JP2013543823A - Supply method and supply unit for attaching a coupon to a collar, and a package having a hinged lid with the collar and coupon - Google Patents

Abstract

  A method and supply unit (28) for adapting the coupon (19) to the collar (14), the coupon (19) being placed on the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14), the coupon ( Folding the retaining tab (20) of the collar (14) in an elevated position relative to the first wall (16; 17) before placing 19) on the first wall (16; 17); and After placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), the coupon (19) is colored (14) by gripping the coupon (19) against the first wall (16; 17). In order to secure to, the retaining tab (20) is provided to be bent towards the collar (14).

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply method and supply unit for attaching a coupon to a collar and a package having a hinged lid with the collar and coupon. In the following description, for the sake of brevity and as a non-limiting example, only cigarette boxes will be referred to.

  A box with a cigarette hinged lid contains an inner package that houses a bunch of cigarettes and a transparent lid that contains the inner package, has a hinged lid, and is heat-sealed to preserve the humidity and scent of tobacco. And a rigid container wrapped in an overwrap of plastic (usually polypropylene).

  Some cigarette boxes contain coupons in the form of sheets (possibly folded) on which advertisements and images are printed, which are usually inserted between a container and a transparent plastic wrap, It can be seen without opening or inserted inside the front of the container, ie between the front wall of the inner package and the front wall of the container.

  To insert the coupon into the container, the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package and the blank is folded around the inner package and the coupon to form the container. Although this method is widely used, it has a major drawback. That is, between the station where the coupon is placed on the front wall of the inner package and the station where the blank is folded around the inner package and coupon, the inner package is fed through a number of other stations, so that On the way, steps must be taken to prevent the coupon from slipping relative to the inner package, i.e. to keep the coupon in the correct position on the inner package. Such measures, however, are always complicated and expensive, and are not always effective, with the result that the number of defective boxes is not insignificant.

  One proposed solution to this problem is to secure the coupon to the inner package using a spot of heat (ie, quickly glue) adhesive. This is less common, but detracts from the appearance of the coupon (and the inner package) as part of the coupon is broken when removed from the inner package.

  In order to solve this problem, US Pat. No. 6,057,059 proposes to first connect the coupon to the collar (ie, without using an adhesive) and then attach the collar and coupon together to the inner package. Yes. In order to mechanically connect the coupon to the collar, the front wall of the collar has a V-shaped notch that is engaged by a corresponding portion of the coupon. In other words, this V-shaped cut forms a retaining tab that is lifted slightly away from the front wall to engage and grip the coupon against the front wall. Since the notch is centered and upwards, it essentially provides for fixing the coupon longitudinally relative to the collar.

  The solution proposed in US Pat. No. 6,099,077 solves, at least in part, the problem of preventing coupon slippage when folding a blank around the inner package and coupon to form a container. In order to be effective, the coupons need to be cut and the retaining tabs on the collar are inserted here. Apart from the fact that the notch can damage the appearance of the coupon (which is obviously a serious problem given the pure advertising function of the coupon), on the packaging machine, on the color It is very difficult to automatically insert the retention tab into the coupon cut.

  In addition, the solution proposed in US Pat. No. 6,057,836 applies only to coupons that cannot be folded (i.e. not applied to relatively large coupons that are folded one or more times to reduce size). .

European Patent No. 0665174

  The object of the present invention is to provide a feeding method and a feeding unit for attaching a coupon to a collar, and a package with a hinged lid comprising the collar and the coupon, which are designed to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, in particular cheap and easy to implement Is to provide.

  In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a supply method and supply unit for attaching a coupon to a collar and a package having a hinged lid with the collar and coupon, as described in the appended claims.

  Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a front perspective view of a cigarette box according to the present invention in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cigarette box of FIG. 1 in an open position. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cigarette box of FIG. 1 in a closed position. FIG. It is an expanded view of the color of the cigarette box of FIG. It is a figure which shows the color of FIG. 4 with which the coupon was attached. It is a figure which shows the modification of the design of the color of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the design of the color of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the design of the color of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view of the packaging machine which manufactures the cigarette box of FIG. It is a perspective view of the color supply unit which forms a part of packaging machine of FIG. It is a perspective view of the color supply unit which forms a part of packaging machine of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the operating sequence performed by the supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11 to attach the coupon to the collar of the cigarette box of FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the color supply unit of FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. FIG. 19 is another perspective view of a number of components of the supply unit of FIG. 18 with parts removed for clarity.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 generally represents a hard cigarette box including a cup-shaped paperboard container 2 and an inner package 3 accommodated in the container 2. The inner package 3 includes a parallelepiped-shaped cigarette bundle, is closed by a cut-away cover portion, and has upper and front cigarette take-out openings extending over a part of the front wall and a part of the upper wall of the inner package 3. Have.

