EP4240674A1

EP4240674A1 - Multipack for cigarette industry products, and method for producing same

Info

Publication number: EP4240674A1
Application number: EP21807000.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johann Köster
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-11-06
Filing date: 2021-11-02
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Also published as: WO2022096456A1; DE102020129258A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a multipack for cigarette industry products, wherein a plurality of packets (11) having products in the cigarette industry as the packet contents are combined to form a multipack (10), and wherein the packets (11) of the multipack (10) are arranged in several packet rows (12). According to the invention, an insert (21) made of flexible, preferably thin packaging material is arranged between at least two adjacent packet rows (12), and the packets (11) of the two packet rows (12) are releasably connected to the insert (21) via adhesive surfaces (22) arranged on the insert (21). The invention also relates to a method for producing such products.

Description

Packages for products in the cigarette industry and methods for manufacturing the same

description

The invention relates to a pack for products from the cigarette industry, wherein several packs with products from the cigarette industry are combined as pack contents to form a pack, and the packs of the pack are arranged in several rows of packs, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such packaging bundles according to the preamble of claim 12.

Such packs are known from practice, for example as cigarette packs. Cigarette packs are arranged next to one another in two parallel rows in an orderly formation and are wrapped in an outer wrapping made of paper, cardboard or PP film, for example. The outer wrapping holds the packs of the pack together until they are used. A disadvantage of such packs is that the outer wrapping requires a considerable amount of packaging material.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of further developing packaging units or production methods for such containers, in particular with regard to better sustainability and/or less use of packaging material, which is at the same time stable and easy and inexpensive to produce. A packaging unit for solving this problem has the features of claim 1. It is therefore provided that an insert made of flexible, preferably thin, packaging material is arranged between at least two adjacent rows of packs, and that the packs of the two rows of packs are detachably connected to the insert via adhesive surfaces arranged on the insert.

An advantage of the flexible and preferably thin insert, which is provided with adhesive surfaces on both sides and is arranged between adjacent rows of packs, is that the packs are connected and the pack formation is stabilized, so that sufficient torsional rigidity of the pack is achieved. In addition, the packs can be removed almost without leaving any residue.

It is preferably provided that the insert consists of a sustainable material, in particular cellophane, paper, PLA film or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the package, it can be provided that the adhesive surfaces are arranged, preferably at a small distance, adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the insert, in particular as preferably continuous adhesive strips and/or as adhesive dots arranged at a distance from one another.

Provision can preferably be made for adhesive strips and/or adhesive dots to be arranged as adhesive surfaces on the insert in such a way that each pack of the two rows of packs is connected to the insert in the area of a large pack side, in particular with a front or a back.

Provision can furthermore be made for the packs to be fixed to the insert via the adhesive surfaces on the insert adjacent to a front side thereof and a bottom side thereof in the area of the front side or the rear side.

Provision is preferably made for the insert not to protrude beyond the contour of the rows of packs and, in particular, to end at a distance from the longitudinal edges and/or transverse edges of the rows of packs. In particular, it is provided that the insert is designed as a one-piece blank, in particular such that the insert has only a single, preferably rectangular wall, which is arranged unfolded between the two rows of packs.

A further special feature can consist in the fact that the adhesive surfaces are at least partially bordered by material weaknesses formed in the insert, so that the insert can be separated in the area of the corresponding adhesive surfaces when a pack is released from the packaging container.

It can preferably be provided that the insert can be provided with further information and/or identification marks, in particular with decorative or informative imprints, printed marks or the like, whereby it can preferably be provided that one or more imprints are exposed by separating a pack from the insert or become.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the insert is arranged in such a way that track and trace codes of the packs, in particular in the area of the bottom side thereof, are not covered.

Another special feature can be that the insert is provided with a material weakening in at least one area between adjacent packs of the same row of packs, which extends from one side edge of the insert to the opposite side edge of the insert and is at least partially curved, preferably in different directions in sections Having a contour such that the section of the insert delimited by the material weakening can be separated from the rest of the insert together with the packs attached to both sides of the insert along the material weakening.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the insert is formed by one or more strip-like cuts that extend in the area of the adhesive surfaces. Most preferably, it can be provided that the packaging unit has no outer casing which at least partially encloses at least some packs of the packaging unit.

