EP4301675A2

EP4301675A2 - Packaging for rod-shaped products

Info

Publication number: EP4301675A2
Application number: EP22708905.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Förstmann
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-03-01
Filing date: 2022-02-25
Publication date: 2024-01-10
Also published as: WO2022184561A3; DE102021104858A1; WO2022184561A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding blank for a tray (11) for receiving one or more rod-shaped products (14) of the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, wherein the tray (11) is provided for being arranged in a packaging made of film, in particular in a pouch, preferably having at least three sealed seams, and wherein the folding blank (12) has outer lateral tabs, in particular for stabilizing the tray (11) in the packaging, as well as two mutually spaced first supporting walls (16) which are interconnected by a bottom wall (15) and are each intended for laterally supporting one or more rod-shaped products (14) located therebetween in a folded state of the folding blank. The invention is characterised in that each first supporting wall (16) is part of a supporting joint (21a, 21b) which is hinged to one of the lateral tabs, wherein the two supporting joints (21a, 21b) are each pivotable, by means of folding, from a first position in which the first supporting wall (16) of each supporting joint (21a, 21b) extends in the plane of the bottom wall (15), thus forming a retaining seat for one or more rod-shaped products (14), which retaining seat comprises the bottom wall (15) and the two first supporting walls (16), into a second position in which each first supporting wall (16) extends at an angle, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom wall (15), and wherein each supporting joint (21a, 21b), in the second position, covers or blocks a space between the lateral tab to which it is hinged and the supporting wall of the supporting joint, so that this space cannot be occupied by one or more rod-shaped products (14).

Description

Pack for stick shaped products

description

The present invention relates to a folding blank for a tray for accommodating one or more stick-shaped products from the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, having the features of the preamble of claim 1, a pack with such a tray folded from such a folding blank having the features of the preamble of Claim 11, as well as a method and a device for producing packs with the features of the preamble of claim 14 and claim 21.

In the tobacco industry, pouches for cigarettes are known, in which a tray made from a folded blank is arranged, which can hold a specific number of cigarettes so that they do not lie loosely in the pouch. For example, WO 2018141825 A1 shows a tray folded from a folded blank with two lateral support walls between which a cigarette can be held, and with two outer side flaps each adjoining the support walls, which stabilize the tray in the pack. The folding blanks for the trays are each adapted to a specific number of cigarettes. If a number of cigarettes other than that intended for the tray is to be held, this is only possible if a completely different folding blank is used. As a rule, this has to be a folding blank of a different width, which then disadvantageously makes it necessary in the production process to adapt at least certain machine settings in each case, but possibly even to make conversions.

It is the object of the present invention to further develop the folding blank mentioned at the outset, the pack mentioned at the outset, the method mentioned at the outset and the device mentioned at the outset. This object is achieved by a folding blank having the features of claim 1, a pack having the features of claim 11, a method having the features of claim 14 and a device having the features of claim 21.

A folding blank according to the invention accordingly has a tray for accommodating one or more rod-shaped products from the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, the tray being intended to be arranged in a foil pack, in particular in a bag, preferably with at least three sealing seams, whereby the folding blank has outer side tabs, in particular for stabilizing the tray in the pack, and two spaced-apart first support walls connected to one another by a bottom wall for lateral support of one or more rod-shaped products arranged between them when the folding blank is in a folded state. The folding blank is characterized in that each first support wall is part of a support joint that is articulated to one of the side flaps, the two support joints each being formed by folding from a first position in which the first support walls each extend in the plane of the bottom wall of a holding seat comprising the bottom wall and the two first supporting walls for one or more stick-shaped products can be pivoted into a second position in which the first supporting wall extends at an angle, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom wall, each supporting joint in the second position leaving a space between the side tabs , to which it is articulated, and its supporting wall covered or blocked so that it cannot be occupied by one or more rod-shaped products.

The inventive concept of using such foldable support joints makes it possible, among other things, by simply adjusting the dimensions of the support joints in particular, to produce different folding blanks of one and the same width, from which trays can then be folded, which - despite also having the same width - differ in their capacity for distinguish rod-shaped products. This also makes it possible to produce (uniform) folding blanks from which different trays with different holding capacities for the rod-shaped products can be folded in different folding steps. According to a first embodiment of this idea, the space covered by the respective support joint in the second position corresponds to at least half the width of a rod-shaped product for which the tray or the holding seat of the same is provided.

In a further specification of the idea according to the invention, it can be provided that each support joint of the folded blank extends over only a partial length of the folded blank. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that each support joint is shorter than the bottom wall of the folding blank.

Each first support wall of the respective support joint can also be delimited on one of its longitudinal sides by a first longitudinal fold line, about which the respective first support wall can be folded into the angled position, and on opposite transverse sides by spaced-apart, each perpendicular to the longitudinal fold line Separation cuts or weakening lines.

Each first support wall can preferably be connected to one or the associated outer side flaps via one or more partitions, one or each partition also being divided into a middle and two outer partition sections by the two separating cuts or weakening lines.

Furthermore, each first support wall of each support joint can be delimited on its other longitudinal side by a second longitudinal fold line adjoining a first intermediate wall of the support joint, divided into the central one and the two outer ones

partition wall sections is divided, and around which the central partition wall section of the first partition wall or its two outer intermediate sections can be folded relative to the first supporting wall, in particular in a position perpendicular to the latter and in particular parallel to the bottom wall, preferably in such a way that the or the relative intermediate wall section(s) folded to the respective first support wall cover/cover or block/block the space between the side tab and the respective adjacent support wall. Each of the outer side flaps can also be connected in an articulated manner to the respective support joint via a longitudinal fold line which is arranged on one longitudinal side and delimits it, in particular a longitudinal fold line which is adjoined by the first intermediate wall in each case, or one (another) one also formed by the two separating cuts or weakening lines into one middle and two outer partition sections, the second partition of the support hinge, and about which the middle partition or the two outer partition sections of the adjacent (first or second) partition is/are foldable relative to the outer side flap.

