EP4524042A1 - Method for producing packages for products of the cigarette industry, and corresponding package for products of the cigarette industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing packs (10) for products (11) of the cigarette industry (and a corresponding pack), wherein a group (12) of products (11) of the cigarette industry arranged in a tray (13) is wrapped in a blank (15) of packaging material and folding tabs of the blank (15) are connected to one another to form a preferably airtight wrapping (14) for the products (11). According to the invention, corner folding tabs (33) of the blank (15), which initially protrude relative to the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), are designed as trapezoidal folding tabs and are each folded into one of the two opposite side surfaces, before the longitudinal folding tabs (34) of the blank (15), which protrude relative to the large-area side surfaces, are each folded into one of the opposite side surfaces and onto the corner folding tabs (33) and connected to one another by adhesive, and that on the a glue surface (37) is applied to each of the folded edge regions of the overlap seam (20) to seal the envelope fold (19) before the envelope fold (19) is completed.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing packs for products of the cigarette industry, wherein a group of products of the cigarette industry arranged in a tray is wrapped in a blank of packaging material and folding tabs of the blank are connected to one another to form a preferably airtight wrapping for the products, and wherein the blank is first wrapped around the group arranged in the tray so that folding tabs of the blank overlap in the region of a large-area side surface of the group arranged in the tray, in particular in the region of a front side, and wherein these folding tabs are connected to one another by adhesive to form an overlap seam, so that a tubular wrapping is formed which is open on two opposite side surfaces of the group arranged in the tray, and that folding tabs of the blank are then connected to one another in the region of the two opposite side surfaces as an envelope fold, including lateral edge regions of the overlap seam folded into the two opposite side surfaces, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding package according to the preamble of claim 10.

The packaging of products, especially cigarettes and similar items in the cigarette industry, places specific demands on the materials and processes used. Packaging must ensure the quality and freshness of the contents over a certain period of time and protect them from external influences, as is the case with traditional packaging made of stiff paper or thin cardboard wrapped in sealable films.

Another well-known type of packaging is the so-called sealed packaging, which uses special sealing processes to form the wrapping material into fins to protect the package contents from penetrating media. Sealable films are preferred as the wrapping material.

In particular, the growing focus on environmental compatibility and sustainability has presented the cigarette industry with new challenges. Conventional packaging films conflict with the need for more sustainable solutions that use less plastic. In addition, existing processes present technical challenges, such as the need to use specialized sealing processes for different packaging shapes and materials, and the difficulties arising from the use of abrasive adhesives and the resulting stress on the cutting blades.

Another issue is ensuring adequate sealing of the wrapper on packs with non-rectangular or square cross-sections, such as octagonal or round-corner packs. This poses a significant challenge, as conventional sealing techniques do not always ensure adequate sealing. The lack of a suitable sealing surface in these designs leads to problems with the quality and safety of the packaged products.

In the EP 27 66 282 B2 A method for producing a sealed pack is described, in which a film web is guided over a forming shoulder over the cigarette formation held in a tray. The film tube thus formed is sealed by means of first sealing wheels. Subsequently, the individual packs are formed from this tube using sealing rollers, forming a fin seam. This method therefore relies on sealable films for the production of the sealed packs. In addition, many customers prefer an envelope-folded version for aesthetic reasons. Wrapping material which cannot be produced using the process described in the publication.

The WO 2023/041350 A1 shows a similar process for producing a sealing pack using a tube. However, in addition to conventional film, paper is also disclosed as the wrapping material. In order to connect the side flaps of the wrapper to one another, adhesive is applied to the paper web (before the tube is formed). These adhesive surfaces are activated by sealing tools during tube formation, ensuring a secure connection between the individual flaps. Here, too, at least one fin seam is formed. The publication therefore already provides an initial approach to the concept of sustainability by using paper as the wrapping material. The problem with the process shown here is the cutting of the wrapping tube. The fin seam created by the tube formation must be cut using a cutting knife of a cutting device in order to form the individual packs from the tube. Adhesive, which has very abrasive properties, is used to connect the flaps of the fin seam. Accordingly, the knives are subjected to considerable stress during the cutting operations. Furthermore, the knives or the machine may become dirty if the adhesive has not yet fully set and adheres to the knives or is distributed in the machine by the rotation of the knife roller.

