EP1016593B1 - Cigarette package and method and apparatus for its manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cigarette pack with an elongated blank thin packaging material, such as paper, tinfoil or the like, for wrapping a cigarette group, such that the blank is a closed, single-ply bottom wall has to which a front wall delimited by a cross stamping line and a Connect the rear wall, delimited by another cross-stamping line, under a U-shaped Wrapping the cigarette group lying against the end wall of the cigarettes on the bottom wall, with bottom flaps on the side wall and on the front wall or rear panel connect side folding flaps to form folded side panels the wrapping. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Manufacture of cigarette packs of the aforementioned type.

The world's best known pack types for cigarettes, namely hinge-lid packs and soft cup packs are designed so that the cigarette group of one Inner wrapping is surrounded by thin packaging material, namely in particular Tinfoil or paper. The cigarette group is wrapped so that a closed one Bottom wall is formed on which the cigarettes rest with end faces. (Narrow) side walls and an end wall opposite the bottom wall are through each other overlapping folding flaps formed.

In a first folding step, the inner wrapper is cut into a U shape around the cigarette group folded around, which is transported by a cigarette conveyor and the cut across the conveyor level as a "curtain" to be taken along by the cigarette group is kept ready.

With increasing working speed of the packaging machines increases the problem of mechanical stress on cigarettes. Pressure and shock loads during the packaging process can lead to a deterioration in quality.

An embossing device with a cutting device for attaching embossing lines is known in the area of a continuous web of thin packaging material for the production of blanks for the inner wrapping of cigarette groups (GB 200 655). The known embossing device consists of an embossing roller, which with a pressure roller is in mechanical contact. The continuous material web will for attaching the embossing lines between the embossing roller and the pressure roller guided. The individual blanks are then in the cutting device separated from the continuous material web. With the known embossing device a complex embossed image on the continuous material web or on the one to be separated Cut with a variety of cross and diagonal embossing lines. The cigarette pack known from GB 200655 as well as the The method and the device correspond to the generic terms of claims 1, 2 and 3.

The invention has for its object suitable measures to create a for the purpose of an effective embossed image on the continuous material web or on the to cut off to create the despite higher working speed prevents the machine from affecting cigarettes.

a) der Zuschnitt weist zwei in Längsrichtung verlaufende, durchgehende Längsprägelinien auf, durch die ein mittlerer Bereich des Zuschnitts, bestehend aus Bodenwand, Vorderwand, Rückwand sowie Stimfaltlappen, gegenüber an beiden Seiten durchgehend angeordneten Faltlappen, nämlich Seitenfaltlappen und Bodenfaltlappen abgegrenzt ist,

b) die Querprägelinien erstrecken sich ausschließlich zwischen den Längsprägelinien,

c) der Bereich der Seitenfaltlappen und der Bodenfaltlappen ist frei von Prägelinien.

To achieve this object, the cigarette pack according to the invention is characterized by the following features:

a) the blank has two longitudinal, continuous longitudinal embossing lines, by means of which a central region of the blank, consisting of bottom wall, front wall, rear wall and end flaps, is delimited from folding flaps arranged on both sides, namely side folding flaps and bottom folding flaps,

b) the transverse embossing lines extend exclusively between the longitudinal embossing lines,

c) the area of the side folding flaps and the bottom folding flaps is free from embossed lines.

The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are characterized by the features of claims 2 and 3.

First there are pre-formed or pre-embossed fold lines, namely two longitudinal embossing lines, to delimit a central, continuous area of the cut from lateral Folding flaps provided. According to the invention, all folding flaps are arranged on a continuous Material web attached to produce the blanks, the longitudinal embossing lines as continuous embossing lines are formed in the longitudinal direction of the material web.

Furthermore, of the cigarette group or of those lying in the conveying direction Areas of the blank that are cigarette ends, namely the bottom wall, are formed by preformed ones or pre-embossed, transverse in relation to the longitudinal direction of the material web Fold lines, delimited from a front wall and a rear wall of the blank, so that here the occurring mechanical load due to the folding of the Cutting is reduced. The transverse folding lines are designed as cross embossing lines, which are only in the area between the longitudinal embossing lines and not in the Extend the area of the side folding tabs of the blank, especially since there is another, There is a complex folding pattern due to the bottom folding flap and the gusset.