  The container 2 is along the hinge 6 so as to rotate with respect to the container 2 between an open upper end 4 and an open position (FIG. 2) that opens and closes the open upper end 4 respectively and a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 3). It has a cup-shaped lid 5 hinged to the container 2.

  When the lid 5 is in the closed position, the container 2 has a parallelepiped shape which is a rectangular parallelepiped, and is opposed to each other and parallel to the upper wall 7 and the lower wall 8, opposed to each other and parallel to the front wall 9. And a rear wall 10 and two parallel side walls 11 arranged between the walls 9 and 10. Four vertical edges 12 are defined between the side wall 11 and the front and rear walls 9, 10, and eight lateral edges 13 are the upper and lower walls 7, 8 and the front, side and rear walls. 9, 10, 11.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, edges 12 and 13 are all straight. In alternative embodiments not shown, some edges 12 and 13 may be sloped or curved.

  The box 1 also includes a rigid (ie, paperboard) collar 14 that is folded into a U-shape and connected (adhered) to the interior of the container 2, with a corresponding inner surface of the lid 5 when the lid 5 is in the closed position. It projects partially from the open upper end 4 so as to engage. In a preferred embodiment, the collar 14 has two protrusions 15 that project laterally to interfere with the side walls of the lid 5 in order to hold the lid 5 in the closed position. The collar 14 includes a front wall 16 disposed in contact with the front wall 9 of the container 2, and two side walls 17 disposed on both sides of the front wall 16 and disposed in contact with the side wall 11 of the container 2. Contains. The two side walls 17 of the collar 14 are bent 90 ° with respect to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 and connected to the front wall 16 along two vertical fold lines 18 (shown in FIG. 4).

  The box 1 further includes a coupon 19 that is inserted into the container 2 between the front wall 16 of the collar 14 and the front wall of the inner package 3 so that one side of the coupon 19 is on the front wall 16 of the collar 14. The opposite surface of the coupon 19 is in contact with the front wall of the inner package 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the collar 14 includes two retaining tabs 20 located on opposite sides of the front wall 16 of the collar 14, which each receive a coupon 19 against the front wall 16 of the collar 14. The coupon 19 is fixed to the collar 14 by gripping. In other words, the end of the coupon 19 is inserted and gripped between each holding tab 20 and the front wall 16 of the collar 14. As clearly shown by the details of FIG. 5, each retention tab 20 is lifted partially away from the front wall 16 of the collar 14 to grip the coupon 19 against the front wall 16. Needless to say, each retaining tab 20 is lifted partially away from the front wall 16 of the collar 14 in the direction of the front wall of the inner package 3 (ie towards the interior of the container 2). This is because the opposite side of the front wall 16 is bonded to the front wall 9 of the container 2.

  In a preferred embodiment, each retention tab 20 is formed by a U-shaped through cut extending from the two ends of fold line 20a positioned adjacent to each fold line 18 and aligned with the fold line (ie, U-shaped). The two ends of the mold through cut are "rest" on the fold 20a). In other words, each holding tab 20 is rectangular and is partitioned on one side into a U-shaped through cut and on the other side into a separate crease 20a separated from the fold line 18. Each crease 20a must be separate and separate from the corresponding fold line 18, which means that the collar 14 material (paperboard) is weaker along the fold line 18 and thereby less elastic. Because there will be no more. On the other hand, along each crease 20a, the material of the collar 14 (paperboard) must be sufficiently elastic for the holding tab 20 to grip the coupon 19 securely.

  In an alternative, exactly equivalent embodiment, not shown, each retention tab 20 is formed by one or more V-shaped through-cuts (and thus is triangular).