Provision can also be made for the folding blanks to be designed in such a way that the support joints can be folded not only from the first position into the second position, but also—depending on the desired or planned use—from the first into one into the second position alternative third position in which each first support panel extends in the plane of the bottom panel and in which either a) each first partition panel around the second longitudinal fold line by which the first partition panel is hinged to the first support panel, in particular over its entire length, can be folded into a position at an angle to the bottom wall, in particular perpendicular to it, so that a holding seat for a plurality of stick-shaped products is formed between these two (parallel) first partitions, with these two first partitions forming support walls for laterally supporting the stick-shaped products that can be arranged between them , or in the alternative b) also every first intermediate wa nd extends in the plane of the base wall and each second partition wall is foldable, in particular over its entire length, about a longitudinal fold line by which the second partition wall is hinged to the first partition wall, into a position at an angle to the base wall, in particular perpendicular thereto, so that a holding seat for a plurality of rod-shaped products can be formed between these two second partitions, with these two second partitions forming support walls for laterally supporting the rod-shaped products arranged between them.

As far as the first partition walls are concerned, these can each border on the respective second longitudinal folding line and can be of different widths, so that the retaining seat that can be formed by the first supporting walls and the bottom wall for the bar-shaped product or products (relative to the longitudinal center axis of the folding blank) is arranged off-centre. Alternatively, they can also be designed with the same width, so that the retaining seat that can be formed is arranged in the middle.

A first layer of rod-shaped products can be arranged between the two first support walls of the support joints and a second layer of rod-shaped products can be arranged in a parallel plane between second support walls of the support joints running at an angle, in particular perpendicular to this plane, with the second support wall of each support joint can be formed by a second partition which is adjacent to the first partition and is connected to it by a longitudinal fold line, the second supporting wall or partition being foldable about this longitudinal fold line in such a way that it can be transferred into a position in which it is parallel with Distance to the first support wall and at an angle, in particular perpendicular to the bottom wall, in particular in another (preferably arranged above) level.

A pack according to the invention for or with rod-shaped product(s) from the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, is characterized by an outer pack made of film, in particular closed, in particular a bag, preferably with at least three sealing seams, and a tray arranged inside the film, which is folded from one of the embodiments of a folding blank as described above or from a combination of these embodiments, in particular a tray in which a product block of one or more rod-shaped products is held.

The tray of the pack can, for example, be folded from the folding blank in such a way that the two support joints are in the second position after the folding, in which each first support wall is in each case forming a holding seat comprising the base wall and the two first support walls for one or several stick-shaped products extending at an angle, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom wall, and in which each support hinge covers or blocks a space between the side flap to which it is hinged and its support wall, so that it cannot be occupied by one or more stick-shaped products.

As an alternative to this, however, it is also conceivable that the tray is folded out of the folding blank in such a way that the two support joints are not in the second position, but are pivoted into the third position, in which each first support panel extends in the plane of the bottom panel, and in which either a) each first partition panel is pivoted about the second longitudinal fold line, by which the first partition panel is hinged to the first support panel, in particular via its entire length, is folded into a position at an angle to the bottom wall, in particular perpendicular to it, so that between these two first intermediate walls (and the bottom wall and the first supporting walls running in the same plane) a holding seat is formed for several stick-shaped products, these two first partitions form supporting walls for respective lateral support of the bar-shaped products arranged between them, or (if the supporting joint has two partitions), in which b) each first partition also extends, in particular over its entire length, in the plane of the bottom wall, and each second partition, in particular over its entire length, to a Longitudinal fold line, through which the second partition is hinged to the first partition, is folded into a position at an angle to the bottom wall, in particular perpendicular to it, so that between these two second partitions (and the bottom wall and the first partitions and first Supporting walls) a holding seat for a plurality of rod-shaped products is formed, these two second partition walls forming support walls for respectively laterally supporting the rod-shaped products arranged between them.

A method according to the invention for the production of packs, in each of which a product block of one or more stick-shaped products of the tobacco industry is arranged held by a tray, the tray being folded from one of the embodiments of a folding blank as described above or from a combination of these Embodiments, is characterized in that in each case one folding blank is conveyed, preferably in a horizontal plane, to an area of a folding station in which each supporting joint is moved from the first position, in which the supporting wall of each supporting joint is arranged in the plane of the bottom wall, into the second position is folded, in which the supporting wall extends at an angle, in particular perpendicular to the bottom wall.

Before folding the respective support joint into the second position, each first supporting wall can be folded into an intermediate position running obliquely to the bottom wall, wherein the product block is conveyed to the folding blank held ready in this intermediate position of the supporting walls, in particular along a product block guide track, and is brought together with it to form a unit, and wherein each supporting joint is then folded into the second position by folding the respective first supporting wall.

The foldable blank can be folded in the folding station with the cooperation of two spaced, stationary folding walls of the folding station, which interact with a folding element, which is preferably designed as a stamping element and moves back and forth in particular centrally between the stationary folding walls, which preferably folds the foldable blank in a vertical plane , presses (or stamps) into the space between the folding panels so that the outer side flaps are folded into a position at an angle to the bottom panel.

The outer side flaps can each be folded over by 180° from a position in which they extend in the plane of the bottom wall to a position in which they run parallel to the plane of the bottom wall, in particular before the blank is pressed between the stationary folding walls , in that they are each folded over onto the adjoining intermediate wall around the longitudinal fold line arranged on one of their longitudinal sides.

Each first support wall of each support joint of the folding blank can be folded from a position in which it extends in the plane of the bottom wall into the intermediate position by a folder of the folding station, which in particular moves back and forth, in particular by the folder preferably pressing from below against the first retaining wall presses.