A method according to the invention has the features of claim 12. It is therefore provided that an insert made of flexible, preferably thin, packaging material is arranged between at least two adjacent rows of packs, and that the packs of the two rows of packs are detachably connected to the insert via adhesive surfaces arranged on the insert, the adhesive surfaces in one or more Adhesive stations are applied to a continuous web of material for the insert before individual deposits are separated from the continuous web of material in a cutting station.

Provision can furthermore be made for the adhesive surfaces to be applied to the continuous web of material as continuous adhesive strips or as adhesive dots spaced apart from one another, preferably by means of a contact surface nozzle or a spin spray nozzle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that upstream of the at least one adhesive station there is a station for attaching material weakenings to the continuous material web, preferably for attaching material weakenings according to claim 8.

Another special feature can be that all deflection rollers for the material web that are provided downstream of the or each adhesive station are designed as silicone rollers that have circumferential grooves, the grooves being arranged in such a way that the adhesive surfaces on the material web run in the area of the grooves, so that the Adhesive surfaces of the material web do not come into contact with the deflection rollers during transport.

In a first variant of the method, it can be provided that the packs of the two rows of packs are conveyed in two mutually offset levels along a transport path, such that the packs of the same row of packs are transported in the same level, and that the packs of the two rows of packs are Feeding the insert from each other are spaced apart and brought together again after the insert has been fed in, in order to connect the packs to the insert via the adhesive surfaces.

Provision can also be made for packs in a first row of packs to be transported continuously along the transport path, and for the packs in a second row of packs to be pushed off transversely to the transport path, in particular onto a conveyor running parallel to the transport path, which carries the packs in the second row of packs further in the transport direction of the packs promotes in the transport route.

In addition, it can be provided that the continuous web of material is cut into individual inserts in a cutting station and the inserts are each fed to a group of packs of the first row of packs and attached to this, preferably by being placed with a pressure roller in a placement station, wherein the Hanging up is preferably supported by a blowing nozzle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the packs of the second row of packs are fed to the packs of the first row of packs and pressed against them or the insert located between the rows of packs in order to connect the packs of the two rows of packs with the insert, the packs of the second row of packs preferably be grasped with a compressed air pusher or a gripper.

It can preferably be provided that the packs of the two rows of packs are first decelerated in an accumulation station and then gradually released in order to form groups of packs for the two rows of packs according to the formation in the pack bundle.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the two rows of packs are positioned and conveyed lying flat one on top of the other and that the second row of packs as the upper row of packs is pushed away from the first row of packs as the lower row of packs and the insert is placed on the packs of the first row of packs and then the Packs of the second row of packs are placed on the insert or the first row of packs and pressed. In another variant of the method, it can be provided that the packs of the two rows of packs are conveyed in two mutually offset levels along a transport path in such a way that the packs of the same row of packs are each transported in the same level, and that the packs of the two rows of packs are fed in of the insert are spaced apart and are brought together after feeding the insert in order to connect the packs to the insert via the adhesive surfaces.

In particular, it can be provided that the insert is conveyed between the two rows of packs and the second row of packs is moved against the insert, preferably lowered, and initially only the packs of the second row of packs are connected to the insert by the adhesive fields, and then that the packs of the second Row of packs with the insert arranged thereon are moved back into the initial position, in particular raised.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the next step the packs of the first row of packs are moved against the packs of the second row of packs with the insert arranged thereon, preferably lifted, so that the insert is also connected to the packs of the first row of packs via the adhesive surfaces, and that then the packs of the first row of packs are moved back into the starting position, in particular lowered, namely together with the insert and the second row of packs.

In particular, it can be provided that the two rows of packs are positioned and conveyed lying flat and at a distance one above the other and that the second row of packs as the upper row of packs is lowered onto the insert in a pressing station and connected to it, and that the second row of packs is then raised again, and that both rows of packs are then conveyed further in the transport direction until they reach a further station in which the first row of packs as the lower row of packs is pressed from below against the insert on the second row of packs and is thus connected to it via the adhesive surfaces and that then the two Rows of packs are lowered with the insert in between and transported further. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. In these shows:

1 a package with packages for products of the cigarette industry, with a package being removed from the package, in a three-dimensional representation,

2 shows an individual pack of the packaging container in a three-dimensional representation,