Furthermore, problems arise when producing sealed packs with conventional envelope folding when polygonal pack shapes are involved (e.g., round-corner packs, octagonal packs, etc.). To ensure tightness using the sealing process, a counter-layer is required when pressing the sealing tools against the tray. Hollow spaces arise in the edge areas (transition between the side and back surfaces) of the polygonal trays, where the required counter-layer is missing. Thus, tightness cannot be ensured in these edge areas using the sealing process with conventional envelope folding.

The same problem of the missing counter layer exists with trays that do not fully enclose the cigarette formation, as is the case with 3- to 5-sided trays. Here, too, the walls of the tray cannot be used as a counter layer for sealing, as they are either completely missing or do not fully cover the cigarettes in the formation. Therefore, sealing against the cigarettes would have to be carried out. which would impair the quality of the cigarettes (heat input, adhesion of adhesive from sealing areas of the wrapper, etc.).

Against this background, there is an urgent need for improved packaging solutions and processes that address both the environmental requirements and the technical challenges of cigarette packaging. The aim of the present invention is therefore to address these existing problems and present an improved, sustainable, and technically enhanced solution for the packaging of cigarette industry products.

A method according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that corner folding tabs of the blank, which initially protrude relative to the group arranged in the tray, are designed as trapezoidal folding tabs and are each folded into one of the two opposite side surfaces, before the longitudinal folding tabs of the blank, which protrude relative to the large-area side surfaces, are each folded into one of the opposite side surfaces and onto the corner folding tabs and are connected to one another by adhesive, and that a glue surface is applied to the edge regions of the overlap seam folded into one of the opposite side surfaces in order to seal the envelope fold before the envelope fold is completed.

The use of trapezoidal corner flaps reduces the potential air inlet openings in the area of the corner flaps of the envelope, thus reducing the risk of leaks. The glued surface serves the same purpose by closing any potential air inlet openings in the area of the overlap seam.

Preferably, the blank consists of a paper material which is provided with a coating as a barrier layer.

A further special feature may be that, in forming the substantially airtight enclosure, a blank is used which is or will be provided with an adhesive only on one side (inside), preferably with a reactivatable adhesive, wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is or will be applied only to the side of the blank which faces the group located in the tray.

This helps to ensure that the adhesive on the blank cannot come into contact with the components of the packaging machine.

Another special feature may be that the blank is separated from a continuous material web, with a corresponding separating cut being made over its entire length at a distance from areas of the material web that are provided with adhesive.

Using individual blanks simplifies the packaging process because it eliminates the need to form a material tube. Furthermore, cutting the blanks from the material web simplifies material preparation. Finally, contact between the cutting blade and the abrasive adhesive can be avoided, resulting in longer service life for the cutting blade due to reduced wear.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the adhesive is or will be arranged at a distance from the side edges of the blank, so that the blank has an adhesive-free edge region all around.

Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that the adhesive is or will be arranged as a continuous adhesive track only along three side edges of the blank.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that a tray with a non-rectangular cross-section is used in the production of the pack, in particular a tray for an octagonal or round-corner pack with a corresponding cross-section, so that the tray does not extend into corner regions of longitudinal edges of the pack in which corresponding cavities are located.

Furthermore, it can be provided that an edge-side width (Y) of the corner folding tabs and/or the length of the adhesive track of the corner folding tabs is smaller than a depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack.