Each first supporting wall can be folded into the position corresponding in particular to the second position of the respective supporting joint by means of a further, in particular stationary folding means, preferably a folding wall, along which the unit formed from folding blank and product block is conveyed, in which the first supporting wall is perpendicular to the bottom wall runs.

The folding blank can be conveyed to the folding station in a conveying plane that runs above one or the product block guide track, along which the product block is conveyed—in particular at an angle or transversely to the product block guide track namely in a position arranged above the stationary folding walls, wherein the folding element moves the folding blank from this position by pressing it into the space between the folding walls into a merging position arranged in particular below the product block guide track, and wherein the product block is moved along the product block guide track in conveyed to a position above the merging position and then further conveyed together with the folded blank as a unit for further handling.

A device for producing such packs, preferably for carrying out the method, in which a product block held by a tray and made of one or more rod-shaped products is arranged, the tray being folded from one of the embodiments of a folding blank as described above or from a combination of these embodiments, is characterized by a folding station, to which such a folding blank can be conveyed, in particular in a horizontal plane, in which each supporting joint can be moved from the first position, in which the first supporting wall of each supporting joint is arranged in the plane of the bottom wall, into the second position is foldable, in which the first support wall extends at an angle, in particular perpendicular to the bottom wall.

In this case, the folding station can have two spaced-apart, stationary folding walls, as well as a folding element, in particular a folding stamp, which interacts with them and can be moved back and forth in the middle between them.

The folding station may further include one or more reciprocating folders for folding each support hinge of the folder from a position in which the first support wall of the support hinge extends in the plane of or parallel to the bottom wall to a position , in which the first supporting wall of the folding blank runs at an angle to the bottom wall, preferably in an intermediate position running obliquely to the bottom wall.

Further features of the present invention result from the appended patent claims, the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and the appended drawings. It shows: 1 shows a pack according to the invention with a tray arranged therein (first embodiment), in an oblique view,

2 shows a sectional view of the pack from FIG. 1 along the sectional plane II-II in FIG. 1,

3 shows a web of material for folding blanks from which the trays shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are produced, in plan view, FIG. 4 the tray from FIGS. 1 and 2 without packaging (exempted), in an oblique view

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a tray, in an oblique view, Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a pack with a third embodiment of a tray which, like the trays of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, is folded from the folding blank according to Fig. 3, but in different from the tray of figs. 1, 2 and 4, fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a package with a fourth embodiment of a tray, which can accommodate two superimposed layers of stick-shaped products,

8 shows a cross section of a package with a fifth embodiment of a tray, which can also accommodate two layers of stick-shaped products arranged one above the other,

Fig. 9 shows a folded blank for producing the tray from Fig. 7, in plan view, Fig. 10 is an oblique view of a region of a device according to the invention for producing the packs according to the invention, in which the trays of Fig. 1,2,4 are folded, with individual organs emerging

are not shown for reasons of simplification, 11 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 10, but without omitting the individual organs,

12 shows a section through the area from FIG. 11 along the section line XII-XII,

13 shows a section through the area from FIG. 11 along the section line XIII-XIII, FIG. 14 shows a section through the area from FIG. 11 along the section line XIV-XIV,

15 shows a section through the area from FIG. 11 along the section line XV-XV,

16 shows a section through the area from FIG. 11 along the section line XVI-XVI,

FIG. 17 a folding blank for producing the tray from FIG. 18, in top view;

18 shows a sixth embodiment of a tray, in an oblique view.

In the present exemplary embodiments, the packs 10 according to the invention are each designed as a bag, specifically as a so-called (closed) 4-edge sealed bag. The packs 10 are each made of (here transparent) film. The four peripheral edges accordingly have sealing seams 20 in a known manner. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to such packs. For example, 3-side sealed bags or flow packs can also be used, etc.

In the pack 10 shown in FIG. 1 there is arranged a first embodiment of a tray 11 which is folded/manufactured from a first embodiment of a folding blank 12 according to the invention, shown in FIG. 3 and shown in FIGS. The tray 11 has a holding seat 13 in which three rod-shaped products are present

14 are arranged as a product block 30 (cigarettes in this example). The rod-shaped products 14 are held in position within the pack 10 by the tray 11 or the holding seat 13 thereof, so that they cannot move loosely in the pack 10 .

The holding seat 13 only extends over part of the length of the tray 11. It is formed or delimited by a base formed by a base wall 15 (a portion thereof) and two spaced-apart first supporting walls running in parallel planes perpendicular to this base wall 15 16, between which the rod-shaped products 14 or the product block 30 can be or is arranged and which support the rod-shaped products 14 laterally. The distance between the first supporting walls 16 corresponds to the width of the product block 30 made up of a fixed number of stick-shaped products 14 arranged next to one another. In the case of the tray 11 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the product block 30 comprises three stick-shaped products 14.

Each first supporting wall 16 of the tray 11 is bordered by a middle partition wall section 17b of a first partition wall 17 (here horizontally) extending parallel to the bottom wall 15.

Each intermediate wall 17 also has two outer intermediate wall sections 17a and 17b, which in the present case do not extend parallel to the bottom wall 15, but each extend perpendicularly.

All three intermediate wall sections 17a, 17b and 17c of each intermediate wall 17 border on a common longitudinal side in each case on one of two outer side tabs 18 of the tray 11, which in the present case are at an angle to the bottom wall

15 and at an angle to each intermediate wall section 17a, 17b and 17c.

The outer side tabs 18 serve in particular to stabilize the position of the tray 11 within the pack 10 so that it is prevented or at least reduced from slipping relative to the pack 10 . For this purpose, outer longitudinal edges 19 of the outer side tabs 18 are supported on one of opposite inner sides 21 of the packs 10, which in the present case each run together at an angle to an adjacent (longitudinal) sealing seam 20.