Fig. 3 shows a variant of the package in a representation corresponding to Fig. 1,

4 shows a further variant of a packaging container in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 or 3,

FIG. 5 a spatial representation of a package removed from the package according to FIG. 4,

6 shows a further variant of a packaging unit in a representation corresponding to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, from which two packs have been removed,

FIG. 7 shows the two removed packs in the variant according to FIG. 6,

Fig. 8a-8c three variants of a material web for an insert,

9 shows a first device for producing such packs in a three-dimensional, schematic representation,

Fig. 10 shows a vertical section through the device along section line X - X in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 shows a vertical section through a part of the device along section line XI - XI in Fig. 10, Fig. 12 is a side view of part of the device according to arrow XII in Fig. 10,

13 shows a vertical section through the device along section line XIII-XIII in FIG. 9,

14 shows a vertical section through the device along section line XIV-XIV in FIG. 9,

15 two other variants of a material web for an insert,

16 shows a second device for producing such packs in a three-dimensional, schematic representation,

17 shows a vertical section through the device along section line XVII-XVII in FIG. 16,

18 shows a vertical section through the device along section line XVIII-XVII in FIG. 17,

Fig. 19 shows a vertical section through the device along section line XIX - XIX in Fig. 16, and

Fig. 20 is a side view of part of the device according to arrow XX in Fig. 16.

The invention is described below using a pack 10 with packs 11 for products from the cigarette industry. Within the scope of the application, products of the cigarette industry are understood to mean tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos and the like, but also novel tobacco products such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes. In the present case, the packs 11 are cuboid cigarette packs. The packs 11 are arranged in two parallel rows 12 of packs. Within the rows of packs 12, the packs 11 rest against each other in the area of the narrow sides. Opposite packs 11 of the two rows 12 of packs are in contact with one another in the area of large front sides or rear sides of the same. In this way, an ordered formation of packs 11 is created within the pack 10.

In the present case, the pack 10 contains two rows of packs 12, each with three packs 11. It goes without saying that the pack 10 can also have a larger number of pack rows 12 and/or a larger or smaller number of packs 11 per pack row 12. Usually has a cigarette rod, e.g. over two rows 12 of packs, each with five packs 11. It would also be conceivable, albeit unusual, for the rows of packs 12 to at least partially have a different number of packs 11.

Fig. 2 shows a conventional, cuboid pack 11 for cigarettes. A large-format front side 13 and a corresponding rear side 14 are provided opposite. Front 13 and back 14 are connected to one another by narrow sides 15 . Front side 16 and bottom side 17 are also provided opposite one another. The pack 11 is wrapped in an overwrap 18 such as cellophane. The cover 18 has a tear-open strip 19 with a handle end 20 for actuating the tear-open strip 19.

There is an insert 21 between the two rows 12 of packs.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, it is provided that each pack 11 is connected to the insert 21 via adhesive surfaces 22 . As FIG. 1 shows, for example, the adhesive surfaces 22 can be formed as adhesive points spaced apart from one another. Alternatively, it is conceivable, for example, for the adhesive surfaces 22 to be in the form of continuous adhesive strips, as shown in FIG. 3 . The adhesive surfaces 22 can be designed, for example, in the manner of a double-sided adhesive tape, so that attachment to the insert 21 is possible on the one hand and to the packs 11 on the other. The adhesive surfaces 22 each extend in a lower and upper area of the packs 11, namely at a (small) distance adjacent to the end face 16 or bottom side 17. The adhesive spots also extend in a corresponding axis.

In the present case, the insert 21 is a blank 27 made from a sustainable packaging material, such as cellophane, paper or PLA film. The packs 11 are connected to the insert 21 via the adhesive surfaces 22 and the pack formation is thus stabilized. This results in sufficient torsional rigidity of the packaging unit 10.

The insert 21 is a preferably unfolded, in particular one-piece blank 27 which preferably does not protrude beyond the contour of the rows of packs 12 but ends in particular at a distance from the longitudinal edges and/or transverse edges of the rows of packs 12 . In this embodiment, the insert 21 is only visible after at least one pack 11 has been removed from the pack 10 .

Furthermore, the insert is preferably arranged in such a way that the track and trace codes of the packs 11 are not covered.