In this way, it can be ensured that the tray has a sufficient width to be used as a counter layer, especially during the subsequent sealing of the envelope fold.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the adhesive is or will be applied as an adhesive track with a width (B) that is greater than half the edge width (Y) of the corner folding flaps.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track with a width (B) which is equal to or smaller than the depth (Z) of the tray, preferably smaller than the depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the package.

These measures can ensure that the width of the adhesive track is sufficient to ensure secure bonding of the envelope flaps in the area of the corner flaps, and on the other hand, narrow enough to ensure that no adhesive comes into contact with the products.

Another special feature may be that the glue surface is applied to an edge of the overlap seam, particularly to the tray and/or to a longitudinal fold flap. This occurs before the envelope folding is completed.

The glue surface, e.g. as a glue point, can help to ensure that the envelope fold is absolutely tight.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the material web is coated with the adhesive separately from the processing site (offline) or during the production of the package (online). This refers to the adhesive track and not to the glue area, which is always applied on-site.

Furthermore, it is intended that the adhesive is reactivated by sealing after the envelope fold has been formed.

A pack according to the invention has the features of claim 10. It is accordingly provided that corner folding tabs of the blank, which protrude relative to the group arranged in the tray, are designed as trapezoidal folding tabs and are each folded into the two opposite side surfaces and that the longitudinal folding tabs of the blank, which protrude relative to the large-area side surfaces, are each folded into one of the opposite side surfaces and onto the corner folding tabs and are connected to one another by adhesive and that at the A glue surface is applied to the edge areas of the overlap seam folded on opposite side surfaces to seal the envelope fold.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the blank consists of a paper material which is provided with a coating as a barrier layer.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the formation of the substantially airtight enclosure, a blank is used which is provided with an adhesive on only one side, preferably with a reactivatable adhesive, wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is applied only to the side of the blank which faces the group located in the tray.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the adhesive is arranged at a distance from the side edges of the blank, so that the blank has an adhesive-free edge area all around.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the adhesive is arranged as a continuous adhesive track only along three side edges of the blank.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the tray has a non-rectangular cross-section, in particular a tray for an octagonal or round-corner pack with a corresponding cross-section, so that the tray does not extend into corner regions of longitudinal edges of the pack in which corresponding cavities are located.

Furthermore, it can be provided that an edge-side width (Y) of the corner folding tabs and/or the length of the adhesive track of the corner folding tabs is smaller than a depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track with a width (B) that is greater than half the edge width (Y) of the corner folding flaps.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track with a width (B) which is equal to or smaller than the depth (Z) of the tray, preferably smaller than the depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the package. Furthermore, it can be provided that the glue surface is applied to an edge of the overlap seam, in particular to the tray and/or to a longitudinal folding flap.

Fig. 1

eine Packung für Produkte der Zigarettenindustrie mit geöffnetem Deckel in schematischer räumlicher Darstellung,

Fig. 2

die Packung gemäß Fig. 1 ohne die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Außenpackung,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf die Packung gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine Einzelheit der Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 5

eine Materialbahn aus Verpackungsmaterial und einen aus der Materialbahn herausgetrennten Zuschnitt,

Fig. 6 und 7

eine Seitenansicht der Packung gemäß Fig. 2, und

Fig. 8

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung der Packung gemäß Fig. 2 bzw. einer entsprechenden Vorrichtung.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

a pack for products of the cigarette industry with the lid open in a schematic spatial representation,

Fig. 2

the package according to Fig. 1 without the Fig. 1 outer packaging shown,

Fig. 3

a top view of the package according to Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 4

a detail of the representation according to Fig. 3 in enlarged view,

Fig. 5

a material web of packaging material and a cut-out from the material web,

Figs. 6 and 7

a side view of the package according to Fig. 2 , and

Fig. 8

a schematic representation of a process for producing the package according to Fig. 2 or a corresponding device.

The invention is described below with reference to a package 10 for products 11 of the cigarette industry. For the purposes of this application, products of the cigarette industry are understood to include tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos, and the like, but also novel tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes. It is understood that the package 10 may also be suitable for or be used for other products.

