EP2560883A1

EP2560883A1 - Apparatus and method for producing packs for cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP2560883A1
Application number: EP11708410A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Burkard Roesler; Claus Meyer; Irmin Steinkamp
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2010-04-23
Filing date: 2011-03-14
Publication date: 2013-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-14
Also published as: WO2011131274A1; EP2647576B2; CN102917952B; CN102917952A; EP2647576B1; PL2560883T3; EP2560883B1; EP2647576A1; DE102010018238A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular packs of the hinge-lid type, having a folding turret (10) which is driven, in particular, cyclically in rotation and has circumferentially distributed pockets (21) for accommodating a blank (11) for a pack and pack contents (20), wherein the blank (11) is folded on the folding turret (10) as it is being transported. According to the invention, it is provided that the pockets (21) are assigned folding mechanisms (22) for the purpose of folding folding flaps of the respective blank (11) as supporting means for the pack contents (20), and wherein the folding mechanisms (22) provide a stop for the pack contents (20) upon introduction into the respective pocket (21).

Description

Apparatus and method for producing packages for cigarettes Description

The invention relates to a device for producing packs for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type, with a folding turret, in particular cyclically driven, which has circumferentially distributed pockets for receiving a blank for a package as well as a package contents, wherein the blank during the Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method according to the preamble of claims 5 and 13. The invention is concerned with the production of packages for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type , Characteristic of the production of such packages is the folding of folding flaps of a corresponding blank of packaging material along folding lines and the subsequent joining of folding tabs by means of glue. The folding of the folding flaps can be done on a so-called folding turret, which has pockets for each one blank and the contents of the package. The folding turret is rotationally driven so that the bags pass through various stations to form the package, with the blank being folded around the package contents. Preferably, the package is mainly completely folded out of the folding turret and then closed. As a rule, the last step is the covering and gluing of folding flaps in the area of narrow side walls following the folding turret.

In particular, the invention is concerned with the manufacture of packages of special sizes, for example of smaller size packages or of packages having a particular package content, for example package contents of smaller dimensions than the actual ones Pack. The preparation of such special packages is not always satisfactory to accomplish on the known devices and with the known methods. On this basis, the invention is based on the object of further developing devices and methods of the type mentioned, in particular with regard to the production of special packages.

To achieve this object, a device according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is therefore provided that the pockets are associated folding organs for folding folding flaps of the respective blank as supporting organs for the contents of the package and for providing a stop for the contents of the package when inserted into the respective pocket. This solution has the particular advantage that the support members are protected when inserting the cigarette block by the folding organs and, for example, are not deformed or destroyed by the cigarette block. The folding organs therefore have an advantageous dual function. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the folding members are arranged co-rotating on the folding turret, each pocket being associated with a plurality of folding members for folding at least one support tab of a blank prior to feeding a package contents into the respective pocket.

Another special feature is that the folding members of several, in particular two adjacent, pockets by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable curve, are actuated independently of the folding turret. Preferably, the folding members in the region of side walls of the packs are associated with the pockets and movable into the pockets for folding over supporting tabs of the blanks as supporting members for supporting a package contents spaced from a bottom wall of the packages, the folding members preferably having a free edge facing the package contents are arranged substantially in alignment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the folding members are pivotally mounted on the folding turret laterally of the pockets and pivotable about pivot lever (in particular in the form of connecting rods), wherein the pivot levers are mounted on the one hand to the Faltorganen and on the other hand to a common connection carrier, and wherein preferably the connection carrier is mounted on the folding turret via further pivot levers and is movable by means of a cam roller in a preferably pivotable curve for actuating the folding members.

A method for achieving the object mentioned has the features of claim 6. It is therefore provided that folding flaps of the blanks are folded by co-rotating arranged on the folding turret folding organs and that the folding organs form a stop for the contents of the package when folding the same into the respective pocket after folding the folding tabs.

In particular, this method has the same advantages as the corresponding device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the blanks are inserted into the pockets of the folding turret, wherein some folding flaps of the blank are erected, in particular longitudinal folding tabs in the range of box side walls of the pack and a bottom wall and a box front wall, and that thereafter Support members, in particular supporting tabs in the area of box side walls of the pack are folded over by the folding members, and that thereafter a package contents in the respective pocket or the blank is introduced, wherein the support members and the folding members form a stop for the contents of the package. A further solution of the aforementioned object, which may also be a development of the aforementioned invention, has the features of claim 8. It is therefore provided that the pockets are associated folding organs for folding folding flaps of the respective blank and holding the folded folding tabs in the folded position during a rotation of the folding turret.