The first support walls 16 and the central partition wall sections 17b of the first partition walls 17 each form a movable support joint 21a or 21b in the present case.

Each support joint 21a, 21b can, according to a way of folding the foldable blank 12 as part of the production of the tray 11, when folding the foldable blank 12, which is generally initially flat, as shown in Fig. 3, from a/the one shown in Fig. 3, in which both the first supporting walls 16 and the first intermediate walls 17 extend in the plane of the bottom wall 15, can be folded or pivoted into a second position, in which the first supporting walls 16 are in the position shown in Fig. 1 , 2 and 4 are in the position shown, ie in the position perpendicular to the bottom wall 15.

Each support joint 21a, 21b, namely the respective middle partition wall section 17b of the first partition wall 17 thereof, also covers, in the second position of the respective support joint 21a, 21b, a space 26 between the respective outer side flap 18, to which it is articulated, and the respective first support wall 16 of the respective support joint 21, a, 21b, so that it cannot be occupied by one or more rod-shaped products 14.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the width of each covered space 26 corresponds to the width of a rod-shaped product 14, but it can also be larger or smaller. This space width can be adjusted accordingly, in the present example depending on how the width of the middle partition wall section 17b of the first partition wall 17 is selected.

The foldable support joints 21a, 21b make it possible, among other things, by simply adjusting the dimensions in particular, to produce or use different folding blanks of the same width, from which trays 11 can be folded, which differ in their capacity for stick-shaped products 14 . Among other things, this possibility of using folding blanks of identical width generally reduces the number of necessary adjustment measures in the production process if different trays with different storage capacities are to be produced. Because it is then not necessary, for example, to adapt the width of transport tracks for the folding blanks to different folding blank widths.

Another important aspect is that, depending on the design of the respective folding blank, it is also possible to produce or fold different trays with different storage capacities from one and the same folding blank.

Thus, not only can the tray 11 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 be produced from the folding blank 12 of FIG. 3, but also a second embodiment of a tray 11, as shown in FIG has a larger absorption capacity.

For this purpose, the folding blank 12 of FIG. 3 must be folded in a different way than is the case when producing the tray of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4:

During the folding or production of the tray 11 of FIG. 6, the two support joints 21a, 21b must not be pivoted from their first position into the second position described above, but must be folded into an alternative third position.

In this third position, the first support wall 16 remains in its starting position, which it occupies when the folding blank 12 is in the flat state. It therefore continues to extend in the plane of the bottom wall 15.

On the other hand, all three intermediate wall sections 17a, 17b and 17c of each first intermediate wall 17, i.e. in contrast to the tray 11 of FIGS bottom wall 15, so that the holding seat 13 in this embodiment of the tray 11 is formed between the two middle intermediate wall sections 17b, which are then vertical, and not between the first support walls 17 (which are now arranged in the plane of the bottom wall 15). Correspondingly, the two central intermediate wall sections 17b in this case serve as support walls for lateral support of the rod-shaped products 14 arranged between them.

The first supporting walls 17, on the other hand, together with the bottom wall 15, delimit the holding seat 13 from below or form the bottom of the same.

In order to enable the two aforementioned different end positions of each support joint 21a, 21b, which depend on the type of folding process, or the pivotability of the individual components of each support joint 21a, 21b, each first support wall 16 in this embodiment of the folding blank 12 is overhanging on one long side a longitudinal fold line 22 is hinged to the bottom wall 15 .

On its opposite longitudinal side, each first supporting wall 16 is connected in an articulated manner to the middle partition wall section 17b of the first partition wall 17 via a longitudinal folding line 23 .

Each first intermediate wall 17 is in turn articulated along an entire longitudinal side, i.e. over the full length, therefore also in the area of the middle intermediate wall section 17b, to one or the associated/adjacent outer side flap 18 via a longitudinal fold line 24.

A separating cut 25a or 25b runs along each of the two transverse sides of each first support wall 17, whereby free edges of the first support wall 17 are formed, which can move relative to the bottom wall 15 when the support walls 17 are pivoted.

The separating cuts 25a, 25b each also extend further along the transverse sides of the adjoining central intermediate wall sections 17b aligned with the transverse sides of the first support walls 17, so that these can also move with the formation of correspondingly free edges.

5 shows a further embodiment of a tray 11 in which the associated folding blank 12 (not shown in flat form) from which it is folded is not only a central supporting joint 21a or 21b, but in which two supporting joints 21a or 21b are located on or in the area of each longitudinal side of the folding blank 12, located opposite one another at a distance and in each case at the edge (in the area of the transverse sides).

Each of the (four) supporting joints 21a or 21b comprises a first supporting wall 17a or 17b (arranged on the edge) and one (of the) outer intermediate wall sections 17a or 17b, which in each case adjoins one of the first supporting walls 17a or 17b .

As a result, this embodiment of the tray 11 has two spatially separate holding seats 13a and 13b arranged in a common plane, each holding one of the two opposite end regions of the product block 30 of the rod-shaped products 14 .

17 shows a further embodiment of a folding blank 12, which differs from the folding blank 12 shown in FIGS. which in the present case is just as wide as the first intermediate wall 17, which is arranged between the first intermediate wall 17 and the respective outer side flap 18, which is connected to the first intermediate wall 17 on one longitudinal side via the longitudinal fold line 24 and which is connected to the first intermediate wall 17 on the other longitudinal side via a longitudinal fold line 29 is connected to the outer side flap 18.

The middle partition wall section 27b of the second partition wall is also delimited on its transverse sides by the separating cuts 25a, 25b and correspondingly—like the middle partition wall section 17b of the first partition wall 17—between two outer partition wall sections 27a and 27c of the second partition wall 27.