The products 11 are arranged in an orderly formation, preferably in a dense layer, as a group 12. The formation of the products 11 within the group 12 is adapted to the cross-section of the package 10. Typically, the products 11 are arranged in several rows. Depending on the cross-section of the package 10, not all rows need to contain the same number of products 11.

The products 11 or the group 12 are arranged in a tray 13, for example made of thin cardboard or stiff paper, in order to maintain the formation of the products 11 during the packaging process. The tray 13 can have a bottom wall, opposite front wall and rear wall as well as opposite narrow side walls, so that a type of cup open at the top is formed. An end wall arranged opposite the bottom wall is also conceivable, which must then have a removal opening. The tray 13 or its upright side walls can extend over the entire height of the products 11 or the group 12. The walls of the tray 13 (with the exception of any end wall) are preferably closed. The tray 13 or its walls can also have one or more openings. Alternatively, the tray can also have only three side walls, e.g. a front wall or rear wall and two side walls.

The products 11 arranged in the tray 13, or the group 12, are surrounded by an inner wrapping 14 as a wrapping. For this purpose, a corresponding blank 15 is wrapped around the group 12, so that in the first step, a tubular wrapping is formed that is open on two opposite side surfaces of the group 12. Folding flaps of the blank 15 are brought together in an overlapping area 16 and bonded together, forming a corresponding overlap seam 20.

In the present case, the blank 15 is wound around the group 12 located in the tray 13 according to the longitudinal winding principle. The overlapping area is located in the area of a front side of the tray 13 or the group 12. Of course, an arrangement in the area of a front side of the tray 13 or the group 12 is also conceivable. In principle, it is also conceivable to wrap the blank 15 around the group 12 located in the tray 13 according to the transverse winding principle.

The blank 15 has a removal opening 17 in the area of an end face and an adjacent front face of the tray 13 or the group 12. For opening and closing the removal opening 17, an adhesive label 18 is provided in a known manner, which can preferably be actuated several times by using a suitable adhesive.

In the area of the narrow sides of the tray 13 or group 12, longitudinal folding flaps 34 of the blank 15 are connected to each other by an envelope fold 19 after the tubular wrapping has been formed. In this case, edge areas of the Overlap seam 20 folded into the plane of the narrow sides and incorporated into the envelope fold 19.

The blank 15 for the inner wrapping 14 preferably consists of a paper-based packaging material, which may have a coating in order to form the inner wrapping 14 substantially tight or as a sealing pack.

Preferably, the tray 13 is not rectangular or square in cross-section, but with beveled edges 24 or rounded edges in the area of the upright package edges (ie the edges in the transition between the front or back to the narrow sides). Fig. 1, 2 , 3, 4 , 6 and 7 An example of a tray 13 with beveled edges 24 is shown as an octagonal package. This creates cavities 31 in the corner areas of the tray 13 between the tray 13 and the inner wrapper 14.

Fig. 1 shows that the pack 10 can also include an outer wrapper 21, in which the inner wrapper 14 can be arranged. In the present case, the outer wrapper 21 is designed as a hinge-lid pack. In order to be able to open and close the adhesive label 18 automatically, it is connected in a known manner to an inner side of the lid 22 of the outer wrapper 21. The lid 22, in turn, is pivotally connected to a rear side of a box part 23 of the outer wrapper 21. The cross-section of the outer wrapper 21 is adapted to the cross-section of the tray 13, thus having corresponding beveled edges 24.

A possible way of producing the package 10 is shown for easier understanding in Fig. 8 shown in simplified form. To wrap the tray 13 and the products 11 contained therein, a continuous material web 26 with a paper-based barrier layer is provided. The material web 26 is provided online (i.e., during the manufacturing process) with reactivatable glue areas made of adhesive (see Fig. 5 ). This type of application ensures that the glue is applied exclusively to the later inner side of the inner casing 14. This prevents contact between the glued surfaces and guides, folding tools, etc. of the machine, thus preventing contamination of the machine.