In order to enable the packs 11 to be removed from the pack bundle 10 with almost no residue, the adhesive surfaces 22 can be formed from a suitable adhesive, for example from a hot-melt adhesive, for example from Lunatack® from Fuller.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the insert 21 is partially torn off when a pack 11 is removed. Such a solution is shown in Figs. The adhesive points are at least partially enclosed as an adhesive surface 22 by a material weakening 23 in the insert 21, so that when the pack 11 is removed, residual connections 24 are severed and part of the insert 21 remains on the pack 11 (FIG. 5). The weakening of the material can be formed, for example, by a groove, scoring or perforation. In the present case, on the other hand, a C- or U-shaped punching is used. This feature can be used, for example, as a mark of authenticity for the packaging unit 10 or the packs 11 . Another idea is shown in Figures 6 and 7. There, material weaknesses 25 extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the insert 21 from one side edge to the opposite side edge, so that the sections of the insert 21 can be separated. The position of the material weaknesses 25 essentially corresponds to the position of the narrow sides 16 of the packs 11.

The material weakenings 25 can preferably have a contour that is bent in different directions in sections. In this way, grip tabs 26 can be formed, which protrude between packs 11 of adjacent rows 12 of packs.

8a to 8c show different variants of blanks 27 for the insert 21. In all variants, a preferably unprinted, continuous web of material 28 is first used, which is then provided with adhesive surfaces 22, weakened material 23 and imprints 29. This can be printed marks 30 or other imprints 29 that can serve informative or decorative purposes. Furthermore, separating cuts 62 directed transversely to the web of material 28 are made in order to separate blanks 27 . The material web 28 is processed in the longitudinal direction.

The blanks 27 shown in FIGS. 8a to 8c are intended, for example, for processing in a device or in a method according to FIGS. Some deflection rollers 32 can be adjusted by means of a pendulum 33 to store or regulate the web tension.

In a first work step, the material weakenings 23 are attached to the continuous web of material 28 . A corresponding station 34 is provided for this purpose.

On the further transport path, the material web 28 reached the area of one or more adhesive stations 35, which are used to apply adhesive to the material web 28. In the present case, one adhesive station 35 is closed in each case arranged on both sides of the Mate rial web 28, with which the adhesive surfaces 22 are attached.

The material web 28 is then guided over further deflection rollers 32 with a further pendulum 33 and, after being separated, fed to the packs 11 . Separation takes place in a cutting station 36 shortly before the blanks 27 are each placed on a row 12 of packs.

The cutting station 36 is preceded by a pair of advancing rollers 37 on both sides of the material web 28. In the cutting station itself, a transverse separating cut 62 is made on the material web 28. A knife roller 63 and a corresponding counter-roller 64 are used for this purpose. The material weakenings 25 can also be attached here.

Another pair of advancing rollers 38 is arranged after the cutting station 36 and guides the blanks 27 via a guide 39 onto the rows of packs 12 where they are pressed on by means of a pressure roller 40 . A blowing nozzle 41 supports the attachment of the blanks 27 by applying compressed air (FIG. 10).

The packs 11 are fed in two parallel planes running one above the other, with the packs 11 being spaced apart by separating plates 42 which pass laterally between the packs 11 in the two planes (FIG. 11). The separating plates 42 are mounted on a track plate 43 .

In an accumulating station 44, the packs 11 that are supplied in a tightly packed position are first slowed down and then released in a targeted manner in order to form the rows of packs 12 with the predetermined number of packs 11. The packs are transported in the accumulation station 44 via lateral slalom belts 45 which bear against the front sides 16 and bottom sides 17 of the packs 11 . Diaphragms from brakes 46 ensure that the packs 11 are gradually released and the predefined rows of packs 12 are thus formed.

The rows of packs 12 formed in this way are transported further in the transport direction 48 along the transport path 49 by an upper or a lower driver belt 47 moves, wherein the two rows of packs 12 are further separated by separating plates 42.

Before the blanks 27 are placed on the lower rows of packs 12, the upper rows of packs 12 must be temporarily moved out of the way. For this purpose, the packs of the upper pack rows 12 are pushed off transversely to the transport direction 48, namely onto a parallel conveyor which is also designed as a carrier belt 50. A slide 51 is used for this purpose, which pushes the corresponding packs 11 laterally onto the driver belt 50 . A stop plate 52 delimits the push-off laterally (FIG. 13).