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, each retention tab 20 is formed in the front wall 16 by a U-shaped through cut extending from the corresponding fold 20a to the inside of the front wall 16. On the other hand, in the embodiment equivalent to FIG. 6, each holding tab 20 is formed in the side wall 17 by a U-shaped through cut extending from the corresponding fold 20 a to the inner side of the side wall 17. On the other hand, in order to grip the coupon 19, it must be folded 180 ° around the fold 20a into the front wall 16.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the lower side of each retaining tab 20 coincides with the lower edge of the front wall 16 of the collar 14, and in an equivalent embodiment, the upper side of each retaining tab 20 is the front wall of the collar 14. Coincides with the 16 upper edges, but in both cases each through cut is L-shaped.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-7, the two folds 20a are parallel to each other and are also parallel to the fold line 18. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the two folds 20 a are inclined with respect to each other and also with respect to the fold line 18. More specifically, they approach the top of the collar 14 and move away toward the bottom of the collar 14 (ie, as they extend, the two folds 20a intersect on the collar 14). In the embodiment of FIG. 8, each holding tab 20 has a rectangular trapezoidal shape.

  Each fold 20a is slightly inclined with respect to each fold line 18, and is inclined less than 30 °, usually 10 to 15 °.

  It is important to note that the retention tab 20 may have other shapes not described or illustrated in detail (eg, semi-circular, semi-elliptical, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.).

  The embodiment shown in the drawings has one coupon 19 placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14. Another embodiment not shown has one coupon 19 placed on the side wall 17 of the collar 14 or two coupons 19 occupying positions on the two side walls 17 of the collar 14.

  FIG. 9 shows a part of a model X2, X3 or X6 cigarette wrapping machine 21 made by Di Di Societa per Acioni, which produces a cigarette box 1 of the kind described above and shown in FIGS. .

  The packaging machine 21 has a bundle forming unit 22 for forming a cigarette bundle 23, a packaging unit 24 for packaging the cigarette bundle 23 on a sheet 25 of foil packaging material for forming the inner package 3, and a coupon 19 attached thereto. It includes a packaging unit 26 that forms the outer container 2 by folding the collar 14 and the blank 27 around the inner package 3. The collar 14 with the coupon 19 attached is supplied to the packaging unit 26 by a supply unit 28 shown schematically in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 (showing a part of the supply unit 28), the supply unit 28 rotates around a rotation center axis (not shown) and is transported with a number of suction gripping heads 30 attached. Each of the suction gripping heads 30 includes a wheel 29, and a suction device 31 (with two adjacent suction members) for holding the collar 14 and a suction device 32 (1 for holding the corresponding coupon 19). Two suction members). Needless to say, the number and position of the suction members of the suction devices 31 and 32 may be changed to suit the particular collar 14 and / or coupon 19. Each suction device 31 has a folding device 33, which includes a fork-type folding device 34 having two ends positioned on the retaining tabs 20 of the collar 14 carried by the suction device 31. Each folding device 34 is retracted (ie, a predetermined distance) from the collar 14 carried by the device 31 at the two ends of the folding device 34 to fold the two retaining tabs 20 90 degrees on the collar 14. The retracted position (retracted from the collar 14) (shown in the suction device 31 on the right side of FIG. 10 and the suction device 31 of FIG. 11) and the two ends of the folding device 34 are inserted through the collar 14 carried by the suction device 31. It can be moved in the radial direction by a cam actuation system between the drawing position (shown in the suction device 31 on the left side of FIG. 10).

  The rotation of the transfer wheel 29 results in a pick-up station (FIG. 19) where the suction gripping head 30 lifts the collar 14 from the color supply unit and a coupling station 35 where the suction gripping head 30 lifts the coupon 19 attached to the collar 14 which has been lifted first. (FIGS. 10 and 11), and a suction gripping head 30 periodically feeds each suction gripping head 30 through a release station (not shown) that releases the collar 14 to which the coupon 19 is attached to the packaging unit 26.

  The supply unit 28 includes a belt conveyor 36 that continuously supplies the coupons 19 to the coupling station 35 and also includes a belt 37 fitted with a number of pockets 38 each containing a respective coupon 19.

