DE19742536A1 - Cigarette pack and method and apparatus for making the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to cigarette packs for one each or more groups of cigarettes by at least one Zu cut from (thin) cardboard, paper, foil or other Verpac Kung material is surrounded. The invention further relates to Method and device for producing such cigarettes packs.

Worldwide there are predominantly two types of cigarette packs to be found, namely on the one hand folding boxes (Hinge-Lid-Pac kungen) and the other soft cup packs. Both packs common is that the Packin halt - cigarette group - usually from an inner wrapper Paper, tinfoil or other thin packaging material is surrounded. A cigarette block formed in this way sits in the actual packaging, i.e. an outer packaging, namely the Hinged box or the soft cup. The inner wrapping and / or the outer pack, in particular a folding box or soft cups are provided with prints, also with informative content. This includes a so-called warning notice  knows about health hazards of smoking informed.

The invention has for its object measures for the Ge to propose the design and manufacture of cigarette packs, to cheaper, more rational and more diverse manufacturers position opportunities.

To solve this problem, the cigarette according to the invention tenpackungen characterized in that in at least when the cigarette pack is open, open a visible area Printing field with information attached by laser printing, arranged in particular with a so-called warning notice is.

Attaching informative information to cigarette packs, the warning notice in particular can be production-related Cause problems because such information is often due to national regulations designed or arranged differently must be net. Furthermore, an adaptation to the respective National language required. These adjustments require one lossy effort for the changeover. In particular it is Previously required, Verpac prepared to a large extent material with different warning notices to have ready and use as needed.

In the cigarette pack according to the invention, the informa tive notes attached by laser printing, namely preferably in the area of the packaging machine. There are Laser printing units are available, which are sufficient on the one hand are efficient, even with high production ge the necessary information for everyone Attach packaging. On the other hand, the one to be printed Text on the laser printing unit at short notice and with little Effort.

The laser printing method practiced according to the invention works on the basis of (thermal or chemical) removal of material. The packaging material is therefore according to the invention with a local material coating provided, in particular a pressure field from at least one  (Color) layer. This is the printing field used for laser printing Text or, if applicable, a decorative design manufactured, the letters, characters or Ornaments through contrast to the (outer) color layer are recognizable. The pressure field preferably consists of two superimposed layers of color with clear contrasting brightness or color.

Print fields with warnings or other information can appear in different places on the cigarette packs be brought. For example, the inner casing is a carrier suitable for such a pressure field, which is so arranged net is that it is at least with the package open (Hinged box) is recognizable from the outside. Alternatively or to In addition, pressure fields on the outside of the outer pack, So be attached to the hinged box or soft cup.

In the manufacture of the cigarette packs or the Verpac kungsmaterials according to the invention so that Factory-made pressure field at the packaging position of the Verpac kungsmaterial is attached, so with thin-walled packaging Material such as paper on a corresponding material train. When using prefabricated blanks, as with Hinged boxes, the print field is also factory made on Cutting positioned.

In the area of the packaging machine there is a laser printing unit attached that based on mechanical or chemical Changing the applied pressure field works. This can the selected printing in the area of the printing field either Attach to the web of material or to the one already finished blanks. With one on the outer packaging attached pressure field this is advantageously on the at least partially completed cigarette pack appropriate.

A further special feature of the invention are methods and one direction (laser printing unit) for applying the printing with the help of preferably all of the items to be printed Text-containing aperture. The laser beam of laser printing aggregates are prepared in such a way that the text or the  otherwise shown area of the aperture the laser beam is completely detected, so that in one go Printing is done by the laser beam.

Further details of the cigarette packs and the procedure rens and the device for producing the same are explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a hinge-lid box for cigarettes in an open position, in a perspective view;

Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the packaging material with a pressure box, in a greatly enlarged representation,

Fig. 3 shows a portion of a web of material for the production of inner wrappings,

Fig. 4 is also a section of a web of material for the production of inner wrappings according to another structure,

Fig. 5 shows a blank for a hinge-lid box,

Fig. 6 shows a portion of a material web for the soft-carton,

Fig. 7 is a simplified side view of an apparatus for preparation of packaging materials,

Fig. 8 shows a folding turret with subsequent packing sheet in the schematic plan view,

Fig. 9 shows a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 8 in side view, at high magnification,

Fig. 10 is a simplified representation of a laser printing unit in side view.