In order to divide the material web 26 into individual cut pieces 15, these are separated directly from the material web 26. For this purpose, it is important that the cutting knives do not come into contact with the glue. This is because the glue has abrasive properties that greatly increase the wear of the knife. For this reason, the glue is applied not reach the cutting area (cutting line 30). For this purpose, a glue pattern is applied, leaving appropriate clearances. This creates glue-free areas "A" (see Fig. 5 ), in which the cutting knives cut the material web 26. Furthermore, the knives are prevented from becoming dirty due to contact with the glue and possibly spreading uncured glue through their rotational movement in the machine. The positioning of the cut can be carried out, for example, via a print mark control, which is controlled by a print mark 27 (see Fig. 5 ) is detected on the material web 26.

Fig. 5 shows both the material web 26 and a blank 15 separated from the material web 26. It can be seen that the adhesive is applied as a type of continuous adhesive track 28 that extends along three side edges of the blank 15. More precisely, the adhesive track 28 runs parallel to the three side edges, but at a distance from them, so that an adhesive-free edge region 29 is created. An adhesive-free edge region 29 is also formed between the adhesive track 28 and the fourth side wall. The separating cut for separating a blank 15 from the material web 26 can be made transversely across the material web 26 such that the cutting line 30 does not cross the adhesive or the adhesive tracks 28. It is understood that the invention is not limited to continuous or circumferential adhesive tracks 28. Other application forms or patterns are also conceivable.

After the material web 26 has been provided with adhesive on one side and cut to the appropriate size, the blank 15 is transported transversely to the direction of movement of the group 12 located in the tray 13 by means of a conveyor to a transfer point ( Fig. 8 ). Here, it is positioned so that the tray 13 with the group 12 is pushed through the blank 15 and then, together with the blank, into a pocket of a folding turret 32. Narrow lateral guides on the folding turret pockets are used to pierce the first corner folding tabs 33 on both sides of a wall of the blank 15 for the front side of the inner wrapping 14. For this purpose, the guides are geometrically designed to create a first fold for a so-called nose fold.

This first lateral nose fold is not executed at a right angle as in conventional envelope folding, but is trapezoidal. This creates an angle between the upper or lower edge of the nose fold and the top or bottom of group 12, which is approximately 0° in conventional envelope folding. The edge running at a right angle to the top or bottom of group 12 with the Edge length "Y" (see Fig. 5 below) of the corner flaps 33, does not correspond, as with conventional envelope folding, to the tray height "Z" (see Fig. 3 ).

The area between the corner folding flaps 33 and the folded longitudinal folding flaps 34 is not tight, when gluing is only carried out on the inside with glue-free edge areas 29, both in the conventional envelope folding and in the nose folding described here, since two longitudinal folding flaps 34 are folded onto one another, creating a gap in the glue-free edge area 29.

The crucial difference between conventional solutions and the illustrated embodiments lies in the edge length "Y" of the inlet opening (nostril 35) to the inside of the inner wrapper 14, e.g. when using a tray with beveled edges 24. The nostril 35 of the corner flap 33 (see Fig. 5 ) no longer extends over the critical, practically unsealable areas on the beveled edges 24 of the tray 13, but lies completely on the flat side surface of the tray 13 with the height "X" (see Fig. 3 ). For this purpose, it is important that the length of the marginal edge ("Y") of the corner flap 33 or the length of the marginal edge ("Y") of the gluing must be smaller than the height "X" of the flat side surface of the tray 13 (surface up to the transition to the corner areas of the tray see Fig. 4 ).

This method can be used to ensure absolute tightness, particularly with trays 13 for round-edged and octagonal packs 10.