  The coupling station 35 includes a support surface 39 on which the conveyor 36 places the coupons 19 in succession for lifting by the suction gripping head 30 on the subsequent transfer wheel 29. The support surface 39 includes a lowered receiving position (FIG. 10) in which the pockets 38 on the conveyor 36 place the coupon 19 above the support surface 39 at a predetermined distance from the support surface 39 and the support surface 39 Remove the coupon 19 from the pocket 38 and move the coupon 19 to a position for lifting by the suction gripping head 30 of the transfer wheel 29 (see FIG. 11) in the vertical direction (of the transfer wheel 29). It is movable (perpendicular to the axis of rotation). More particularly, when the support surface 39 is in the lowered receiving position (FIG. 10), the pockets 38 of the conveyor 36 place the coupon 19 above the support surface 39 and to the raised release position (FIG. 11). The support surface 39 catches the coupon 19 and removes it from the pocket 38 of the conveyor 36 in the vertical direction. Needless to say, the pocket 38 and support surface 39 of the conveyor 36 move the pocket 38 through the support surface 39 as it moves up from the lowered receiving position (FIG. 10) to the raised release position (FIG. 11). Designed to be able to move.

  Finally, the coupling stations 35 are moved cyclically towards or from each other and, in a preferred embodiment, rotated about each rotational axis that is parallel to each other and intersects the rotational axis of the transfer wheel 29. A bending device 40 including two bending members 41 is provided. The support surface 39 has a through-opening 42, and one bending member 41 moves through the through-opening 42, and the other bending member 41 is positioned on the side of the support surface 39. In this way, the support surface 39 moves freely in the direction perpendicular to the bending member 41 without mechanical interference. Obviously, each folding device 33 moves together with the corresponding gripping head 30, and the folding device 40 is separate and independent from the gripping head 30 and is positioned at the coupling station 35.

  The operation of the supply unit 28 for connecting the coupon 19 to the collar 14 will now be described with particular reference to the sequences shown in FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12, the collar 14 is supplied to the coupling station 35 by the suction gripping head 30 on the transfer wheel 29.

  As shown in FIG. 13, before the collar 14 reaches the coupling station 35, the folding device 33 on the suction gripping head 30 inserts the two ends of the folding device 34 through the collar 14 and holds the two In order to bend the tab 20 on the collar 14 by 90 °, it is moved from the retracted position to the withdrawn position (this step is also shown on the left gripping head 30 in FIG. 10). Thereafter, before the coupon 19 is placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14, the folding device 33 bends each holding tab 20 to a raised position away from the front wall 16.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the collar 14 reaches the coupling station 35, the folding device 33 on the suction gripping head 30 returns from the retracted position to the retracted position in order to remove the holding tab 20. By this time, the support surface 39 has moved from the lowered receiving position (FIG. 10) to the raised release position (FIG. 11), as described in detail above, from the pocket 38 of the conveyor 36 to the coupon 19 Is removed vertically.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, at the coupling station 35, the retaining tab 20 is folded over 90 ° with respect to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 to form a V-shaped “funnel”, thereby providing a coupon 19. Are continuously fed to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 so that the two folding members 41 of the folding device 40 are moved from a position inside the holding tab 20 (FIG. 14) to a position outside the holding tab 20 (FIG. 15). Move horizontally to and from. In other words, each holding tab 20 is folded 90 ° with respect to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 by a first folding operation performed by a folding device 33 that moves in a direction perpendicular to the front wall 16. After the first operation performed by the bending device 40 moving in the horizontal direction with respect to the front wall 16, the second wall is separated from the front wall 16 of the collar 14 by a second bending operation different from the first operation. And bends over 90 °.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when the support surface 39 is as close as possible to the gripping head 30, the coupon 19 is inserted between the two holding tabs 20 on the front wall 16 of the collar 14 and the gripping head 30 Engaged by a suction device 32 (as shown by the gripping head 30 of FIG. 11).

  When the coupon 19 is placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14, the coupon is obtained by folding the retention tab 20 toward the collar 14 and gripping the coupon 19 against the front wall 16, as shown in FIGS. In order to fix 19 to the collar 14, the two folding members 41 of the folding device 40 move from a position outside the holding tab 20 (FIG. 16) to a position inside the holding tab 20 (FIG. 17). In other words, when the coupon 19 is placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14, the folding device 40 has each holding tab to secure the coupon 19 to the collar 14 by gripping the coupon 19 against the front wall 16. 20 is bent toward the collar 14.

  As the coupon 19 is therefore attached to the collar 14, the gripping head 30 leaves the coupling station 35 and the suction gripping head 30 goes to a release station (not shown) that releases the collar 14 with the coupon 19 attached to the packaging unit 26. (As indicated by the gripping head 30 on the right side of FIG. 10).