While the packs 11 of the lower pack rows 12 continue to be transported on the lower carrier belt 47 along the transport path 49, the packs 11 of the upper pack rows 12 are transported parallel thereto on the carrier belt. After the blanks 27 have been placed, the packs 11 of the upper pack rows 12 are pushed back transversely into the transport path 49 and placed on the packs 11 of the lower pack rows 12 and pressed. This can be done either with a conventional (mechanical) gripper or the compressed air pusher 53 shown in FIG. In this way, the packs 11 of the upper pack rows 12 are connected to the respective insert 21 and the pack bundle 10 is formed. The compressed air slide 53 can capture or hold the packs 10 by means of a vacuum.

Fig. 12 shows an advantageous embodiment of the deflection rollers 32 and/or advancing rollers 37, 38. Accordingly, they have circumferential grooves 54 or recesses that extend in the area of the adhesive surfaces 22 to prevent contact between the deflecting rollers 32 and/or advancing rollers 37, 38 with the adhesive surfaces 22 to avoid. The deflection rollers 32 and/or advance rollers 37, 38 can preferably also be designed as silicone rollers.

FIG. 15 shows a variant of the material web 28 shown in FIGS. 8a to 8c, which is used in the method shown in FIGS. 16 to 20. Accordingly, the blanks 27 are conveyed transversely instead of longitudinally as in the previous embodiment. The web of material 28 is correspondingly wider than in the variants according to FIGS. 8a to 8c. The processing of the material web 28 and the individual stations are essentially identical to the first exemplary embodiment. The same reference symbols are used in the drawings so far. However, the material web 28 does not run in a vertical plane in the area of the cutting station 36, but rather in a horizontal plane.

The main differences between the two exemplary embodiments arise in the area of feeding and handling of the packs 11 as follows:

As shown in particular in FIGS. 16, 18 and 20, the packs 11 are also transported along a transport route 49 in the transport direction 48 . However, an accumulating station 44 is not necessary here since the rows of packs 12 have already been formed. The upper and lower rows of packs 12 are conveyed at a distance from one another in parallel horizontal planes, again using entrainment belts 47 in each case. As in the first exemplary embodiment, the rows of packs 12 are guided on separating plates 42 . However, the vertical spacing between the rows of packs 12 is significantly greater than in the first exemplary embodiment, so that the upper rows of packs 12 do not have to be moved out of the way in order to be able to feed in the inserts 21 .

The blanks 27 are fed transversely to the direction of transport 48 in a pressing station 55. The blanks 27 are fed lying on a conveyor between the upper and lower rows 12 of packs. In the present case, suction belts 56 are used for this purpose, on which the blanks 27 lie and are held by means of a suction box 57 . The suction belts 56 with the blanks 27 run just below the transport plane of the upper pack groups 12. By briefly moving the pack groups 12 downwards, they are moved against the blanks 27 so that one insert 21 is connected to the packs 11 of a pack group 12. After that, the upper groups of packs 12 with the insert 21 are raised again and brought into the starting position. Corresponding lowering or lifting elements 58 (FIGS. 17, 18 and 20) are used for this purpose.

After further transport of the upper and lower pack groups 12 in their respective levels, the pack groups 12 come into the area of a lowering station 59 (FIGS. 19 and 20). There, the lower pack groups 12 of pressed down against the upper pack groups 12 with the inserts 21, so that the pack bundles 10 are formed. Thereafter, the packs 10 are lowered and transported away. The lower groups of packs 12 are raised and lowered in a manner similar to that in the pressing station 55 by lifting devices 60 on which the lower groups of packs 12 lie. In the upper area of the lowering station 59, two fork-like separating plate holders 61 are provided, which initially hold the upper pack groups 12 in the upper position. The groups of packs 12 are guided by lateral walls of the track plate 43. The lifters 60 are also designed like forks. When the lower groups of packs 12 are raised, the fork-like elements (elevator 60 and separating plate holder 61) dip into one another. Shortly before the lower group of packs 12 is pressed against the upper group of packs 12, the separating plate holders 61 move out laterally.