Fig. 1 shows a cigarette pack of the hinge-lid type. This type of pack is formed from a blank accordingly FIG. 5. The basic structure consists of a box part 10 and a lid 11 . The box part 10 is formed by a box front wall 12 , a box rear wall 13 , by box side tabs 14 and 15 and by a bottom 16 . The box side tabs 14 and 15 each form pairs of box side walls by overlapping and gluing together. External chess tel side tabs 15 are attached to the side of the box front wall 12 .

Correspondingly, the lid 11 is designed with a lid front wall 17 , lid rear wall 18 and lid side tabs 19 and 20 . An upper end wall 21 is also provided. A lid-in tab 22 is folded in the finished hinged box against the inside of the lid front wall 17 and connected to it. The cover side tabs 19 , 20 also form cover side walls in pairs as a result of overlap and adhesive bonding to one another.

Box part 10 and lid 11 are hinged miteinan connected in the region of the rear walls by a transverse hinge line 23 .

The collapsible box also includes a collar 24 usually made from a separate blank. This consists of the collar front wall 25 and collar side tabs 26 . The collar 24 is anchored in the box part 10 , namely be fastened by gluing. In the area of a part of the box portion 10 of the collar 24 or the collar front wall 25 , a recess 27 with a rounded contour is provided.

The package contents, namely a cigarette group, is surrounded by an inner wrapper 28 and thus forms a cigarette block 29 .

A cigarette pack of the type described is therefore essentially formed from two blanks. The inner wrapper 28 consists of relatively thin packaging material, in particular paper, tinfoil or the like. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show two different embodiments for the inner wrapper 28th The blank according to FIG. 2 is designed according to the principle of the "cross-coil". Cutting surfaces for forming an inner front wall 30 , an inner side wall 31 and an inner rear wall 32 are arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction of the blank. Edge flaps 33 and 34 adjoin the inner front wall 30 on the one hand and the inner rear wall 32 on the other hand. In the fully folded inner wrapper 28, these lie against one another with partial overlap and result in an inner side wall opposite the inner side wall 31 .

Upper and lower folding strips 34 and 35 form end folds on the one hand and bottom folds on the other hand for the end wall and bottom wall of the inner wrapper 28 . The end wall - and accordingly the bottom wall - are designed so that tra pez shaped longitudinal tabs 36 , 37 partially overlap each other. Referring to FIG. 1, an external longitudinal tab 36 with the In nenvorderwand 30 of the inner wrapper 28 are connected.

The cut for the inner covering 28 according to FIG. 4 is designed analogously, namely according to the principle of the longitudinal winding. Inner front wall 30 and inner rear wall 32 are connected here by a continuous inner bottom wall 38 . Seitenstrei fen 39 , 40 extend over the full length of the elongated blank and serve to form inner walls by partial coverage. The inner end wall is formed by folding strips 41 , 42 which run at opposite ends of the blank. This folding strips 41, 42 are folded so that - as with the embodiment according to Fig 1 and Fig. 2 -. Trapezoidal longitudinal tabs 36, 37 are formed as part of the In-NEN end wall.

The blanks for the inner covering 28 can be provided with printing and / or embossing over the entire surface. The latter is mainly used for inner wrapping made of tin foil, but can also be used for inner wrapping made of paper. In the examples shown, the inner wrappings 28 are provided with a print only in one part which protrudes from the packaging, that is to say from the hinged box, from the soft cup pack or from another pack. Accordingly, the blank according to FIG. 2 has a printing strip 43 on only one side. This is prefabricated in the factory in the manufacture of the inner casing 28 . The material is made available as a continuous material web 44 , in a wound formation as a bobbin. The printing strip 43 attached on one side as a continuous strip corresponds to the area of the inner envelope 28 visible in the packaging, including the security area.