FIG. 18 shows a tray 17 that was folded from the folding blank of FIG. In the shown second position of the respective support joint 21a or 21b, the central partition wall section 27b of each second partition wall 27 extends in the same plane as the central partition wall section 17b of the first partition wall 17, i.e. also parallel to the bottom wall 15, which means that the the space 26 covered by the respective support joint 21a or 21b (by the two intermediate wall sections 17a, 27a) is correspondingly wider (twice as wide) than the corresponding space 26 of the tray 11 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4.

The distance between the first supporting walls 16 is correspondingly smaller, so that in this example only a product block 30 comprising a single stick-shaped product 14 fits between them or into the holding seat 13 .

However, the folding blank 12 of FIG. 17 can also be folded in a different way, so that a further embodiment of a tray 11 with a larger storage capacity than that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is produced (not shown).

In this case, the folding blank 12 of FIG. 17 is not folded from the flat state (first position) into the second position, but rather into an alternative third position.

In this third position, both the first supporting walls 16 and the first intermediate walls 17 then extend in the plane of the bottom wall 15.

The two second partitions 27, on the other hand, are folded (over their full length, i.e. all three partition sections 27a, 27b, 27c) perpendicularly to the bottom wall 15 (about the longitudinal folding line 24), so that between these two second partitions 27 (arranged parallel and spaced apart) or the holding seat 13 for the rod-shaped products 14 is formed.

In this case, the second partition walls 27 each form (the) support walls for the rod-shaped products 14. In the present example—as in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a pack 10 in which a further embodiment of a tray 11 is contained. FIG. 9 shows the associated folding blank 12 from which this tray 11 is made.

The folding blank 12 is similar to that of FIG. 17, but differs from it:

First, one of the two first partitions 17 (left half of the blank) does not have the same width over the full length of the folding blank 12, but its middle partition wall section 17b is twice as wide as its outer partition wall sections 17a or 17b.

Furthermore, the two outer side flaps 18 are twice as wide compared to the width of the first support walls 16 and the second intermediate walls 27 (also twice as wide compared to the outer side flaps of the folding blank 12 of FIG. 17).

Finally, the second partition walls 27 are not divided into three partition wall sections by the separating cuts 25a, 25b, but rather undivided, since the separating cuts 25a, 25b only extend along the respective first support wall 16 and the first partition wall 17 in each case.

As a result, due to the corresponding (double) width of the outer side flaps 18, which define the height of the tray 11, the tray 11 of FIG. 7 folded from the folding blank 12 of FIG Products 14 record. The tray 11 folded from the folding blank 12 accordingly has twice the height of the tray in FIG. 18.

During the production/folding of the tray 11, the first supporting walls 16 of the respective supporting joint 21a, 21b are folded from a/the first position, in which they run in the plane of the bottom wall 15, into a position perpendicular to the bottom wall 15 and then form a first holding seat 13 for a first (lower) layer of stick-shaped products 14 - similar to the tray of Fig. 18. The middle intermediate wall section 17b of each first intermediate wall 17 is also folded from a first position in which it extends in the plane of the bottom wall 15 into a plane parallel to the bottom wall 15 - similar to the folding of the folding blank 12 of FIG . In this position, it again covers the space 26 between the respective outer side flap 18 and the respective support wall 16.

Due to the different widths of these two middle partition wall sections 17b of the first partition walls 17 , the first holding seat 13 is also positioned eccentrically in relation to the longitudinal center axis of the folding blank 12 .

After corresponding further folding, however--in contrast to the tray 11 of FIG. 18--the second partitions 27 also extend in the folded position perpendicularly to the bottom wall 15 or perpendicularly to the respective horizontally arranged middle partition wall section 17b. Namely in a plane which is arranged above that plane in which the first support walls 16 and the holding seat 13 are located.

A second retaining seat 28 arranged above the first retaining seat 12 is then formed between these two second intermediate walls 27 . The second intermediate walls 27 delimit this second retaining seat 28 correspondingly laterally or (also) form support walls.

A second (upper) layer of stick-shaped products 14 can therefore be accommodated in the second holding seat 28, see FIG Level. At least the outer rod-shaped products 14 of the upper layer rest on the first intermediate walls 17 extending parallel to the bottom wall 15 .

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a variant of the pack 10 or of the tray 11 from FIG. In contrast to the tray 11 of FIG. 9, the tray 11 of FIG. 8 is based on a folding blank 12 (not shown), in which the two middle partition wall sections 17b do not have different widths, but the same width. In addition, the width of the first intermediate walls 17 is constant over their entire length, ie along all three intermediate wall sections 17a, 17b, 17c.

This means that after a similar fold as in the manufacture of the tray 11 in FIG the identical width of the middle partition wall sections 17b - in the middle.

Essential aspects of a conveying and folding process of a device and a method for producing packs 10 with a tray 11, as shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3, are explained below with reference to FIGS. 10-16. However, basic relationships can also be applied to the production of the other embodiments of the tray 11 shown in the figures, if necessary in an adapted form, as is easily recognizable for the person skilled in the art.

As can be seen in Fig. 10, to produce the tray 11 from a folded blank 12, individual product blocks 30 made from rod-shaped products 14 are conveyed according to the invention along a product block guide track 31 to an area of a device or machine for producing the packs 10 that has a folding station 32.

The device for producing the packs 10 is only partially shown. Various aggregates arranged upstream or downstream of the folding station 32 are not shown, since these are known in the prior art. The combination or grouping of individual rod-shaped products 14 into product groups or product blocks 30 can, for example, take place in a known manner in an upstream unit of the device for producing the packs 10 that is suitable for this purpose.