  In the modification of FIG. 18, the supply unit 28 does not have the folding device 33 (that is, each suction device 31 on the transfer wheel 29 does not have the folding device 33) and does not have the folding device 40. .

  In this embodiment, the two retaining tabs 20 on each collar 14 are at the pick-up station (FIG. 19) where the suction gripping head 30 lifts the collar 14 from the collar supply unit, against the front wall 16 of the collar 14 by the folding device 43. Bend 90 °. In other words, in this embodiment, the folder 43 at the pick-up station in the fixed position and away from the transfer wheel 29 bends the two retaining tabs 20 of each collar 14 by 90 ° relative to the front wall 16 of the collar 14. .

  This embodiment has two fixed folding screws 44 on either side of the path through which the suction gripping head 30 passes between the pick-up station and the coupling station 35. Each folding screw 44 is mounted in a fixed position and, when the corresponding gripping head 30 passes, before the coupon 19 is placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14, it is 90 ° to the front wall 16 of the collar 14. Having a folding profile that engages each retention tab 20 to fold the retention tabs 20 beyond, the retention tabs 20 open into a V-shaped “funnel” which causes the coupon 19 to be Insert continuously into the front wall 16.

  This embodiment also has two fixed folding screws 45 (shown only in FIG. 18) on either side of the path through which the suction gripping head 30 passes between the coupling station 35 and the release station (not shown). Each folding screw 45 is mounted in a fixed position, and when the corresponding gripping head 30 passes, after the coupon 19 is placed on the front wall 16 of the collar 14, the holding tab 20 is folded towards the collar 14 and the front It has a folding profile that engages each retention tab 20 to secure the coupon 19 to the collar 14 by gripping the coupon 19 against the wall 16.

  In other words, each holding tab 20 is bent by 90 ° with respect to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 by the first bending operation performed by the bending device 43, and then performed by the bending screw 44. After that, the second folding operation separated from this is folded over 90 ° with respect to the front wall 16 of the collar 14.

  When the supply unit 28 of FIG. 18 is used, in order to facilitate the folding of the fixing tab 20 by the folding screws 44 and 45, the folds 20a are inclined with respect to each other as shown in the embodiment of FIG. It is preferable to incline also with respect to the line 18.

  In an alternative embodiment not shown, the supply unit 28 may include parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 as well as parts of the embodiment of FIG. For example, the supply unit 28 may include a folding device 33 (the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11) and folding screws 44 and 45 (the embodiment of FIG. 18), and a folding device 43 at the pick-up station (the implementation of FIG. 18). Configuration) and folding device 40 (the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11).

  In the preferred (non-limiting) embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the pick-up station cutting device 46 continuously detaches the collar 14 from the continuous strip unwound from the reel, which rotates back and forth. A movable blade 47 and a fixed counter blade 48 that cuts the strip in cooperation with the movable blade 47 are included. More specifically, the movable blade 47 sucks and holds the collar 14 from which the movable blade 47 has been cut from the retracted position (FIG. 19) where the strip is supplied through the gap between the movable blade 47 and the counter blade 48. Periodically move to a forward position (not shown) placed on the suction device 31.

  The cutting device 46 also includes two fixed counter blades 49 that cooperate with the movable blade 47 to form cuts that define the retaining tabs 20 in the collar 14. That is, the movable blade 47 moves through each counter blade 49 to create a cut that defines the retention tab 20, which reproduces the shape of the retention tab 20. In other words, the rotation of the movable blade 47 from the retracted position (FIG. 19) to the advanced position (not shown) is caused by the cutting action produced by the fixed counter blade 48 cooperating with the movable blade 47 to produce a continuous strip. In addition to cutting the collar 14 from, the cutting action produced by the fixed counter blade 49 cooperating with the movable blade 47 forms two cuts in the collar 14 that define the retaining tab 20. Needless to say, the movable blade 47 has two through-openings, which are arranged on the fixed counter blade 49 and reproduce the shape of the fixed counter blade 49 negatively. Go through 47.