Particularly in the case of a two-lane construction of the folding turret, this solution ensures that the corresponding folding tabs, in particular the lid corner tabs of the blank, are held securely in the folding position until they are held in position by corresponding folding of other folding tabs.

Also in this case it is preferably provided that the folding members of two adjacent pockets by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable curve, independently of the folding turret are actuated. The folding members may be associated with the pockets in the region of side walls of the packages and may be moved into the pockets for folding over corner tabs of the blanks to form a lid of the package.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the folding members are hineinbewegbar with a free end in the pockets, wherein the Faltorgane at least in the region of the free end have an arcuate shape and wherein the Faltorgane to the free end a decreasing dimension, in particular width have, in such a way that the folding organs between the folded lid corner flaps and a subsequently folding on the lid corner flaps folding flaps of the blank, in particular a lid end wall, herausbewegbar, in particular herausschwenkbar are.

A corresponding method has the features of claim 13.

According to another preferred special feature of the method according to the invention, the folding organs are gradually moved out of the pocket when closing a cover flap of the blank so that the folding flaps are secured in position by the cover flap. Further details of the invention and advantageous embodiments thereof are given in the dependent claims and the description of the remainder and the drawing. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

1 shows a partially folded blank for a pack for cigarettes in a spatial representation,

Fig. 2 shows a folding turret for producing packages for cigarettes in

Top view,

3 a detail III of the folding turret in an enlarged view,

4 shows a vertical section through the folding turret along section line IV

3, a vertical section through the folding turret along section line V-V in FIG. 3, a schematic representation of the functioning of folding members in the region of the pockets of the folding turret as a plan view, a schematic representation of the functioning of further folding members in the region of the pockets of the folding turret as a plan view, and a vertical section through the folding turret along section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7.

The invention relates to a folding turret 10, which is used in the manufacture of packages for cigarettes. In the present exemplary embodiment, these are packings of the Hinge-Lid type, that is to say a pack with a box part and a lid which is pivotably mounted on the box part. The package is formed from a blank 11 of packaging material such as paper or thin cardboard, namely by folding along fold lines formed in the blank 11. Correspondingly, the blank 11 has folding flaps, which are separated from one another by fold lines and form corresponding regions of the pack. Since the structure of a blank 1 1 for Hinge-lid packs is largely standardized is omitted a description of the individual areas and discussed only on any special features.

Of course, the invention described below can also be used in other types of packages.

Fig. 1 shows a partially folded blank 11. A special feature here are supporting tabs 12 which are formed above the bottom wall 13 in the region of box side walls 14, 15. The box side walls 14, 15 are formed, as usual, from longitudinal folding tabs 16, 17 which are joined together in an overlapping position to form the respective box side wall 14, 15. Inner longitudinal folding tabs 16 which adjoin the box rear wall 18 have the Support tabs 12, whereas external Längsfaltlappen 17 are formed closed after the box front wall 19 and cover the support tabs 12 in the inner longitudinal folding tabs 16.

The support tabs 12 are formed in the present case by a plurality of die cuts in the Längsfaltlappen 16 so that the support tabs 12 can be folded or pivoted into the box part of the pack. In this folded position shown in FIG. 1, the support tabs 12 form a support member as a support or stop for a package contents 20 of the pack. The package contents 20 thus has a lower height than the package. In this way, off-standard package contents 20 may be packaged in a standard wrap-around pack. The deviation from the standard need not only be based on the Limit length or height of the package contents 20, but may also be in terms of width or depth.

The support tabs 12 are folded in the present case so that they are directed transversely to the corresponding longitudinal folding tabs 16, 17. It can also be done so that the support tabs 12 are folded a little further. At least the support tabs 12 must be folded at an angle to the plane of the corresponding longitudinal folding tabs 16, 17, so that upper edges 37 of the support tabs 12 can be used as a support surface for the package contents.

In principle, other types of support organs or other arrangements of such means are known in the prior art, which can be used in a corresponding manner for a support of the package contents 20. The invention also relates to such solutions.

In the production of packages with a blank 11 according to FIG. 1, a special folding turret 10 is used, which is shown in FIG. The blanks 11 are removed from a cutting apparatus, not shown, and inserted from above the folding turret 10 in pockets 21 thereof. In this case, folding flaps of the blank 11 are erected, so that the blank 11 is in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, ie with erect longitudinal folding tabs 16 and transverse bottom wall 13 and box front wall 19. This takes place in an insertion station designated by I in FIG , Subsequently, the folding turret 10 is moved on by one station, so that further blanks 11 in the insertion station I can be fed into the next pockets 21. In the folding turret 10 shown in the drawing, the rotation of the same takes place cyclically. But it is also conceivable that a continuously rotating folding turret 10 is used.