The special feature is that the blank of the inner casing 28 has at least one pressure field 45 , according to FIG. 3 in the area of the printing strip 43 . In the area of this print field 45 there is an informational print text, preferably the warning notice required for cigarette packs, that is to say information about the health risk of smoking.

The pressure field 45 is a specially designed and prepared area of the blank or the material web 44 . It is an area that is processed by laser printing by thermal ablation. The print field 45 consists of at least one color layer, in the present case two color layers 46 , 47 . These are arranged one above the other and consist of a material suitable for the laser printing process. The color layers 46 , 47 are selected so that they contrast in terms of colors or brightness. The outer color layer 46 in the area of letters or other characters is removed in the form of a groove 48 by laser beam. The lower or inner color layer 47 and thus a writing or character can be seen there from the outside. Instead of the second color layer 47 , the background can serve as a contrasting layer, for example the cut of the inner covering 28 . The material of the color layers is selected and matched to a laser printing unit that a high degree of sorption is given for the specific wavelength of the laser light. The color layers 46 , 47 can have a thickness of 3 μm to 10 μm.

The pressure field 45 can be attached at a suitable point in the cigarette pack, at least visible from the outside, at least when the cigarette pack is open. In the example of FIG. 1, that is to say in a hinged box, the pressure field 45 is arranged in the area of the inner front wall 30 and the adjacent end wall, namely the front outer longitudinal tab 36 thereof. The pressure field 45 is positioned such that at least the informational text (warning notice) lies in the visible area, in the present case partially within the depression 27 formed by the collar front wall 25 .

Also shown in FIG. 4 are separated, the blanks of the inner wrapping 28 of a continuous material web 49th The width of the material web 46 corresponds to the width of the blanks for the inner casing 28 . In order to ensure the outer appearance of the inner wrapping 28 which can be seen in FIG. 1, printing strips 50 , 51 are formed in each case at the ends of the elongated blanks, namely regions facing the opening side of the pack.

The front printing strip 50 of the inner casing is provided with a printing field 45 of the type described. Here, too, the pressure field 45 extends in the area of the inner front wall 30 and the adjacent end wall with the trapezoidal outer longitudinal tab 36 .

Another special feature of the blanks according to FIGS. 3 and Fig. 4 is that the pressure field 45 in the region of a flap 52, 53 is formed. Referring to FIG. 3, the flap is defined by an angular perforation 54 52. In the example of FIG. 3, a transverse perforation line 55 extends over the full width of the blank or the material web 46 in the area of the front printing field 45 . Attaching the pressure field 45 in the area of the flap 52 , 53 is particularly advantageous if the flap 52 , 53 is to be used as a coupon, for example for participating in competitions.

In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shows ge blanks for outer packages, namely a hinge-lid box in Fig. 5 and for a soft-carton in Fig. 6. The former usually consists of dün nem carton, the soft-cup made of paper.

These blanks are also provided with printing 56 (hatched areas). This is usually more colored and varies from brand to brand. The printing 56 is usually applied in the factory, namely in the manufacture of the blanks according to FIG. 5 or in the preparation of a continuous material web 57 for the production of blanks 58 for soft cups.

In one as well as in the other embodiment of the outer package, a pressure field 45 formed in the manner described is arranged. The blank for a hinged box ( Fig. 5) is designed so that the pressure field 46 is arranged in the area of the chess telrückwand 13 , namely adjacent to the bottom 16th The rectangular-shaped printing field 45 extends approximately over the width of the box rear wall 13 .

The blank 58 for the soft cup consists of cup front wall 59 , correspondingly designed cup rear wall 60 , cup side wall 61 arranged between these and a side wall tab 62 and a connecting tab 63 , in each case on the two free edges of the blank 58 . In the finished soft-cup the side wall flap 62 covers the connection overlap 63rd These two parts are bonded together. Furthermore, a folding strip 64 is attached to one side of the blank 58 to form a bottom wall of the cup. Within the material web 57 , the blanks 58 thus formed are arranged in succession in such a way that the wall areas described follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the blank 58 .