The above-mentioned product block guide track 31 has a sliding wall 33, on the horizontal upper side of which the product block 30 rests and along which the product block 30 is conveyed in the direction of and along the folding station 32, specifically by means of product block drivers 46. Transversely to the product block guideway 31, individual folding blanks 12 are conveyed one after the other along a horizontal transverse transporting path 34, which is located in a plane above the conveying plane of the product blocks 30, into a transfer position arranged above the product block guideway 31, in which position the respective folding blank is located 12 is located above the product block guide track 31 or above the conveying plane of the product blocks 30.

The individual, flat or unfolded blanks of the foldable blank 12 are previously, namely upstream of the transverse transport path 34, in a manner known per se in a cutting station 36 from a continuous foldable blank material web already provided with the respective fold lines and separating cuts for the individual foldable blanks 12 35 cut and separated. The outer side tabs 18 are pre-bent or pre-folded at a bending station 37, which is also known per se. In the present case, they are folded over by 180°, namely folded onto the underside of the first intermediate walls 17 (by means of active folding elements or passive folding switches).

Downstream of the bending station 37, the folding blanks 12 are then conveyed to the transverse transport path 34, along which the folding blanks 12 are then—as described above—conveyed one after the other to the transfer position by means of a transverse push-off conveyor element 39 (carrier belt).

The respective folded blank 12 located in the transfer position is then conveyed from the transfer position in a horizontal conveying plane parallel to the respective product block guideway 32 downstream to the folding station 32 . In the present case, this conveying process takes place by means of a conveying blank driver 38 which is designed as a fork-like slide and moves back and forth in the conveying plane of the folding blanks 12 .

The folding blank 12 that has arrived in the folding station 32 is combined there with a product block 30 that has been conveyed to the folding station 32 .

For this purpose, the folding blank 12 located in the folding station 32 is moved from its position above the product block guide track 31 by a folding element 40 that can be moved back and forth, in particular up and down, which is present as a stamping element is formed and reciprocates in a vertical plane perpendicular to the stationary product block guideway 31, moves down or pushes.

Namely, in a space between two spaced-apart folding walls 41 (as part of a folding chute) arranged in a vertical plane, which are arranged on either side of the product block guide track 31. The downward movement occurs until the fold blank 12 is in a merge position (slightly) below the product chock guideway 31 .

During the stamping process by the folding element 40, each first intermediate wall 17 of the folding blank 12 with the respective outer side tab 18 resting against it is moved out of a/the first position by abutting/contacting the folding walls 41, in which the first intermediate wall 17 is in the plane of the bottom wall 15 of the folding blank 12, folded over its full length about the longitudinal folding line 23, specifically into a first intermediate position, namely an inclined position relative to the bottom wall 15 (directed obliquely upwards).

The folding blank 12 is then pressed down by the folding element 40 beyond the retaining projections 42 arranged on the folding walls 41, which fix the folding blank 12 in a lower position or prevent it from moving upwards in the opposite direction.

At least in sections below the folding walls 41 are (here two) lower folders 43, each pivoting from below into the space delimited by the two folding walls 41, thereby raising the support joints 21a and 21b into an intermediate position. In particular, such that the first supporting walls 16 are each pivoted into an intermediate position running obliquely to the bottom wall 15 and the central partition wall sections 17b of the first partition wall 17 are already in an intermediate position extending parallel to the bottom wall 15, cf. Fig. 14.

For this purpose, the lower folders 43 grip the folding blank 12 laterally in the region of the two central partition wall sections 17b of the first partition wall 17 from below. They each dive into a free space 44 of the folding element 40 (the sub-folders 43 and the folding element 40 each form a stamp or a counter die that fits this). While the foldable blank 12 is in the described position, the foldable blank 12 is combined with a product block 30 . For this purpose, a product block driver 46 moved along the product block guide path 31 moves one product block 30 along the folding station 32.

In the folding station 32, the product block driver 46 is moved together with the product block 30 along the combining position (above the latter), in which it then grasps the folded blank 12 held ready by means of corresponding driver surfaces 47 and then conveys it further as a unit while combining it with the product block 30 .

In the further course, the unit of folding blank 12 and product block 30 is conveyed further by the product block driver 30, namely along lateral folding walls 48 of the folding station 32, which completely erect or retract the support joints 21a, 21b from the intermediate position, completing the tray 11. fold into the second position in which, in particular, the first support walls 16 are in the vertical position relative to the bottom wall 15 and laterally support the stick-shaped products 14 of the product block 30.

The further handling of the tray 11 with the product block 30 arranged therein then takes place in a known manner. In particular, the tray 11 with the product block 30 is packed in a further area of the device (not shown) in a pack 10 made of foil, as is shown, for example, in FIG.

February 23, 2022

Reference List

10 pack 30 block of product

11 Tray 31 product block guideway

12 folding blank 32 folding station

13 retaining seat 33 sliding wall

13a support seat 34 cross transport path

13b holding seat 35 fold blank web of material

14 bar-shaped products 36 cutting station

15 bottom wall 37 bending station

16 first support wall 38 conveyor blank drivers

17 first partition 39 transverse push-off conveyor

17a outer partition section 40 folding element 17b middle 41 folding walls

Partition wall portion 42 retaining projections 17c outer partition wall portion 43 subfolder