During the subsequent transport of the blank 11 in the pockets 21 along the circumference of the folding turret 10 further folding steps are carried out, which are substantially known from the prior art and which, for reasons of simplification, are not dealt with in detail unless they are specific.

In position II of the folding turret 10, the supporting organs or supporting lugs 12 of the blanks 11 are folded. This is done by means of special folding members 22. The positioning of the folding members 22 on the pockets 21 is shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, the folding members 22 are pivotally mounted on both sides of the pockets 21 at the same. Each folding member 22 is arcuate and pivotally mounted on a vertical axis 23. The folding members 22 have two connected legs. A free end 24 of the folding members 22 can be moved into the pocket 21 for erecting or folding the support members or support tabs 12 in the position shown in FIG. 1. For actuating the folding members 22 each have a connecting rod 25 is provided, which via a drive is moved and coupled with another free end of the folding members 22.

Furthermore, the free end 24 of the folding members 22 is dimensioned such that the package contents 20 are supported not only in the region of a single cigarette but over several adjacent rows. FIG. 4 shows that, for this purpose, the free end 24 is widened or widened so that the contents of the package 20 are supported in the region of a plurality of cigarettes. Furthermore, it can be seen that the folding members are moved through a recess 36 in a wall of the pocket 21 in this. The operation of the folding members 22 takes place in the station II during a short stoppage of the folding turret 10. For this reason, the drive for the folding members 22 is designed independently of the drive of the folding turret. This will be described below. It goes without saying that the drive for the folding members 22 can be coupled to the drive for the folding turret 10. Then, of course, the folding members 22 can only be moved during the rotation of the folding turret 10. Of course, the folding turret 10 may also be continuously rotating. Further, the operation of the folding members 22 before the package contents 20 is inserted into the pockets 21. This takes place in Station III. There, first, the package contents 20 in the form of a cigarette block is brought together with a collar 26 or the collar 26 is placed on the package contents 20. Together, then package contents 20 and collar 26 are inserted into the open blank 1 1 in the pocket 21. The support tabs 12 and the folding members 22 serve as a stop for the package contents 20, so that the support members or support tabs 12 are not affected by the package contents 20. The package contents 20 are supported by the support tabs 12 and by the folding members 22, which are arranged or aligned substantially flush with an upper side or the upper edge 37 of the support tabs 12. Only after the feeding of the package contents 20, the folding members 22 are moved out of the pockets 21 again. In the other stations IV to VII, the folding of the blank 1 1 is completed in particular, the lid of the package and the package front side is folded. In station VII then cut to the outer longitudinal folding tabs 17 blank 11 is removed from the folding turret 10 and fed to a Beleimungsstation, not shown, is applied in the glue from below on the longitudinal folding tabs 17. Thereafter, the longitudinal folding tabs 17 are folded in the plane of the side walls and connected to the inner longitudinal folding tabs 16.

The details of the drive of the folding members 22 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The folding members 22 are pivotally mounted about the vertical axis 23 as already described. To actuate the folding members 22, the connecting rods 25 are hinged to a free end of the folding members 22 in order to pivot the folding members 22 about the axes 23 can. Another end of the connecting rods 25 is mounted on a connecting bracket 27 which is movable to actuate the folding members 22, as shown in Fig. 6. The connection carrier 27 is a substantially plate-like element which is arranged below the folding turret 10 and is mounted on this via pivot lever 28. In the present case, three pivoting levers 28 are provided. To connect the connecting rods 25 with the connection carrier pin-like projections 29 are arranged on the underside of the connection carrier.

To generate an approximately linear reciprocating movement of the connecting carrier 27 for actuating the folding members 22, a fixed curve 30 is provided, in which the connecting member 27 is guided via cam rollers 31. By pivoting the curve 30, as indicated in Fig. 6, the connection carrier 27 can be moved, which leads to the operation of the folding members 22. Alternatively, the curve 30 can also be arranged in a stationary manner and the movement of the connecting carrier 27 can be controlled by a corresponding course of the curve 30.