According to the invention, further measures are provided in the area of the packaging machine. This is how an endless cigarette conveyor turns the cigarette groups into one Cigarette magazine removed and also when taking over the blank for the inner wrapping transported, driven non-uniformly according to the invention, such that when the cigarettes are removed from the magazine and / or when the transverse cut a lower conveying speed and otherwise one accordingly higher conveying speed is given. The movement characteristic of the cigarette conveyor is therefore non-uniform with a wave-shaped acceleration characteristic.

Another special feature of the device is that it is preferred directly in the area of feeding the blank to the respective cigarette group Embossing unit is arranged, which before cutting off the blank from a Material web attaches embossing lines in the design according to the invention.

Further details concern funding bodies responsible for the handover the cuts to the cigarette group and the U-shaped fold facilitate.

Fig. 1

einen ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt für eine Innenumhüllung einer Zigarettenpackung,

Fig. 2

einen Teilquerschnitt des Zuschnitts in der Schnittebene II-II,

Fig. 3

einen Teil einer Verpackungsmaschine für Zigaretten in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 5

ein Aggregat zur Zuführung und Übergabe von Zuschnitten an Zigarettengruppen in nochmals vergrößertem Maßstab.

Details of the pack, the method and the device are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a spread blank for an inner wrapping of a cigarette packet,

Fig. 2

a partial cross section of the cut in the cutting plane II-II,

Fig. 3

a part of a packaging machine for cigarettes in a schematic side view,

Fig. 4

3 shows a detail of the device according to FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 5

an aggregate for feeding and transferring blanks to cigarette groups on a further enlarged scale.

The patent drawings deal with the design and Manufacture of cigarette packs that have an inner wrapper Have tinfoil, paper or foil. Especially with Hinge-Lidund Soft cup packs become such inner coverings used. Fig. 1 shows a blank 10 for such Inner covering, which is designed according to the bottom folding principle. On the one hand, a closed bottom wall 11 is closed Front wall 12 and on the other hand a rear wall 13. One of the Bottom wall 11 opposite (upper) end wall consists of folded, partially overlapping forehead folds 14, 15. Upright, narrow side walls also consist of Folding flaps, namely side folding flaps 16 and 17. These go in Area of the bottom wall 11 in adjacent to the bottom wall 11 Floor folding flaps 42, 43 and arranged next to these Fold gussets 44. These are separated from one another by fold lines 45 Cut.

In the area of the front wall 12 there is a transverse perforation 18 attached to an end region of the blank limited. This serves as a so-called flap First use of the pack by registering the End wall tab 14 is withdrawn.

The blank 10, although consisting of thin packaging material, with embossed lines, namely creases, the one represent groove-like deformation of the material (Fig. 2). There are two parallel, transverse embossing lines are provided, namely Cross embossing lines 19, 20. These limit the bottom wall 11 opposite Front wall 12 and rear wall 13. The cross embossing lines 19, 20 form folded edges on the bottom with a rectangular cross-section.

Furthermore, 10 run in the longitudinal direction of the blank Longitudinal lines 21 and 22 of the same configuration are provided. These delimit the strip-shaped side folding tabs 16 on the one hand and 17 on the other hand compared to the rest of the blank 10 from. The cross embossing lines 19, 20 extend at this example between the longitudinal embossing lines 21, 22, can but also alternatively across the full width of the blank 10 extend.

The cigarette groups 23 to be wrapped become a cigarette magazine assigned assigned cigarette revolver 24 and promoted. A cigarette conveyor 25 at equal intervals drivers 26 arranged from one another detects the cigarette groups 23 on the back. The cigarette groups 23 are promoted on a cigarette web 27.