As in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, the blank is provided with brand-specific printing 56 . In addition, the blank 58 is provided with a pressure field 45 , namely in the area of the closed cup side wall 61st The pressure field 45 is arranged as an upright rectangle, immediately below an upper edge of the soft cup and approximately in the width of the cup side wall. In this exemplary embodiment, the printing field 45 is arranged within the packaging-related printing 56 .

The pressure box 45 is materials in all of the described packaging, that in the inner wrapper 28, as in the blanks of the outer packages according to FIG. 5 and FIG. Advantageously mounted at the producer's production or preparation 6, that is applied to the packaging material. In the examples of application according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the pressure field 45 applied advantageously ground on the traveling material. The blanks according to FIG. 5 can also be separated from a continuous web of material by punching or from sheet-like "sheets", ie larger sheets with blanks printed on them. In both cases, the printing field 45 is expediently applied prior to the punching of the blanks according to FIG. 5.

In any case follows the processing of the printing field 45 to bring the lettering or ornaments in the area or in connection with a packaging machine. FIG. 7 shows an assembly for treating a material web according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. Accordingly, an assembly for the treatment of blanks according to FIG. 6 can be designed.

Referring to FIG. 7, the material web 57 is drawn off from a first, active reel 65th Another bobbin 66 is introduced into the production flow after the bobbin 65 has been consumed.

The material web 57 passes through several treatment and control units. This includes an embossing device 67 , which is used, for example, for embossing the material web 57 for inner wrapping 28 .

In the area of an upright web section 68 , a laser printing unit 69 is positioned. This consists of a housing 70 with optics 71 directed against the material web 57 . A mirror deflection system 72 leads to the housing 70 . Furthermore, an electrical control line 73 is connected to the housing 70 for controlling a galvanometer as part of the laser. This is preferably a Nd-Yac laser known in principle.

The laser printing unit 69 is controlled so that pressure activities are unfolded cyclically each time a pressure field 45 is in the area of the laser printing unit 69 . The operating speed of the laser printing unit 69 is so high that the material web 57 can be conveyed continuously.

The material web 57 provided with the finished, printed printing field 45 arrives in the region of a cutting unit 74 , in that the individual blanks are separated in a precise position and are kept ready for wrapping a group of cigarettes or a block of cigarettes.

In the manufacture of hinged boxes using cuts according to FIG. 5, these are usually delivered as cut stacks. The printing of the printing field 45 by means of a laser printing unit 69 can be carried out after the cuts 75 have been separated, for example in the region of a cutting path during the transport of the cuts to a folding turret 76 . The blanks 75 are positio ned that the printing field 45 is directed upwards, the laser printing unit 69 is po sitioned above the blank web.

In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are further details of a packaging mate kung machine of this type is. The folding turret 76 rotates about a vertical axis and is designed for two-lane operation, namely with pockets 77 , 78 arranged in pairs, each for receiving a blank 75 . Correspondingly, in the loading area of an ejection station, two predominantly fully folded folding boxes 79 , 80 are simultaneously pushed out of the folding turret 76 and inserted into a subsequent rectilinear packaging web 81 . In the area of these are laterally from, in an upper plane of the folding boxes 79 , 80 extending outer box side tabs 15 and outer Dec side tabs 20 folded.

Above the pack path 81 a formed in the manner described laser printing unit is arranged 69th Its optics 71 is directed downwards onto the hinged boxes 79 , 80 . These are provided with at least one pressure field 45 in an upward-pointing area. This can be arranged in the area of an outer box side tab 15 or in the area of the upward box front wall 12 . The pressure field 45 is processed during transport along the packaging line 81 by the laser printing unit 69 .

Another peculiarity of general importance and applicability is shown in Fig. 10. This is the schematic basic structure of a laser printing unit 69 . This works according to FIG. 10 with an aperture, in particular font aperture 82 , that the pressure to be applied to the printing field 45 has pressure as a region permeable to the laser light, in particular as openings consisting of letters. The text to be transmitted is the wrong way round.