Reference List

10 packs 42 divider

11 Pack 43 Lane Plate

12 pack rows 44 accumulation station

13 Front 45 Slalom harness

14 rear 46 brake

15 narrow side 47 carrier belt

16 end face 48 transport direction

17 bottom side 49 transport route

18 wrap 50 flight belt

19 tear strip 51 slider

20 handle end 52 stop plate

21 insert 53 compressed air slide

22 adhesive surface 54 groove

23 material weakening 55 pressing station

24 residual connection 56 suction belt

25 material weakening 57 suction box

26 handles 58 lowering or lifting organs

27 cutting 59 lowering station

28 material web 60 high lifter

29 Printing 61 Divider holder

30 print mark 62 separating cut

31 reel 63 knife roller

32 deflection roller 64 counter-roller

33 pendulums

34 stations

35 glue station

36 cutting station

37 advance rollers

38 advance rollers

39 leadership

40 pressure roller

41 air nozzle

Claims

patent claims

1. Packs for products from the cigarette industry, wherein several packs (11) with products from the cigarette industry as pack contents are combined to form a pack (10), and the packs (11) of the pack (10) are arranged in several pack rows (12), characterized in that an insert (21) made of flexible, preferably thin, packaging material is arranged between at least two adjacent rows (12) of packs, and in that the packs (11) of the two rows (12) of packs have adhesive surfaces ( 22) are detachably connected to the insert (21).

2. Packing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (21) consists of a sustainable material, in particular cellophane, paper, PLA film or the like.

3. Pack according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adhesive surfaces (22) are arranged, preferably at a small distance, adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the insert (21), in particular as preferably continuous adhesive strips and/or as adhesive dots arranged at a distance from one another.

4. Pack according to Claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that adhesive strips and/or adhesive dots are arranged as adhesive surfaces (22) on the insert (21) in such a way that each pack (11) of the two pack rows (12) Area of a large package side, in particular with a front or a back, with the insert (21) is connected.

5. Pack according to claim 4 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (11) adjacent to a front side thereof and a bottom side thereof in the area of the front side or the back side with the insert (21) via the adhesive surfaces (22) are fixed to the insert (21).

6. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (21) does not protrude beyond the contour of the rows of packs (12) and in particular ends at a distance from the longitudinal edges and/or transverse edges of the rows of packs (12).

7. Packing unit according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (21) is designed as a one-piece blank (27), in particular such that the insert (21) has only a single, preferably rectangular wall which is arranged unfolded between the two rows of packs (12).

8. Packing unit according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive surfaces (22) are at least partially surrounded by weakened material (23) formed in the insert (21), so that the insert (21) when detaching a pack ( 11) can be separated from the packaging container (10) in the area of the corresponding adhesive surfaces (22).

9. Packing unit according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (21) is provided in at least one area between adjacent packs (11) of the same row of packs (12) with a material weakening (25) which differs from one side edge of the insert (21) extends to the opposite side edge of the insert (21) and at least partially has a contour that is curved, preferably in sections in different directions, such that the section of the insert (21) delimited by the weakened material (25) together with the on both sides of the insert

(21) attached packs (11) along the weakened material (25) from the rest of the insert (21) can be separated.

10. Pack according to Claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (21) is formed by one or more strip-like cuts which are in the area of the adhesive surfaces

(22) extend. 19

11. Packing unit according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packing unit has no outer casing which at least partially encloses at least some packs (11) of the packing unit.

12. A method for producing packs for products from the cigarette industry, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the plurality of packs (11) with products from the cigarette industry as pack contents are combined to form a pack, and the packs (11) of the pack bundle are arranged in several pack rows (12), characterized in that an insert (21) made of flexible, preferably thin, packaging material is arranged between at least two adjacent pack rows (12), and that the packs (11) of the two pack rows (12 ) are releasably connected to the insert (21) via adhesive surfaces (22) arranged on the insert (21), the adhesive surfaces (22) being applied to a continuous material web (28) for the insert (21) in one or more adhesive stations before individual inserts are cut out of the continuous material web (28) in a cutting station .

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the adhesive surfaces (22) are preferably applied to the edges of the continuous material web (28) as continuous adhesive strips or as mutually spaced adhesive dots, preferably by means of a contact surface nozzle or a spin spray nozzle.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that upstream of the at least one adhesive station (35) there is a station (34) for attaching material weakenings (23) to the continuous material web (28), preferably for attaching material weakenings (23 ) according to claim 8.