  In addition to cutting the collar 14 to form the retention tab 20, the fixed counter blade 49 also provides a 90-degree folding of the retention tab 20 simultaneously against the front wall 16 of the collar 14. In other words, one simple feature (the fixed counter blade 49) cuts the collar 14 to form the retaining tab 20 and bends the retaining tab 20 90 degrees relative to the front wall 16 of the collar 14. Provides the execution of two different operations.

  Since the fixed counter blade 49 cannot make a cut in the central portion of the front wall 16 of the collar 14, the cutting device 46 having two fixed counter blades 49 as described above has one side of the holding tab 20 on the collar 14. It is important to note that only the collar 14 of the kind shown in FIG.

  The design of the cigarette box 1 described also applies to other types of packages, such as cigarette cartons, which, in contrast to the inner package 3, only contain a bundle of cigarette boxes. Different from 1.

  The described cigarette box 1 has a number of advantages.

  In particular, in the cigarette box 1 described, the coupon 19 is fixed on the collar 14 by means of a holding tab 20. This prevents any slippage of the coupon 19 relative to the collar 14 when attached to the collar 14 in the correct position, and the cigarette box 1 described has no special means necessary to keep the coupon 19 in the correct position. It means that it can be manufactured with a standard packaging machine.

  The two retaining tabs 20 provide for securing the coupon 19 laterally with respect to the collar 14, i.e., the coupon 19 is longitudinal with respect to the collar 14 (i.e., parallel to the fold line 18). Move but do not move laterally (ie, perpendicular to the fold line). It is essential to prevent the coupon 19 from moving laterally with respect to the collar 14 in that any lateral movement is immediately noticed when the cigarette box 1 is opened. On the other hand, the limited amount of longitudinal movement of the coupon 19 relative to the collar 14 that occurs in the direction of withdrawal of the coupon 19 from the cigarette box 1 is substantially unnoticeable.

  The two retaining tabs 20 also provide for securing the coupon 19 to the front wall 16 of the collar 14 while cigarettes are extracted from the box 1 one by one. In other words, the consumer may even wait until the box 1 is empty before removing the coupon 19 and the coupon will not interfere during the extraction of the cigarette.

  The coupon 19 is fixed mechanically firmly to the collar 14, i.e. without using an adhesive.

  Since the holding tab 20 is not visible from the outside of the cigarette box 1, it is not visible from the user's view.

  The described supply unit 28 also has a number of advantages, such as providing an effective folding of the holding tab 20 onto the coupon 19 in order to secure the coupon 19 to the collar 14, which is cheap and easy to manufacture.

In addition, the solution proposed in US Pat. No. 6,057,836 applies only to coupons that cannot be folded (i.e. not applied to relatively large coupons that are folded one or more times to reduce size). . U.S. Patent No. 6,099,077 discloses a method and apparatus for supplying a color coupon assembly to a packaging line of a packaging machine to produce a box having a rigid hinged lid, whereby the collar and each coupon are joined together. When moving along each path to the station, by cutting, each with a pocket, and when moving along a common path extending downward from the bonding station, the collar and coupon are substantially united at the bonding station. An appendage is inserted at least partially into the interior of each pocket.

European Patent No. 0665174 European Patent Application No. 0691267

Claims (19)