The entire text to be transmitted or other imprint or a defined partial area of the same is transmitted by the laser beam in one work cycle. For this purpose, a customary incoming laser beam 83 is changed in the area of an op table 84 so that the orifice plate 82 can be grasped. For this purpose, the laser beam 83 is first widened or fanned out via a first lens 85 (line of diffusion) and via a second lens 86 (converging lens) in the sense shown and then converted into a parallel light path, the latter through the lens 86 . Therefore acts an expanded parallel laser beam on the fascia panel 82, so that the corresponding font is detected resigned aperture 82 in full view.

Another optical unit 87 has at least one lens 88 for focusing the laser beam on a pinhole 89 . The laser beam 83 formed in accordance with the writing screen 82 passes through the perforated screen 89 and transmits the image of the writing screen 82 or the specified text onto a material web, onto a blank or - as shown in FIG. 10 - onto the front, namely onto the Box front wall 12 of a folding box 79 , 80 . In this area, namely at the lower edge area of the box front wall 12 , the printing field 45 is attached for the laser printing.

The technology described is also in an analogous manner other packs can be used if the packaging material al - wound webs or punched blanks - factory made for processing in packaging machines is prepared.  

Reference list

10th

Box part

11

cover

12th

Box front wall

13

Box back wall

14

Box side tabs

15

Box side tabs

16

ground

17th

Lid front wall

18th

Lid back wall

19th

Lid side tabs

20th

Lid side tabs

21

Front wall

22

Inner lid lobes

23

Hinge line

24th

collar

25th

Collar front wall

26

Collar side tabs

27

deepening

28

Inner wrapping

29

Block of cigarettes

30th

Inner front wall

31

Inner side wall

32

Interior rear wall

33

Marginal lobe

34

Folding strips

35

Folding strips

36

Longitudinal lobes

37

Longitudinal lobes

38

Inside floor wall

39

Hard shoulder

40

Hard shoulder

41

Folding strips

42

Folding strips

43

Printing strips

44

Material web

45

Pressure field

46

Layer of paint

47

Layer of paint

48

Groove

49

Material web

50

Printing strips

51

Printing strips

52

Flap

53

Flap

54

perforation

55

Perforation line

56

Oppression

57

Material web

58

Cutting

59

Cup front wall

60

Cup back wall

61

Cup sidewall

62

Sidewall tabs

63

Connecting tab

64

Folding strips

65

Bobine

66

Replacement bobbins

67

Embossing machine

68

Track section

69

Laser printing unit

70

casing

71

Optics

72

Mirror deflection system

73

Control line

74

Cutting unit

75

Cutting

76

Folding turret

77

bag

78

bag

79

Hinged box

80

Hinged box

81

Packing lane

82

Faceplate

83

laser beam

84

unit

85

lens

86

lens

87

unit

88

lens

89

cover

Claims (14)