With a conventional envelope folding 19, the tightness is not guaranteed due to a missing counter layer in the area of the beveled edges 24. The critical edge areas of the tray 13, in which the cavities 31 with missing counter layer are located, are in Fig. 3 and more detailed in Fig. 4 shown.

By inserting the formation (group 12 of products 11 located in the tray) into the folding turret 32, the blank 15 is simultaneously wrapped around it in a U-shape (see Fig. 8 ). In addition to piercing the first corner folding tabs 33, the blank 15 is folded around the formation during the rotation of the folding turret 32. For this purpose, folding elements are provided which are in the Fig. 8 are not shown in detail, as they are basically known from the prior art. The longer part of the casing blank is first folded around the front side of the formation and then overlapped with the shorter part. The (reactivatable) Glue area 28 comes into contact with the outside of the blank 15 (overlap area 16) in order to later form the overlap seam 20.

Downstream of the folding turret 32, a sealing section is arranged, into which the formation with folded blank 15 is pushed out of the folding turret 32. During insertion into the sealing section, additional guide elements become active, which pierce the opposite corner folding tabs 33 on both sides of the bottom wall of the blank 15. This is done in the same way as described above.

In the sealing section, sealing elements 36 act on the previously formed overlap area 16 to form the overlap seam 20. The sealing elements 36 bring heat into this area, so that the glue is reactivated to form a sealing connection between the long and short parts of the blank 15 (overlap seam 20). This process is described in the Fig. 8 to see.

Downstream of the sealing section, a first active folding element is located, which is pivoted into the section from below and folds the lower longitudinal folding flaps 34 against the tray 13. An upper folding element is then used, which folds down the upper longitudinal folding flap 34 to form the longitudinal seam in an envelope-like manner (envelope folding 19).

The following must be observed with this envelope folding 19: The gluing pattern on the inside of the blank 15 is selected so that after folding the longitudinal folding flaps 34, a circumferential sealing seam is created between the inner wrapper 14 and the tray 13, which encloses the nostrils 35 of the corner folding flaps 33 and is only interrupted by the glue-free edge area 29 of the overlap seam 20 of the envelope folding 19 (see Fig. 6 ). The width of the adhesive track 28 of the pattern is marked "B" in the Fig. 5 The width "B" of the adhesive track 28 must be greater than 1/2 "Y" to be sufficiently wide for tight bonding of the overlapping areas of the corner flap 33. At the same time, it must be less than or equal to the tray height "Z" (preferably tray height "Z" minus cavity 31, depending on the tray design). This way, it is narrow enough that no glue comes into contact with the products 11 if the surfaces of the tray 13 do not fully cover the products 11. The adhesive track 28 with the width "B" and its ratios are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 to see.

The transition from the overlap seam 20 to the envelope fold 19 represents a problematic point with regard to the tightness of the inner wrapping 14, since the adhesive was not applied to the edge of the blank 15 due to the process. At this point, air can get into the inner wrapping 14 and further into the products 11 (see Fig. 6 ).

To solve this problem, it is proposed that before folding the upper longitudinal flaps 34, a glue surface 37, in particular a glue point, is applied from adhesive in order to produce a closed sealing seam (see Fig. 7 ). The glue can be applied either to the tray 13 or directly to the longitudinal folding flap 34 in the area of the overlap seam 20. For this purpose, glue modules 38 are provided between the lower and upper folding elements (see Fig. 8 ). Instead of a glue point, the glue surface 37 can also be designed as a short glue bead.

If the upper longitudinal flap 34 is finally folded downwards, the last remaining air passage (in the transition area between the overlap seam 20 and the side surface) is sealed by this glue application. It is important that the glue dot/bead is applied in the transition area between the overlap seam 20 and the side fold, precisely in the area that forms the remaining air passage. The now "absolutely" sealed package 10 is in Fig. 7 shown.