The movement of the connecting member 27 is decoupled from the rotation of the folding turret 10, so that the connecting member 27 and thus also the folding members 22 can be operated even when the folding turret 10 is stationary. As mentioned above, the drive of the folding members 22 may also be coupled to the drive of the folding turret 10.

Another special feature is that the folding turret 10 is designed for a two-lane operation. Accordingly, the pockets 21 are arranged in pairs and aligned within a pair of pockets parallel to each other. The four folding members 22 of each pocket pair are connected via a respective connecting rod 25 with a common connecting member 27, which thus ensures the simultaneous movement of the four folding members 22.

It is understood that the described invention can of course also be used in a single-lane folding turret 10.

Another solution according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. This solution relates to the folding of lid corner flaps 32 of the blank 11. Normally, the lid corner flaps 32 - also called "dust flaps" - folded by fixedly arranged on the circumference of the folding turret 10 folding organs after insertion of the package contents 20 and during the further rotation of the folding turret 10 by a switch on the circumference of the folding turret 10 held in this position until the lid of the pack 10 is folded so far that the lid corner tabs 32 are held in position. However, the solution described below has the advantage that the lid corner flaps 32 can be folded even if the package or the blank 11 due to a special format only very short lid corner flaps 32 and / or the folding turret 10 as in the present case two lanes is trained. In fact, in these cases, this can lead to the lid corner tabs 32 no longer being able to be grasped by the switch and held in position. This then leads to an uncontrolled opening of the lid corner tabs 32 after folding. To illustrate this problem, the working range of a conventional switch is shown in Fig. 7 as a dotted line. It follows that not all lid corner tabs 32 could be detected by such a switch. In turn, instead of the switch described above, folding members 33 are used, which are mounted laterally in the region of the pockets 21. Construction and drive of the folding members 33 are similar to the solution described above. The folding members 33 are hook-shaped and pivotally mounted on an axis 34. The actuation of the folding members 33 is again via connecting rods 25 which are coupled to a connection carrier 27, which is guided in a curve 30 as in the first exemplary example of the invention via cam rollers 31. By pivoting the curve 30, the connection carrier 27 can be reciprocated to actuate the folding members 33. The above-described alternative to the formation of the drive also apply here.

The folding members 33 are actuated after the package contents 20 has been inserted into position III of the folding turret 10 in the pockets 21. The folding members 33 detect the lid corner tabs 23 and place them against an end wall of the package contents 20. In the further course of the stations, the folding of the lid is completed. In this case, a lid end wall 34 is erected by means of a switch 35 and placed against the folded lid corner tabs 32. During this erecting operation, the folding members 33 are gradually withdrawn from the lid corner flaps 32. The movement of the folding turret 10 and the Folding 33 is superimposed accordingly. In order to allow the extraction of the folding members 33 between ceiling corner tabs 23 and cover end wall 34, the folding members 33 are flattened, so that they become narrower to a free end, with which the folding member 33 comes into contact with the lid corner tabs 32 , In this way, the folding member 33 can be moved gradually between the lid end wall 34 and lid corner tabs 32 out without the folding of the lid is impaired or obstructed.

The construction of the drive for the folding members 33 shown in FIG. 8 is essentially analogous to the construction according to FIGS. 3 to 5. A connecting bracket 27 is pivotably mounted on the folding turret 10 via pivot lever 28. The connection carrier is guided on the one hand via cam rollers 31 in a curve 30. On the other hand, the connection carrier 27 is connected via the connecting rods 25 with the folding members 33. A special feature in the present case is the fact that the two folding members 33 arranged between the adjacent pockets 21 can be actuated by a common connecting rod 25, which is coupled to both folding members 33.

*****

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 folding turrets

11 cut

12 supporting lugs

13 bottom wall

14 box side wall

15 box side wall

16 longitudinal folding lobes

17 longitudinal folding lobes

18 box back wall

19 box front wall

20 package contents

21 bag

22 folding organ

23 axis

24 end

25 connecting rod

26 collar

27 connecting beams

28 pivot lever

29 advantage

30 curve

31 cam follower

32 lid corner flaps

33 folding organ

34 lid end wall

35 points

36 recess

37 edge

Claims

claims

1. A device for producing packages for cigarettes, in particular the Hinge-Lid, with a particular cyclically rotationally driven folding turret (10) distributed over the circumference pockets (21) for receiving a blank (11) for a pack and a Package contents (20), wherein the blank (11) during transport on the folding turret (10) is folded, characterized in that the pockets (21) folding members (22) are associated for folding folding flaps of the respective blank (1 1) as Supporting means for the package contents (20) and wherein the folding members (22) provide a stop for the package contents (20) upon insertion into the respective pocket (21).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding members (22) are arranged co-rotating on the folding turret (10), each pocket (21) being associated with a plurality of, in particular two, folding members (22) for folding at least one supporting tab (12 ) of a blank (11) as a supporting member before feeding a package contents (20) into the respective pocket (21).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the folding members (22) of several, in particular two adjacent, pockets (21) by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable curve (30), independently of the folding turret (10) operable are.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the folding members (22) in the range of