In the area of a cutting station 28, cuts are made one after the other 10 fed and for takeover by a cigarette group 23 ready. The blanks 10 are from a Continuous web of material 29 made of paper, tin foil or other Packaging material separated and in a position transverse to Direction of movement of the cigarette groups 23 held ready as a "curtain".

The blank 10 is positioned in the region of the cutting station 28 in such a way that that the cigarette group 23 with in the conveying direction forward end faces - filter-free cigarette ends Detect blank 10 in the area of the bottom wall 11, namely exactly between the two cross embossing lines 19, 20. Continued the feed movement of the cigarette group 23 becomes the blank Folded in a U shape. In the area of the cutting station 28 for this purpose a mouthpiece 30 is arranged with guides, namely mouthpiece plates 31, 32 above and below the movement path the cigarette group 23.

A cutting unit 33 is assigned to the cutting station 28. This is the material web 29 - coming from a bobbin 34 - fed. The blank 10 is cut by a separating unit, namely by a knife roller 35 with cutting knife 46 from the material web 29 separated and the respective cigarette group 23 supplied. The knife roller 35 is also with a perforation knife 36 equipped for making the perforation line 18th

The cutting unit 33 has an embossing member for attachment the cross embossing line 19, 20. It is an embossing roller 37. Embossing tools are attached to the circumference thereof, namely two transverse rib-like embossing knobs 38. The embossing roller 37 is the knife roller 35 in the conveying direction upstream. The cross embossing lines 19, 20 are accordingly on the Material web 29 attached. A counter pressure element, namely one (movable) pressure roller 39 lies at least during the embossing on the circumference of the embossing roller 37 or on the material web 29 on. The pressure roller 39 can be moved in cycles, e.g. over a Crank, and consists at least partially of elastic material, e.g. Vulkolan. The embossing roller 37 is a deflection roller 40 preceded by a large wrap angle on the embossing roller 37 generated.

The longitudinal embossing lines 21, 22 are through in the material web 29 an independent embossing unit manufactured, which in the present embodiment in the transport direction of the cutting unit 33 is upstream. A separately arranged Embossing unit 49 has two embossing rollers which are constantly adjacent to one another 55, 56, one of which - e.g. the embossing roller 55 - two circular embossing ribs running around (not shown) has according to the position of the longitudinal embossing lines 21, 22. The other embossing roller 56 can serve as a pressure roller, preferably also with an elastic jacket. The through that Embossing unit 49 continuously embossed material web is over Deflection and guide rollers the cutting unit described 33 fed.

A special feature is that the cutting unit 33, including embossing organ, is driven independently, so not through the central drive of the packaging machine, however in coordination with this. The cutting unit 33 is a motor assigned, namely a servomotor 41. This drives central drive wheel.

The drive of the cutting unit 33 is dependent on the position of the supplied cigarette groups 23 controlled.

This measure ensures that the blank 10 in an exact relative position - with regard to the cross stamping line 19, 20 - for takeover by cigarette group 23 is kept ready. Above the conveyor for the cigarette group 23 is a sensing element, namely an optoelectronic one Sensor 47. This probes with a light barrier the front of a group of cigarettes 23 and controls the Servomotor 41 and thus the feeding of the blank 10 in exact correspondence with the actually arriving cigarette groups 23. If there are no cigarette groups Cutting unit 33 fed and detected by sensor 47, the supply of packaging material is also stopped.

The drive of the cutting unit 33 by the servo motor 41 however, takes place in coordination or in synchronism with the machine cycle. For this purpose, a sensor is the cutting unit 33 assigned, namely an initiator 58. This acts with a (metallic) marking 59 of the cutting unit 33 together. The mark 59 is attached to the knife roller 35 and controls the drive of the cutting unit in coordination with the machine cycle 33rd

A special feature of the device is that the cigarette groups 23 are promoted non-uniformly, namely with increasing and correspondingly decreasing conveying speed. The drive is chosen so that the cigarette conveyor 25 during the takeover of a cigarette group 23 in Area of the cigarette revolver 24 a reduced speed having. Likewise is a reduced speed of the cigarette conveyor 25 at the time of the takeover a blank 10 given by a cigarette group 23. During the rest of the promotion, the cigarette conveyor 25 driven at a correspondingly higher speed. The procedure is preferably such that a cigarette group is used at the same time 23 in the area of the cigarette magazine 24 and a Blank 10 from another cigarette group 23 is detected. The cigarette conveyor can, for example, as required of DE 1 288 970 be driven, that is with a cyclically changing Speed.