A supply method for attaching a coupon (19) to a collar (14), wherein the supply method places the coupon (19) on a first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14). The supply method includes:
Prior to placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), at least one retaining tab (20) of the collar (14) is placed against the first wall (16; 17). And folding the coupon (19) with respect to the first wall (16; 17) after folding the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17). The feeding method further comprising the step of bending the holding tab (20) toward the collar (14) in order to fix the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by gripping. Prior to placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), a first folding operation is used to place the retaining tab (20) on the first wall (16; 17). And a step of folding the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), following the first folding operation, and different from the first folding operation, before folding the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17). The feeding method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of bending the holding tab (20) by more than 90 ° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14) by two folding operations. Before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), by means of a first folding device (33) moving perpendicular to the first wall (16; 17), The feeding method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step of bending the holding tab (20) by 90 ° with respect to the first wall (16; 17). Cutting the collar (14) to form a through cut defining the retaining tab (20), and before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17) The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of bending the holding tab (20) by 90 ° with respect to the first wall (16; 17) and simultaneously cutting the collar (14). 5. A feeding method according to claim 4, wherein the cutting of the collar (14) also separates the collar (14) from a series of strips. 6. A feeding method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the collar (14) is cut by a movable blade (47) moving through a fixed counter blade (49) which reproduces the shape of the holding tab (20). After placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), using a second folding device (40) that moves parallel to the first wall (16; 17) The supply method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a step of bending the holding tab (20) with respect to the first wall (16; 17). Before the coupon (19) is placed on the first wall (16; 17), the holding tab (20) is folded over 90 ° with respect to the first wall (16; 17). Moving the second folding device (40) in a first direction parallel to the first wall (16; 17), and the coupon (19) to the first wall (16; 17). ) After being placed on the first wall (16; 17) to secure the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by grasping the coupon (19) against the first wall (16; 17). The feeding method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of moving the second folding device (40) in a second direction parallel to the wall (16; 17) and opposite to the first direction. After placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), a first contact is made with the retaining tab (20) by movement of the collar (14) carrying the coupon (14). The supply method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of bending the holding tab (20) with respect to the first wall (16; 17) by a fixed bending screw (45). Before placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), a second fixed folding screw (44) that contacts the retaining tab (20) by movement of the collar (14). The feeding method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of bending the holding tab (20) by more than 90 ° with respect to the first wall (16; 17). Lifting the collar (14) with a suction gripping head (30);
Placing said coupon (19) on a support surface (39) and said suction grip such that said coupon (19) is placed on said first wall (16; 17) of said collar (14) 11. The supply method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising the step of removing the coupon (19) from the support surface (39) using a head (30). Moving the support surface (39) to a lowered receiving position;
Placing the collar (19) a predetermined distance above the support surface (39) and from the lowered receiving position to engage the coupon (19), the coupon (19) 12. The feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of vertically lifting the support surface (39) to an elevated release position lifted by the suction gripping head (30). Feeding a pocket (38) of a conveyor (36) to the support surface (39) to position the collar (19) above the support surface (39);
The pocket (38) and the support surface (39) are adapted to move the pocket (38) when the support surface (39) is lifted from the lowered receiving position to the raised release position. 13. A feeding method according to claim 12, which is designed to be movable through. A supply unit for attaching the coupon (19) to the collar (14),
The supply unit (28) comprises a coupling station (35) in which the coupon (19) is arranged on the first wall (16; 17) of the collar (14);
The supply unit (28)
Before the coupon (19) is placed on the first wall (16; 17), the retaining tab (of the collar (14) in a raised position relative to the first wall (16; 17)). 20) the first folding device (33) for folding, and after placing the coupon (19) on the first wall (16; 17), the first wall (16; 17) A second folding device (40) for folding the retaining tab (20) toward the collar (14) to secure the coupon (19) to the collar (14) by gripping the coupon (19);
A supply unit comprising: Hinge to the container (2) along an open end (4) and a hinge (6) rotating relative to the container (2) between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the open end (4), respectively. A container (2) having a cup-shaped lid (5) to be attached;
A collar (14) partially protruding outside the open end (4), the front wall (16) disposed in contact with the front wall (9) of the container (2); and the container ( 2) in contact with each side wall (11) of the collar, positioned on both sides of the front wall (16) of the collar and connected to the front wall (16) of the collar along each fold line (18) And a coupon (19) disposed in the container (2) in contact with the front wall (16) of the collar (14).
A package comprising:
The collar (14) is formed in the collar (14) by a through-cut and the coupon (19) is held by gripping the coupon (19) against the front wall (16) of the collar (14). Comprising at least one retaining tab (20) for securing to the collar (14);
The package (1) is
Two separate retaining tabs (20) are located on either side of the coupon (19) in the vicinity of the fold line (18) connecting the side wall (17) of the collar to the front wall (16) of the collar. ,
Each holding tab (20) is lifted away from the collar (14) by rotating around a fold (20a) inclined at a maximum of 30 ° relative to the fold line (18). Package. 16. Package according to claim 15, wherein each fold (20a) is separate from the two fold lines (18). 17. A package according to claim 16, wherein each fold (20a) is positioned alongside the fold line (18) in the vicinity of the fold line (18). 16. One side of each retention tab (20) coincides with the edge of the front wall (16) of the collar (14), and the through-cut defining each retention tab (20) is L-shaped. The package of any one of -17. 19. Package according to claim 18, wherein the lower side of each retaining tab (20) coincides with the lower edge of the front wall (16) of the collar (14).

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