18 outer lateral lobes 44 free space

19 outer longitudinal edges 45 folding organ

20 sealing seams 46 product block carriers

21a support joint 47 driving surface

21b support joint 48 lateral folding walls

22 longitudinal fold line

23 longitudinal fold line

24 longitudinal fold line

25a separation cut

25b separation cut

26 covered space

27 second partition

27a outer intermediate wall section 27b middle

Partition wall portion 27c Outer partition wall portion

28 holding seat

29 longitudinal fold line

Claims

patent claims

1. Folding blank for a tray (11) for receiving one or more rod-shaped products (14) from the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, the tray (11) being intended to be arranged in a foil pack, in particular in a bag, preferably with at least three sealing seams, the folding blank (12) each having outer side tabs, in particular for stabilizing the tray (11) in the pack, and two spaced-apart first supporting walls (16) connected to one another by a bottom wall (15) for in each case lateral support of one or more rod-shaped products (14) arranged between them in a folded state of the folding blank, characterized in that each first supporting wall (16) is part of a supporting joint (21a, 21b) which is articulated to one of the side flaps, wherein the two support joints (21a, 21b) each by folding from a first position in which the first support wall (16) each of the supporting joint (21a, 21b) in each case in the plane of the base wall (15), while forming a holding seat for one or more rod-shaped products (14) comprising the base wall (15) and the two first support walls (16) and can be pivoted into a second position in which each first support wall (16) extends at an angle, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom wall (15), each support hinge (21a, 21b) in the second position respectively having a space between the side flap to which it is hinged and its Supporting wall covered or blocked so that it cannot be occupied by one or more rod-shaped products (14).

2. Folding blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the space covered by the respective support joint (21a, 21b) in the second position corresponds to at least half the width of a rod-shaped product for which the tray (11) or the holding seat of the same is provided.

3. Foldable blank according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each support joint (21a, 21b) extends over only a partial length of the foldable blank (12) and/or that each support joint (21a, 21b) is shorter than the bottom wall (15) of the folding blank (12).

4. Foldable blank according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each first support wall (16) of the respective support joint (21a, 21b) is delimited on one of its longitudinal sides by a first longitudinal fold line around which the respective first support wall (16) can be folded into the angular position, as well as in each case on opposite transverse sides by spaced-apart separating cuts or weakening lines, each running perpendicular to the longitudinal folding line.

5. Foldable blank according to Claim 4, characterized in that each first support wall (16) is connected to one of the outer side flaps via one or more intermediate walls (17, 27), one or each intermediate wall (17, 27) being connected by the the two separating cuts or weakening lines is divided into a central and two outer partition sections.

6. Foldable blank according to Claim 5, characterized in that each first supporting wall (16) of each supporting joint (21a, 21b) is delimited on its other longitudinal side by a second longitudinal fold line, to which a first intermediate wall (17) of the supporting joint (21a, 21b) adjoins, which is divided into the central and the two outer intermediate wall sections, and about which the central intermediate wall section of the first intermediate wall or its two outer intermediate sections can be folded relative to the first supporting wall, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the latter and to the bottom wall (15th ) parallel position, preferably such that the intermediate wall section(s) folded relative to the respective first support wall overlaps/covers or blocks/blocks the space between the side tab and the respective adjacent support wall.

7. The folding blank according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that each of the outer side flaps is articulated to the respective support joint (21a, 21b) via a longitudinal fold line which is arranged on one longitudinal side and delimits it , in particular a longitudinal fold line, to which the first partition (17) adjoins in each case, or a (different) second partition, which is also divided by the two separating cuts or weakening lines into a middle and two outer partition sections, in particular between the first partition and the outer side flap of the Support joint (21a, 21b), and the of middle partition section or the two outer partition sections of the adjacent partition is/are foldable relative to the outer side flap.

8. Foldable blank according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting joints (21a, 21b) can be folded from the first position (additionally) into a third position in which each first supporting wall (16) is in the plane of the bottom wall (15), and in which a) each first intermediate panel (17) extends angularly into a position about the second longitudinal fold line by which the first intermediate panel (17) is hinged to the first support panel (16), in particular over its entire length to the bottom wall (15), in particular perpendicular to it, so that between these two first partitions (17) a holding seat for several stick-shaped products (14) is formed, with these two first partitions (17) supporting walls (16) to the respective lateral support of the rod-shaped products (14) which can be arranged between them, or in which b) each first intermediate wall (17) also extends in the plane of the bottom wall (15) and each second intermediate wall (27), esp in particular over its entire length, is foldable about a longitudinal fold line by which the second partition (27) is hinged to the first partition into a position at an angle to the bottom wall (15), in particular perpendicular to it, so that between these two second partitions (27) a holding seat can be formed for several stick-shaped products (14), these two second partitions (27) forming support walls (16) for laterally supporting the stick-shaped products (14) arranged between them.

9. Foldable blank according to one or more of the preceding claims, at least according to claim 6, characterized in that the first partitions (17), at least their middle or outer partition sections, which each border on the respective second longitudinal fold line, are of different widths, so that the by the first supporting walls (16) and the bottom wall (15) for the rod-shaped product or products (14) (relative to the longitudinal central axis of the folding blank (12)) is arranged eccentrically, or that these intermediate walls (17) are of the same width , so that the holding seat is arranged in the middle.

10. Foldable blank according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first layer of rod-shaped products (14) can be arranged between the two first support walls (16) of the support joints (21a, 21b) and in a parallel plane, between second, supporting walls of the supporting joints (21a, 21b) running at an angle, in particular perpendicular to this plane, a second layer of rod-shaped products (14), the second supporting wall of each supporting joint (21a, 21b) being able to be formed by a second intermediate wall (27) which adjoins to the first intermediate wall (17) and connected to it via a longitudinal fold line, the second supporting wall or intermediate wall being foldable about this longitudinal fold line in such a way that it can be transferred into a position in which it is parallel at a distance from the first supporting wall and angled, in particular perpendicular to the bottom wall (15).

11. Pack for rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry, in particular cigarettes, with an outer pack made of film, in particular a bag, preferably with at least three sealing seams, with a tray (11) arranged inside the film, which consists of a folded blank according to one or more of the preceding claims is folded.