Side walls of the packs associated with the pockets (21) and movable into the pockets (21) for folding over the support tabs (12) of the blanks (11) to support a package contents (20) spaced from a bottom wall of the packs, the folding members (22 ) with a package contents (20) facing free edge (37) of the support tabs (12) are preferably arranged substantially in alignment.

5. A method for producing packages for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type, wherein blanks (11) for the packages are introduced into pockets (21) of a folding turret (10) driven in particular cyclically in rotation and folded around a package contents (20), characterized in that folding flaps of the blanks (11) by folding the folding turret (10) arranged folding members (22) are folded and that the folding members (22) after folding the folding flaps a stop for the package contents (20) during insertion of the same into the respective Make bag (21).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the blanks (11) are inserted into the pockets (21) of the folding turret (10), wherein some folding tabs of the blank (11) are erected, in particular longitudinal folding tabs (16, 17) in the area box side walls (14, 15) of the package and a bottom wall (13) and a box front wall (19), and then supporting means, in particular supporting tabs (21) in the area of box side walls (14, 15) of the package the folding members (22) are folded over, and that thereafter a package contents (20) in the respective pocket (21) or the blank (11) is introduced, wherein the support members and the folding members (22) a stop for the package contents (20) form.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the folding members (22) are actuated independently of the folding turret (10) by a drive, in particular during a standstill phase of the folding turret (10).

8. Apparatus for producing packages for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type, with a folding turret (10) driven in particular cyclically in rotation, which has pockets (21) distributed over the circumference for receiving a blank (10) for a package and one Package content (20), wherein the blank () is folded during transport on the folding turret (10), in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that the pockets (21) are associated folding means (33) for folding folding flaps (32) of the respective blank (11) and for holding the folded folding tabs (32) in the folded position during rotation of the folding turret (10).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the folding members (33) are arranged co-rotating on the folding turret (10), wherein each pocket (21) a plurality, in particular two, folding members (33) are associated for folding in each case at least one lid corner lobe (32) a blank (11) after feeding a package contents (20) into the respective pocket (21).

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the folding members (33) of several, preferably two adjacent pockets (21) by means of a common drive, in particular a preferably actively rotatable curve (30), independently of the folding turret (10) operable are.

11. The device according to claim 10 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the folding members (33) in the region of side walls of the packs associated with the pockets (21) and in the pockets (21) are hineinbewegbar for folding over the lid corner flaps ( 32) of the blanks (11) for forming a lid of the pack, wherein in particular the folding turret (10) is set up for a two-lane mode of operation and in each case two adjacent pockets (21) are arranged parallel to one another.

12. The device according to claim 8 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the folding members (33) with a free

End into the pockets (21) are hineinbewegbar, wherein the folding members (33) at least in the region of the free end have an arcuate shape and wherein the folding members (33) have a decreasing dimension towards the free end, in particular width, such that the folding members (33) can be moved out, in particular swung out, between the folded lid corner tabs (32) and a folding flap of the blank (11), which is gradually to be folded onto the lid corner tabs (32), in particular a lid end wall (34) ,

13. A method for producing packages for cigarettes, in particular of the Hinge-Lid type, wherein blanks (11) for the packages are introduced into pockets (21) of a folding turret (10) driven in particular cyclically in rotation and folded around a package contents (20), in particular according to Claim 5, characterized in that folding flaps, in particular cover corner flaps (32), of the blanks (11) are folded by folding members (33) disposed on the folding turret (10) and the folding members (33) are folded after folding the folding flaps (32) keep them in the folded position while the folding turret (10) is being rotated further.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the folding members (33) when closing a folding flap, in particular a lid end wall (34), the blank (11) are gradually moved out of the pocket (21), so that the lid corner flaps (32) are secured in position by the lid end wall (34), wherein the folding flap, in particular the lid end wall (34), gradually by a stationary on the circumference of the folding turret (10) arranged switch against the folded lid corner flaps ( 32) is folded while the folding turret is driven in rotation.

*****