Once the envelope folding 19 is completed, the package 10 is conveyed into an elevator 39, which, in terms of its basic structure, is EP 3 059 173 A2 known to the applicant, to which reference is made for the purpose of complete disclosure. In this elevator 39, the packages 10 are conveyed vertically and the longitudinal seams of the envelope fold 19 are finally sealed (see Fig. 8 ). For this purpose, sealing elements 40 are provided in the elevator 39, which introduce heat into the longitudinal seams or reactivate the glue in the longitudinal seam areas, thus ensuring a sealed envelope fold 19. After the elevator 39, the finished packages 10 are fed to the further processing steps.

As an alternative to the method described above, the glue can also be applied to the material web 26 without glue-free areas "A." This means that the glue areas are brought up to the edges of the blank 15, and the cut is made centrally through a glue field. If the blank 15 is then folded according to the above method, a closed glue field (no open air inlets) is created, which can be sealed against the tray 13.

It would also be conceivable to design the sealing elements 40 with a contour corresponding to the tray geometry. This would allow the critical corner areas of the tray 13 to also be exposed to heat across the entire surface by the sealing elements. However, the production and maintenance of a wide variety of sealing elements 40, suitable for all producible pack geometries, is disproportionately expensive and therefore not economically viable.

It would also be conceivable to implement the described nose fold in the production of a tubular wrapping, using the flow-wrap process known from the prior art. This method, too, can be used to produce a sealing pack made of paper as the wrapping material through the nose fold and the partial application of glue in the transition areas.

List of reference symbols:

10 pack 37 Glue surface 11 product 38 Glue module 12 group 39 Elevator 13 Tray 40 Seal element 14 inner wrapping 15 Cutting 16 Overlap area 17 Removal opening 18 adhesive label 19 Envelope folding 20 Overlap seam 21 Outer wrapping 22 Lid 23 Box part 24 beveled edge 26 Material web 27 Print mark 28 adhesive trace 29 peripheral area 30 cutting line 31 cavity 32 folding revolver 33 Corner flaps 34 Longitudinal folding flaps 35 nostril 36 Sealing organ

Claims (18)