12. Pack according to claim 11, characterized in that the tray (11) is folded out of the folding blank (12) in such a way that the two support joints (21a, 21b) are in the second position in which the first support walls (16) are pivoted into the second position, in which the first supporting wall (16) moves at an angle, in particular perpendicularly, to the bottom wall, each forming a holding seat for one or more stick-shaped products (14), comprising the bottom wall (15) and the two first supporting walls (16). (15) and in which each support joint (21a, 21b) covers or blocks a space between the side flap to which it is jointed and its supporting wall, so that it is not occupied by one or more rod-shaped products (14). can.

13. Pack according to claim 12, characterized in that the tray (11) is folded out of the folding blank (12) in such a way that the two support joints (21a, 21b) are pivoted into the third position in which each first support wall (16 ) extends in the plane of the bottom panel (15), and in which either a) each first intermediate panel (17) about the second longitudinal fold line by which the first intermediate panel (17) is hinged to the first support panel, in particular over its entire length, in a position at an angle to the bottom wall (15), in particular perpendicular to it, so that between these two first partitions (17) a holding seat for several stick-shaped products (14) is formed, these two first partitions (17) form support walls for lateral support of the bar-shaped products (14) arranged between them, or in which b) each first intermediate wall (17) also extends, in particular over its entire length, in the plane of the bottom wall (15), and each second partition (27) is folded, in particular over its entire length, about a longitudinal fold line by which the second partition (27) is hinged to the first partition, into a position at an angle to the bottom wall (15), in particular perpendicular thereto so that between these two second partitions (17) there is formed a holding seat for several stick-shaped products (14), these two second partitions (27) form support walls for the respective lateral support of the rod-shaped products (14) arranged between them.

14. Process for the production of packs for in particular rod-shaped products (14) of the tobacco industry from film, in particular bags, preferably with at least three sealing seams, in each of which a product block held by a tray (11) and made of one or more rod-shaped products (14) of the tobacco industry, with a respective folding blank (12) for the tray (11) according to one or more of the preceding claims 1-10, preferably in a horizontal plane, in a region of a folding station (32) for folding the tray (11) from the folded blank (12) is conveyed in which each supporting joint (21a, 21b) is moved from the first position, in which the first supporting wall (16) of each supporting joint (21a, 21b) is arranged in the plane of the bottom wall (15), to the second Position is folded, in which the first support wall (16) extends at an angle, in particular perpendicular to the bottom wall (15).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that each first supporting wall (16) is folded into an intermediate position running obliquely to the bottom wall (15) before the respective supporting joint (21a, 21b) is folded into the second position, so that the product block is this intermediate position of the first support walls (16) is conveyed ready held folding blank (12), in particular along a product block guide track and is brought together to form a unit, and in that each support hinge (21a, 21b) is thereafter folded into the second position by folding the respective first support wall.

16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 -

15, characterized in that the folding blank (12) is folded in the folding station (32) with the participation of two spaced-apart, stationary folding walls of the folding station (32), which are preferably designed as a stamping element and are located in particular centrally between the stationary folding walls reciprocating folding member which urges (or stamps) the fold blank (12), preferably in a vertical plane, into the space between the fold walls so that the outer side flaps are folded to a position angular to the bottom wall (15).

17. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 -

16, characterized in that the outer side flaps are each folded over by 180° before the blank is pressed between the stationary folding walls from a position in which they extend in the plane of the bottom wall (15) to a position in which they are parallel to the plane of the bottom wall (15), in particular by being folded over onto the adjacent intermediate wall around the longitudinal fold line arranged on one of its longitudinal sides.

18. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims 15 -

17, characterized in that each first support wall (16) of each support joint (21a, 21b) of the folding blank (12) is moved by a folder of the folding station (32), which moves in particular to and fro, from a position in which it is in the plane of the bottom wall (15) is folded into the intermediate position, in particular by the folder preferably pressing against the first support wall (16) from below,

19. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 -

18, at least according to Claim 15, characterized in that each first supporting wall (16) is conveyed by a further, in particular stationary folding means, preferably a folding wall, along which the unit formed from the folding blank (12) and product block is conveyed, in particular into the second position of the respective Support joint (21a, 21b) is folded corresponding position in which the first support wall (16) perpendicular to the bottom wall (15).

20. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 - 19, characterized in that the folding blank (12) in a conveying plane that runs above one or the product block guide track, along which the product block is conveyed, to the folding station (32) is conveyed - in particular at an angle or transversely to the product block guide track - in a position arranged above the stationary folding walls, that the folding member moves the folding blank (12) from this position by pressing it into the space between the folding walls into a position, in particular below the Product block guide track arranged merge position moves, and that the product block along the product block guide track is promoted to a position above the merge position and then further promoted together with the folding blank (12) as a unit for further handling.

21. Device for the production of packs for in particular rod-shaped products (14) of the tobacco industry from film, in particular bags, preferably with at least three sealing seams, in each of which a tray (11) held product block made of one or more rod-shaped products (14) is arranged, preferably for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims 14-20, with a folding station (32) to which a folding blank (12) for the tray (11) according to one or more of the preceding claims 1-10 can be conveyed , preferably in a horizontal plane, and in which the outer side flaps and/or the first support walls (16) move from a first position in which they are arranged in the plane of or parallel to the bottom wall (15) to a position angled thereto are foldable.

22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that the folding station (32) has two spaced-apart, stationary folding walls and a folding member, in particular a folding stamp, which interacts with them and can be moved back and forth in the middle between them.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the folding station (32) has one or more reciprocating folders with which or wherein each support hinge (21a, 21b) of the folder is foldable from a position in which the first support wall (16) of the support hinge (21a, 21b) extends in the plane of or parallel to the bottom wall (15). , in which the first supporting wall (16) of the folding blank (12) runs at an angle to the bottom wall (15), preferably in an intermediate position running obliquely to the bottom wall (15).

24. Device according to claim 21, 22 or 23, characterized by one or more features of claims 14-20.