15. The method according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that all deflection rollers (32) and/or advance rollers (37, 38) provided downstream of the or each adhesive station for the material web (28) are designed as silicone rollers, the rotating grooves 20, wherein the grooves are arranged in such a way that the adhesive surfaces (22) on the material web (28) run in the area of the grooves, so that the adhesive surfaces (22) of the material web (28) do not come into contact with the deflection rollers (32) during transport. or the and/or advance rollers (37, 38).

16. The method according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (11) of the two pack rows (12) are conveyed in two mutually offset planes along a transport path (49) such that the packs (11) same row of packs (12) are transported in the same plane, and that the packs (11) of the two rows of packs (12) are spaced apart from one another for feeding the insert (21) and are brought together again after the feeding of the insert (21) in order to to connect the packs (11) to the insert (21) via the adhesive surfaces (22).

17. The method according to claim 16 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that packs (11) of a first pack row (12) are transported continuously along the transport path (49), and that the packs (11) of a second pack row (12) are pushed off transversely to the transport path (49), in particular onto a conveyor running parallel to the transport path (49), which conveys the packs (11) of the second row of packs (12) further in the transport direction of the packs (11) in the transport path (49).

18. The method according to claim 17 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (28) is cut into individual inserts (21) in a cutting station (36) and the inserts (21) each belong to a group of packs (11 ) is fed to the first row of packs (12) and attached to it, preferably by laying it down with a pressure roller (40) in a laying-up station, the laying-up preferably being supported by means of a blowing nozzle (41).

19. The method according to claim 18 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (11) of the second row of packs (12) are fed to the packs (11) of the first row of packs (12) and 21 are pressed against this or the insert (21) located between the rows of packs (12) in order to connect the packs (11) of the two rows of packs (12) with the insert (21), the packs (11) of the second row of packs (12) are preferably detected with a compressed air slide (53) or a gripper.

20. The method according to claim 16 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (11) of the two pack rows (12) are first decelerated in a buffer station (44) and then gradually released in order to form groups of packs (11 ) for the two rows of packs (12) according to the formation in the pack.

21. The method according to claim 16 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the two rows of packs (12) are positioned and conveyed lying flat one above the other and that the second row of packs (12) as the upper row of packs (12) separates from the first row of packs (12 ) is pushed off as the lower row of packs (12) and the insert (21) is placed on the packs (11) of the first row of packs (12) and then the packs

(11) of the second row of packs (12) onto the insert (21) or the first row of packs

(12) are placed and pressed.

22. The method according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packs (11) of the two pack rows (12) are conveyed in two offset planes along a transport path (49), such that the packs (11) of the same row of packs (12) are each transported in the same plane, and that the packs (11) of the two rows of packs (12) are spaced apart when the insert (21) is fed in and are brought together after the insert (21) has been fed in, in order to form the packs (11) to be connected to the insert (21) via the adhesive surfaces (22).

23. The method according to claim 22 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (21) is conveyed between the two rows of packs (12) and the second row of packs (12) is moved, preferably lowered, against the insert (21) and initially only the packs (11) of the second pack row (12) are connected to the insert (21) by the adhesive fields 22, and that the packs (11) of the second row of packs (12) with the insert (21) arranged thereon are then moved back into the starting position, in particular raised.

24. The method according to claim 23 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that in the next step the packs (11) of the first row of packs (12) are pressed against the packs (11) of the second row of packs (12) with the insert (21 ) moves, preferably raised, so that the insert (21) on the adhesive surfaces (22) with the packs

(11) of the first row of packs (12) is connected, and that the packs (11) of the first row of packs (12) are then moved back into the starting position, in particular lowered, namely together with the insert (21) and the second row of packs (12 ).

25. The method according to claim 22 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the two rows of packs (12) are positioned and conveyed lying flat and at a distance one above the other and that the second row of packs (12) as the upper row of packs (12) in a pressing station (55) is lowered onto the insert (21) and connected to it, and that the second row of packs (12) is then raised again, and that both rows of packs (12) are then conveyed further in the transport direction (48) until they have another Reach station (59) in which the first row of packs (12) as the lower row of packs (12) from below against the insert (21) on the second row of packs

(12) is pressed and thus connected to it via the adhesive surfaces (22) and that the two rows of packs (12) with the insert (21) in between are then lowered and transported further.

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