Method for producing packs (10) for products (11) of the cigarette industry, wherein a group (12) of products (11) of the cigarette industry arranged in a tray (13) is wrapped in a blank (15) of packaging material and folding tabs of the blank (15) are connected to one another to form a preferably airtight wrapping (14) for the products (11), and wherein the blank (15) is first wrapped around the group (12) arranged in the tray (13) so that in the region of a large-area side surface of the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), in particular in the region of a rear side, folding tabs of the blank (15) overlap, and wherein these folding tabs are connected to one another by adhesive bonding to form an overlap seam (20), so that a tubular wrapping (14) is formed which is open on two opposite side surfaces of the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), and that thereafter folding tabs of the Blank (15) in the area of the two opposite side surfaces are joined together as an envelope fold (19), including lateral edge regions of the overlap seam (20) folded into the two opposite side surfaces, characterized in that corner folding tabs (33) of the blank (15), which initially protrude relative to the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), are designed as trapezoidal folding tabs and are each folded into one of the two opposite side surfaces, before the side surfaces protruding relative to the large-area side surfaces Longitudinal folding flaps (34) of the blank (15) are each folded into one of the opposite side surfaces and onto the corner folding flaps (33) and connected to one another by gluing, and that a glue surface (37) is applied to the edge regions of the overlap seam (20) folded into one of the opposite side surfaces in order to seal the envelope fold (19) before the envelope fold (19) is completed. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank (15) consists of a paper material which is provided with a coating as a barrier layer. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the formation of the essentially airtight wrapping (14) a blank (15) is used which is or will be provided with an adhesive on only one side, preferably with a reactivatable adhesive, wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is or will be applied only to the side of the blank (15) which faces the group (12) located in the tray (13), and wherein it is preferably provided that the blank (15) is separated from a continuous material web (26), wherein a corresponding separating cut is made over its entire length at a distance from areas of the material web (26) which are provided with adhesive. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is or will be arranged at a distance from side edges of the blank (15) so that the blank (15) has an adhesive-free edge region (29) all around, wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is or will be arranged as a continuous adhesive track (28) only along three side edges of the blank (15). Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that in the production of the pack (10) a tray (13) with a non-rectangular cross-section is used, in particular a tray (13) for an octagonal or round-edged pack (10) with a corresponding cross-section, so that the tray (13) does not extend into corner regions of longitudinal edges of the pack (10) in which corresponding cavities (31) are located. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that an edge-side width (Y) of the corner folding tabs (33) and/or the length of the adhesive track (28) of the corner folding tabs (33) is smaller than a depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack (10). Method according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track (28) with a width (B) which is greater than half the edge-side width (Y) of the corner folding tabs (33). Method according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track (28) with a width (B) which is equal to or less than the depth (Z) of the tray, preferably less than the depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack (10). Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the glue surface (37) is applied to an edge of the overlap seam (20), in particular to the tray (13) and/or to a longitudinal folding flap (34). Pack for products (11) of the cigarette industry, wherein a group (12) of products (11) of the cigarette industry arranged in a tray (13) is wrapped in a blank (15) of packaging material and folding tabs of the blank (15) are connected to one another to form a preferably airtight wrapping (14) for the products (11), and wherein the blank (15) is wrapped around the group (12) arranged in the tray (13) so that in the region of a large-area side surface of the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), in particular in the region of a front side, folding tabs of the blank (15) overlap, and wherein these folding tabs are connected to one another by adhesive bonding to form an overlap seam (20), so that a tubular wrapping (14) is formed which is open on two opposite side surfaces of the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), and that folding tabs of the blank (15) in the region of the two opposite Side surfaces are connected to one another as an envelope fold (19), including lateral edge regions of the overlap seam (20) folded into the two opposite side surfaces, in particular according to a method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that corner folding tabs (33) of the blank (15), which protrude relative to the group (12) arranged in the tray (13), are designed as trapezoidal folding tabs and are each folded into the two opposite side surfaces, and that the longitudinal folding flaps (34) of the blank (15) projecting from the large-area side surfaces are each folded into one of the opposite side surfaces and onto the corner folding flaps (33) and connected to one another by adhesive, and that a glue surface (37) is applied to the edge regions of the overlap seam (20) folded into one of the opposite side surfaces in order to seal the envelope fold (19). Pack according to claim 10, characterized in that the blank (15) consists of a paper material which is provided with a coating as a barrier layer. Pack according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in the formation of the substantially airtight wrapping (14) a blank (15) is used which is provided with an adhesive on only one side, preferably with a reactivatable adhesive, and wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is applied only to the side of the blank (15) which faces the group (12) located in the tray (13). Pack according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is arranged at a distance from side edges of the blank (15), so that the blank (15) has an adhesive-free edge region all around, wherein it is preferably provided that the adhesive is arranged only along three side edges of the blank (15) as a continuous adhesive track (28). Pack according to claim 10 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (13) has a non-rectangular cross-section, in particular a tray (13) for an octagonal or round-corner pack (10) with a corresponding cross-section, so that the tray (13) does not extend into corner regions of longitudinal edges of the pack (10) in which corresponding cavities are located. Pack according to claim 10 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that an edge-side width (Y) of the corner folding tabs (33) and/or the length of the adhesive track (28) of the corner folding tabs (33) is smaller than a depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack (10). Pack according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track (28) with a width (B) which is greater than half the edge width (Y) of the corner folding tabs (33). Pack according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is applied as an adhesive track (28) with a width (B) which is equal to or less than the depth (Z) of the tray, preferably less than the depth (X) of the tray in the region of narrow side surfaces of the pack (10). Pack according to claim 10 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the glue surface (37) is applied to an edge of the overlap seam (20), in particular to the tray (13) and/or to a longitudinal folding flap (34).

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