The movement characteristic of the cutting unit 33 is on adapted the movement characteristics of the cigarette conveyor 25, namely non-uniform with increasing and decreasing course. The characteristic of the funding movement is chosen so that during the takeover of a blank 10 by a cigarette group 23 the conveying speed of the blank 10 reduced, but is increased accordingly. This funding movement for the material web 29 or the blank 10 caused by the embossing roller 37, which is designed as an eccentric roller or is stored, namely with off-center Axis of rotation 48. The arrangement is such that the embossing roller 37 during the embossing, that is to say during the application of the Cross embossing line 19, 20, conveyed at reduced speed and then at a correspondingly higher speed.

The blank 10 separated from the material web 29 is cut by passed the knife roller 35 to rotating suction disks 51. The Suction disks 51 are provided with suction bores along the circumference and capture the cut on the side edges. The Cigarette groups 23 can be conveyed between the suction disks 51, the cut in the area of the bottom wall 11 gripped by the cigarette group 23 and by the suction disks 51 is subtracted.

In the area of the mouthpiece 30, further auxiliary organs are arranged, which the load-free taking of the blank 10 through support the cigarette group 23. It is about Suction rolls 53, 54, which are transverse to the direction of conveyance of the cigarette groups 23 above and below the trajectory of the same are positioned, namely as the input organs of the mouthpiece 30. The cigarette group 23 is cut to size 10 conveyed between the upper and lower suction rollers 53, 54.

The special drive form of the cigarette conveyor 25 can also are used in a different context, i.e. independently of the embossing of the inner casing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cut

11

bottom wall

12

front wall

13

rear wall

14

Stirnfaltlappen

15

Stirnfaltlappen

16

Seitenfaltlappen

17

Seitenfaltlappen

18

perforation

19

Cross embossed line

20

Cross embossed line

21

Longitudinal crease line

22

Longitudinal crease line

23

cigarette group

24

cigarette revolver

25

cigarette conveyor

26

takeaway

27

cigarettes train

28

blank station

29

web

30

mouthpiece

31

Die plate

32

Die plate

33

blank subassembly

34

reel

35

knife roll

36

perforation

37

embossing roller

38

embossing protrusions

39

pressure roller

40

deflecting

41

servomotor

42

Bodenfaltlappen

43

Bodenfaltlappen

44

folding gussets

45

fold line

46

separating knife

47

sensor

48

axis of rotation

49

embossing unit

51

suction

53

suction roll

54

suction roll

55

embossing roller

56

embossing roller

58

initiator

59

mark

Claims (6)

1. Cigarette pack having an elongate blank (10) made of thin packaging material, such as paper, tin foil or the like, for wrapping a cigarette group (23) such that the blank (10) has a continuous, single-layered base wall (11) which is adjoined by a front wall (12), separated off by a transverse stamped line (20), and a rear wall (13), separated off by a further transverse stamped line (19), the cigarette group (23), which butts against the base wall (11) by way of the cigarette end surfaces, being wrapped in a U-shaped manner in the process, it being the case that base folding tabs (42, 43) laterally adjoin the base wall (11) and side folding tabs (16, 17) laterally adjoin the front wall (12) and rear wall (13), for the purpose of forming folded side walls of the wrapper, characterized by the following features:

   a) the blank (10) has two continuous longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22) which run in the longitudinal direction and by means of which a central region of the blank (10), comprising base wall (11), front wall (12), rear wall (13) and endfolding tabs (14, 15), is separated off from folding tabs, namely side folding tabs (16, 17) and base folding tabs (42, 43), arranged continuously on both sides,

   b) the transverse stamped lines (19, 20) extend exclusively between the longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22),