1. Cigarette pack for a cigarette group, which is surrounded by at least one blank of (thin) cardboard, paper, foil or other packaging material, characterized in that at least one pressure field ( 45 ) is present in a visible area that is at least free when the cigarette pack is open by laser printing on the basis of material removal brought in information, in particular with a so-called warning ning, is arranged. 2. Cigarette pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the cigarette group is surrounded by an inner wrapping ( 28 ) made of paper, tinfoil or foil and is arranged as a cigarette block in an outer pack - hinged box, soft cup, with the pressure field ( 45 ) the information produced by laser printing is arranged in a region of the inner wrapping ( 28 ) which protrudes from the outer pack at least in its open state. 3. A cigarette pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure field ( 45 ) - with printing produced by laser printing - is arranged on the outside of the outer pack, in particular on the outside of a hinged box or on the outside of a soft cup. 4. Cigarette pack according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure field ( 45 ) is attached to a narrow, upright side wall of the outer pack, in particular on egg nem outer side flaps ( 15 ) of a hinged box or on a cup side wall ( 61 ) of a soft cup. 5. Cigarette pack according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the print field ( 45 ) consisting of at least one ner, preferably two superimposed, suitable for laser printing ink layers ( 46 , 47 ) consists of a print field ( 45 ) in a box part ( 10 ) and the lid ( 11 ) of the existing folding box on a front wall - inner front wall ( 30 ) - the inner wrapping ( 28 ) is attached, specifically in an area protruding from the box part ( 10 ) when the lid ( 11 ) is open, preferably on the inner front wall ( 30 ) and adjacent longitudinal tab ( 36 ) of an end wall of the inner envelope ( 28 ). 6. Method of making cigarette packs for one Cigarette group in the field of a packaging machine in at least one cut from (thin) cardboard, paper, foil or other packaging material is wrapped, thereby ge indicates that in the area of the packaging machine or in Connection with the same on the cut and / or on the Completely or partially finished cigarette pack printing with information, especially a so-called warning notice wise, by laser printing based on thermal or chemical material removal is attached. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a print field ( 45 ) is first applied to the blank or to the packaging material for the blank or to the cigarette pack by applying at least one layer suitable for laser printing based on the material removal and then in Area of the packaging machine the print is produced by laser printing in the area of the printing field ( 45 ). 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the printing field 45 consists of two superimposed (color) layers ( 46 , 47 ) of different or contrasting color, wherein in laser printing to apply the printing material of the outer (color ) Layer ( 46 ) is removed. 9. The method according to claim 6 or one of the other claims, characterized in that the packaging material, in particular a material web prepared for the production of blanks or factory-prepared to cuts for in particular folding boxes before insertion into the packaging machine with one of at least one (color is provided) layer (46, 47) existing pressure field (45) and attached only the printing of the printing area (45) by laser printing in the area of the packaging machine -. 10. Packaging machine for producing cigarette packs for a cigarette group which is wrapped in at least one cut from (thin) cardboard, paper, film or other packaging material, with cuts being able to be fed to a folding turret ( 76 ) of the packaging machine or another folding unit are characterized by a Laser-Druckag gregat ( 69 ) that is arranged in the area of the transport of a material web for the production of the blanks, the transport for the cuts themselves or the transport for fully or partially finished cigarette packs for attaching a printing in Area of a pressure field ( 45 ). 11. Packaging machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the laser printing unit ( 69 ) for printing on printing fields ( 45 ) of a material web ( 57 ) in the region of a vertical web section ( 58 ) with (approximately) horizontally aligned laser beam and the printing of printing fields ( 45 ) on blanks or fully or partially finished cigarette packs is positioned in the area of a horizontal or inclined packing web or blank web above the same with a downward directed laser beam. 12. Packaging machine according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in the manufacture of folding boxes, the partially finished folding boxes from a folding turret ver ( 76 ) in the radial direction in a horizontal packing web ( 81 ) can be inserted, with in an upper packing level since folding tabs directed towards the top Namely, outer box sides rag ( 14 ) through a above the packing web ( 81 ) angeord netes laser printing unit ( 69 ) in the area of a on the box tel side tabs ( 14 ) or in the area of a box front wall ( 12 ) arranged Pressure field ( 45 ) can be applied. 13. Packing machine according to claim 10 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the laser printing unit ( 69 ) is provided with an optical template, in particular a writing screen ( 82 ), which the font to be transferred to the printing field ( 45 ) - or other characters as passage openings, the entire printing on the printing field ( 45 ) or a delimited partial area thereof being able to be acted upon in one work cycle by a laser beam ( 83 ) passing through the writing screen ( 82 ). 14. Packaging machine according to claim 13 or one of the further claims, characterized in that an incoming laser beam ( 83 ) is widened by a laser optics with respect to the Querab measurement, such that the entire screen ( 82 ) by the (widened) laser beam ( 83 ) acted upon and that the laser beam can be focused on the printing field ( 45 ) following the writing aperture ( 82 ).