pack (11) made from a blank of dimensionally stable material, in which a product group located in the inner casing (15) is arranged as an in particular cuboid product block (28), preferably one as a sealing block Product block (28) formed from film with a removal opening (17) for the products covered by a multiple sealable closure label (16), wherein the product block (28) together with a collar blank to form a collar (20) of the outer pack (11) is an in a pocket (29) of the folding turret (30) held ready, partially folded blank to form the outer pack (11) is fed, preferably in a horizontal plane, at least in a section along a stationary product block guide track (32), in particular by means of a Product block (28) along the stationary product block guide track (32) moving first product block carrier (44), wherein the preferably initially flat collar blank upstream of the folding turret (30) is folded in such a way that two adjacent to a large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank, in particular the collar front or collar rear wall, with this in each case via folding lines connected collar narrow side walls (24) after folding run at an angle, in particular essentially perpendicular to the large-area collar wall (23), and the collar blank upstream of the folding turret (30) is placed on the product block (28) in such a way that the two collar Narrow side walls (24) each bear against an associated narrow side (18) of the product block (28), the collar blank being folded at a folding station (35) which is arranged in the area of the stationary product block guide track (32).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding of the collar blank in the folding station (35) takes place with the participation of two spaced apart folding means (38) of the folding station (35), in particular folding rails or folding walls, which are preferably designed as a stamping element Folding member (37) cooperation that moves back and forth in particular centrally between the folding means (38), in particular in a plane perpendicular to the stationary product block guide track (32), preferably in a vertical plane, or which interact with stationary folding switches.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collar blank, in particular at an angle or transversely to the stationary product block guide track (32) and preferably in a conveying plane which is arranged above the conveying plane of the product block (28), in particular above the stationary product block guide track (32) arranged upstream of the folding station (35) is conveyed transfer position, and that the collar blank is then conveyed from this transfer position to the folding station (35), namely - in particular resting on a above the stationary product block- Guide track (32) located stationary collar guide track - along a conveyor line, which preferably extends above the stationary product block guide track (32) parallel to this, in particular by means of a separate, moving collar driver (36), preferably a slide, which moves the blank along the stationary collar guideway, or by means of the first product block carrier (44), which moves the product block (28) along the product block guide path in the direction of the folding turret.

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar blank in the area of the stationary product block guide track (32) is applied at least in areas to the inner pack (12), in particular in or downstream of the folding station (35).

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product block (28) is conveyed together with the collar blank folded in the folding station (35) as a unit to a transfer platform (49) moving back and forth, in particular in a horizontal plane, which takes over the product block (28) and the folded collar blank and then moves it towards the folding turret (30), and from which the product block (28) with the collar blank, in particular with a further or second product block driver (57), preferably designed as a slide ) is introduced into a pocket (29) of the folding turret (30) facing the transfer platform (49), in which pocket a blank for forming the outer pack (11) of the pack is kept ready.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 2, characterized in that the folding of the collar blank in the folding station (35) takes place by the reciprocating folding member (37) the initially flat collar blank to form a U-shape stamps into the space between the spaced-apart folding means (38), in particular from above.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the folding means (38) of the folding station (35) are formed by two spaced apart folding walls (39) which are angled, in particular substantially perpendicular to the product block guide track (32) both sides of the product block guide track (32), the distance between the two folding walls (39) from one another at least in one (folding) area (40) essentially corresponding to the width of the large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank, wherein a) the initially flat collar blank, in particular resting on the two folding walls (39), is positioned so that the large-area collar wall (23) is arranged between the folding walls (39), and wherein b) the folding member (37) moving to and fro then in stamps the space between the two folding walls (39), in particular downwards, that the large-area collar wall (23) is guided between the folding walls (39) and the collar Narrow side walls (24) are folded over by contact with the folding walls (39) relative to the large-area collar wall (23) and are folded into the angular position relative to the large-area collar wall (23).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the product block (28) during the stamping process is based on its position along the product block guide track (32) upstream of the folding station (35) or upstream of the collar blank The collar wall (23) is arranged below and parallel to an underside of the product block (28) after being stamped in, in particular in a horizontal plane, and is held ready in this position, and that the product block (28) along the product block guide track (32) to the one held ready Collar blank is moved towards, in particular by means of the first product block driver (44), and is brought together with this to form a unit that the two collar Narrow side walls (24) of the collar blank each face the corresponding narrow side (18) of the product block (28), in particular bear there, and the large-area collar wall (23) faces an underside of the product block (28), in particular rests there.

9. The method according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the product block (28) is then conveyed together with the collar blank resting on it as a unit to the transfer platform (49) and transferred to it as a unit, in particular by means of a moving transfer element, preferably the first product block carrier (44).

10. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar blank is folded by placing the initially flat collar blank in the folding station (35) in the area of its large-area collar wall (23), in particular on top of the, in particular as folding rails (66 ) formed, spaced-apart folding means (38) is placed, and by the two collar narrow side walls (24) then in particular by means of the folding member (37) moving to and fro or by means of folding switches on the outside around the folding means (38), in particular downwards the angular position relative to the large-area collar wall (23) are folded over.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the product block (28) is based on its position along the product block guide track (32) next to, in particular below the collar blank during the folding process, so that the two collar narrow side walls (24) of the Collar blanks are each folded in the direction of the corresponding narrow sides (18) of the product block (28), in particular while resting against them.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the large-area collar wall (23) lies at a distance from one or the large-area, in particular upwardly facing, side of the product block (28) during and after the folding process.

13. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each collar narrow side wall (24) during the Folding process is guided in each case along an associated lateral, curved guide surface.

14. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 12, characterized in that the collar blank together with the product block (28) while maintaining the distance between the large-area collar wall (23) and the large-area side of the product block (28) as Unit is conveyed to the transfer platform (49), in particular by means of the first moving product block carrier (44).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the product block (28) and the collar blank are transferred as a unit to the transfer platform (49), wherein the collar blank is brought up to the product block (28) in the transfer area, in particular is lowered onto it, so that the large-area collar wall (23) rests against the large-area side of the product block (28) after the lowering process is complete.

16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar rear walls (65) adjoining the collar narrow side walls (24), in particular connected to them via a fold line, are each on one of the large-area sides of the product block (28) at a distance opposite, further large-area side of the product block (28) can be folded while the unit of product block (28) and collar blank is on the transfer platform (49), preferably on an underside of the product block (28), in particular resting against the other large area.

17. Apparatus for the production of packs for, in particular, rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry, in particular for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, the packs having an outer pack (11) made from a blank made of dimensionally stable material, in which an inner casing ( 15) is arranged as an in particular cuboid product block (28), preferably a product block designed as a sealing block made of film with a removal opening (17) for the products covered by a multiple sealable closure label (16), the outer pack (11) having a a collar made from a collar (20) has, with a folding turret (30) with pockets (29), which can in particular be rotated in a horizontal plane, for receiving a respective blank for the outer pack (11), with a preferably rectilinear, in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, stationary product block guide track (32) which a product block (28) can be moved in the direction of the folding turret (30), in particular by means of a movable first product block driver (44), and with a folding station (35) in which a particularly initially flat collar blank can be folded in such a way that two a large-area collar wall (23), in particular a collar front or collar rear wall, adjoining the collar narrow side walls (24) connected to it via folding lines after folding run at an angle to the large-area collar wall (23), in particular essentially perpendicular, with the folding station (35 ) is arranged upstream of the folding turret (30) in the area of the stationary product block guide track (32).

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the folding station (35) has at least two spaced apart folding means (38), in particular designed as folding rails or folding walls, as well as one which can be moved back and forth in particular centrally between the folding means (38) this cooperating folding element (37).

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that the stationary product block guide track (32) has a sliding wall (43), in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, along the upper side of which the product block (28) by means of the first movable product block carrier (44) is movable, in particular a sliding wall (43) with a longitudinally extending slot through which the first product block driver (44) extends.

20. The device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the folding means (38) as spaced apart, angled, preferably substantially perpendicular to the fixed product block guide track (32), in particular to the sliding wall (43), extending, preferably with the Sliding wall (43) in particular integrally connected folding walls (39) are formed whose distance from one another at least in one (folding) area essentially corresponds to the width of the large-area collar wall (23) of the collar blank, the folding element (37) and the folding walls (39 ) such interaction that an initially flat collar cut can be stamped into the space between the two folding walls (39) to form a U-shape.

21. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

20, characterized in that the first product block driver (44) has a central driver wall (48) for driving a unit of product block (28) and a collar blank at least partially adjacent to it on the outside for driving the product block (28) along the stationary guide track while the latter is in contact with this central driver wall (48), and on both sides of the central driver wall (48), a smaller lateral driver wall (50), in particular connected in one piece with the central driver wall (48) and protruding laterally over this driver wall (50), for driving the respective collar - Narrow side wall (24) and / or at least one, with the central driver wall (48) in particular integrally connected, over this upwards or downwards protruding, smaller driver wall (62) for driving the large-area collar wall (23).

22. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 18-

21, characterized in that the folding walls (39) each have a longitudinally extending recess (51) in which one of the lateral driver walls (50) of the first product block driver (44) extends.

23. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

22, characterized in that a longitudinal recess (52) is arranged on two sides of the sliding wall (43) of the stationary product block guide track (32), in each of which one of two is connected, in particular integrally, to the central driver wall (48) , engage over these downwardly protruding, smaller driver walls while the first product block driver (44) moves the unit of product block and collar blank along the top of the sliding wall (43) in the direction of the folding turret (30).

24. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 18-

23, characterized in that the folding means (38) are designed in such a way, in particular as folding rails (66), that the collar blank can be placed on them in the region of its large-area collar wall (23) so that the collar Narrow side walls (24) by means of the folding member (37) which can be moved to and fro or by means of lateral folding switches, in particular in contact with associated narrow side walls (18) of a product block (28) located in the folding station (35) in an angular position relative to the large-area collar wall (23) are foldable.

25. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17- 24, characterized in that between the folding turret (30) and the stationary product block guide track (32) for bridging the distance between the folding turret (30) and the stationary product block guide track ( 32) a transfer platform (49) that can be moved back and forth in a horizontal plane is arranged, to which a product block (28) together with the associated collar blank can be transferred as a unit and with which this unit can be transported to the folding turret (30).

26. The device according to claim 24 and 25, characterized in that the folding rails (66) extend into the area in which the unit of product block (28) and collar blank is transferred to the transfer platform (49) that the unit of product block (28) and the collar blank can be transported into this area by the first product block carrier (44) while the large-area collar wall (23) is in sliding contact with the folding rails (66) at a distance from a large-area side of the product block (28), in particular to an upper side of the product block (28), and that the folding rails (66) are flattened in this area so that the collar blank is brought closer to the product block (28) during transport along this area.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has a collar blank guide (68) which extends the large-area collar wall (23) to the top when the unit of product block (28) and collar blank is transferred to the transfer platform (49) of the product block (28).

28. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims 25-27, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has folding means (69) with which the collar rear walls (24) adjoining the collar narrow side walls (24) and connected to these via folding lines ( 65) of the collar blank on a further side opposite the large-area side of the product block (28) large-area side can be folded, in particular onto the underside of the product block (28).

29. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

28, at least according to claim 25, characterized in that the unit of product block and collar blank is transferred to the transfer platform (49) with a product block carrier (44) which can be moved back and forth and pushes the unit onto the transfer platform, in particular with the first product block carrier (44).

30. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

29, at least according to claim 25, characterized in that the transfer platform (49) has a product block guide track (53) with a sliding wall (54), in particular arranged in a horizontal plane, on the upper side of which the unit of product block (28) and collar blank is by means of of the first product block carrier (44) is slidable.

31. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that the product block guide track (53) of the transfer platform (49) has on both sides of the sliding wall (54) in particular vertical, spaced apart guide walls (55), between which the unit of product block and collar blank is pushed through the first product block driver (44).

32. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17- 31, at least according to claim 25, characterized in that the unit of product block (28) and collar blank from the transfer platform (49) into a pocket (29) of the folding turret (30) that is kept ready is movable by means of a second product block carrier (57) which can be moved back and forth.

33. The device according to claim 32, characterized in that the second product block driver (57) for driving the unit consisting of the product block and the collar blank has a central driver wall (59) for driving the product block (28) along the product block guide track (53) the transfer platform (49) with the same on this central driver wall (59), and on both sides of the central driver wall (59) each have a smaller lateral, in particular integrally connected to the central driver wall (59) via this laterally protruding driver wall (60) for driving the respective collar narrow side wall (24) and / or at least one, with the central driver wall (59) in particular integrally connected, over this upwards or downwards protruding, smaller driver wall (62) for driving the large collar wall (23).

34. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

33, at least according to claim 30, characterized in that on two sides of the sliding wall (54) of the product block guide track (53) of the transfer platform (49) there is a longitudinal recess (56) in each of which one of two with the central driver wall (59), in particular integrally connected, smaller driver walls (62) protruding over this downwardly engaging while the second product block driver (57) engages the unit of product block (28) and collar blank along the top of the sliding wall (54) Moved pocket (29) of the folding turret (30).

35. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17-

34, characterized in that on two sides of the sliding wall (43, 54) of the stationary product block guide track (32) or the product block guide track (53) of the transfer platform (49) a longitudinal recess (52, 56) is arranged for receiving in each case one end section of a collar narrow side wall (24) and / or in each case one end section of a collar rear wall (65) adjoining the collar narrow side wall (24) and / or spacing segments (24) respectively arranged on a collar narrow side wall (24). 26), which in the fully folded state of the collar (20) each extend beyond the plane of the large-area collar wall (23) in the opposite direction to the collar narrow side walls (24).