   c) the region of the side folding tabs (16, 17) and the base folding tabs (42, 43) is free of stamped lines.
2. Process for producing cigarette packs, in the case of which a cigarette group (23) transported along a cigarette path (27) is wrapped in a blank (10) which is to be severed from a continuous material web (29) and is made of thin packaging material, such as paper, tin foil or the like, it being the case that the continuous material web (29) first of all is provided, by means of a transverse stamping subassembly (33), with stamped lines (19, 20), as a boundary between the base wall (11) and the front wall (12) and the rear wall (13) of the blank (10), and then blanks (10) are severed from the material web (29) and said blanks are made available for wrapping the cigarette group (23) in a U-shaped manner in the direction transverse to the cigarette path (27), characterized by the following features:

   a) in the region of the material web (29), first of all a first stamping subassembly (49) provides two continuous longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22) which run in the longitudinal direction and by means of which a central region of the blank (10), comprising base wall (11), front wall (12), rear wall (13) and end folding tabs (14, 15), is separated off from folding tabs, namely side folding tabs (16, 17) and base folding tabs (42, 43), arranged continuously on both sides,

   b) then the transverse stamped lines (19, 20), which are directed transversely to the material web (29), are provided exclusively between the longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22) by the transverse stamping subassembly (33), such that the region of the side folding tabs (16, 17) and of the base folding tabs (42, 43) for the blank (10) remains free of stamped lines.
3. Process for producing cigarette packs in the case of which a cigarette group (23) is enclosed by a blank (10) severed from a continuous material web (29) made of thin packaging material, such as paper, tin foil or the like, it being the case that the cigarette groups (23) can be transported along a cigarette path (27) at a distance from one another and the severed blanks (10) can be conveyed into a position transverse to the cigarette path (27), having a transverse stamping subassembly (33) for providing stamped lines on the material web (29), and having a severing subassembly (35) which is arranged downstream in the conveying direction and is intended for severing the blanks (10), it being the case that the transverse stamping subassembly (33) has a stamping roller (37) which interacts with an elastic pressure-exerting roller (39) and has two stamping protrusions (38) on the outer circumference for providing transverse stamped lines (19, 20) in the material web (29) as a boundary for the base wall (11) of the blank (10) which is to be severed, characterized by the following features:

   a) a first stamping subassembly (49), for providing two parallel, continuous longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22) extending in the longitudinal direction of the material web (29), comprises two abutting stamping rollers (55, 56), of which one stamping roller (55) has two annular, spaced-apart stamping ribs running all the way around the circumference,

   b) the stamping protrusions (38) on the stamping roller (37) of the transverse stamping subassembly (33) are arranged such that they extend in an axis-parallel manner and exclusively in the region between the longitudinal stamped lines (21, 22) of the continuous material web (29) and transversely to the latter,

   c) the severing subassembly comprises a cutter roller (35) with a cutter (46) for severing the blanks (10) from the material web (29).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that a cigarette conveyor (25) for carrying along and transporting the cigarette groups (23) is driven continuously in a non-uniform, namely dynamic, manner such that carry-along elements (26), as a cigarette group (23) is received from a cigarette magazine (24) and as a blank (10) is received by the cigarette group (23), are driven at a lower speed than during the rest of the transporting phase.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a blank subassembly (33), comprising the stamping roller (37) and cutter roller (35), has a dedicated drive which is independent of the rest of the drive mechanism, namely provided by a servomotor (41), it being possible for the drive of the blank subassembly (33) to be controlled in accordance with the cigarette groups (23) conveyed, preferably by a sensor (47) which is assigned to the cigarette path (27) and is intended for sensing the cigarette groups (23) transported past.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the material web (29) and the blanks (10) severed therefrom can be fed to the cigarette path (27) at the same speed, and with the same movement characteristics, as the cigarette groups (23), in particular with dynamic drive characteristics, it being the case that, in order to produce dynamic movement characteristics of the material web (29), the stamping roller (37) is designed as an eccentric shaft with an eccentric axis of rotation (48).

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