Patent Application
20210171227
The present invention relates to a packaging machine for producing packs with a group of cigarettes as pack content, having individual manufacturing units arranged adjacent to one another on a manufacturing line. The invention furthermore relates to a method for converting a packaging machine of said type from a first configuration, in which a first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured.
In the cigarette packaging sector, particular packs have been of interest for several years. On the one hand, packs in which the cigarette group is almost completely surrounded by a dimensionally stable inner wrapper other than in the region of a removal opening, wherein the removal opening is covered by an in particular reclosable closure flap or a closure label. This inner pack is integrated into a likewise dimensionally stable outer wrapper, for example a hinged carton composed of cardboard. Such a pack is also referred to as a box-in-box pack. Packs have likewise aroused particular interest which, although they also have an inner pack or a tray composed of dimensionally stable material, said inner pack or tray is however in turn firstly integrated into a separate sealing inner pack composed of foil, wherein the sealing inner pack has a removal opening covered by a closure label. The sealing inner pack is in turn integrated in a separate, dimensionally stable outer pack.
Different packaging machines are required for the different embodiments of such packs. This is cumbersome and expensive.
Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to specify a packaging machine of the type mentioned in the introduction, with which different pack types can be manufactured as required. It is furthermore an object of the present invention to specify a method with which a packaging machine of said type can be converted from the production of a first pack type to the production of a second, different pack type.
Said object is achieved by means of a packaging machine for producing packs with a group of cigarettes as pack content, having individual manufacturing units which are arranged adjacent to one another on a manufacturing line and which are (non-destructively) separable from one another in each case in the region of or along (imaginary) parting planes between them and are removable from the manufacturing line as required, wherein the packaging machine can be converted from a first configuration, in which a first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured, by removing at least one separable manufacturing unit from the manufacturing line, by replacing at least one separable manufacturing unit with another separable manufacturing unit and/or by adding at least one further separable manufacturing unit to the manufacturing line, wherein the packaging machine, in the first configuration, has at least the following in succession in a manufacturing flow direction:
Said object also is achieved by means of a method for converting a packaging machine for producing packs with a group of cigarettes as pack content as disclosed herein from the first configuration, in which the first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured, by virtue of at least one of the separable manufacturing units being removed from the manufacturing line, by virtue of at least one of the separable manufacturing units in the manufacturing line being replaced by another separable manufacturing unit, and/or by virtue of at least one further separable manufacturing unit being added to the manufacturing line.
According thereto, a packaging machine for producing packs with a group of cigarettes as pack content is specified, having individual manufacturing units which are arranged adjacent to one another on an in particular rectilinear manufacturing line and which are (non-destructively) separable from one another in each case in the region of or along preferably vertical (imaginary) parting planes, running in particular perpendicular to the manufacturing line or perpendicular to the manufacturing flow direction, between them and are removable from the manufacturing line as required, wherein the packaging machine can be converted from a first configuration, in which a first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured, by removing at least one separable manufacturing unit from the manufacturing line, by replacing at least one separable manufacturing unit with another separable manufacturing unit and/or by adding at least one further separable manufacturing unit to the manufacturing line.
The packaging machine, in the first configuration, has at least the following in succession in a manufacturing flow direction:
“Curing” is to be understood to mean all types of physical or chemical curing. These include, in the case of water or other solvent-containing adhesives, the drying thereof or, in the case of hotmelt adhesive, the setting etc. thereof.
Preferably, the separable manufacturing units each have at least one dedicated servomotor for driving at least one movable member of the manufacturing unit or of the manufacturing units, preferably for driving all movable members, which are to be driven, of the manufacturing unit(s), in particular for driving at least one conveying member.
Alternatively, in each case one common servomotor of this type may be assigned to several of the separable manufacturing units, in particular in each case at most two or three of the separable manufacturing units.
Preferably, at least two separable manufacturing units are assigned in each case one common servomotor for driving movable members of the manufacturing units, wherein only one of these separable manufacturing units has the servomotor, and wherein at least one movable member of the separable manufacturing unit which does not have the servomotor is connected via a transmission to the servomotor of the other separable manufacturing unit which has the servomotor.
It is furthermore preferable if at least two or all of the separable manufacturing units in each case exclusively have housings or casings which are assigned only to them, and which in particular do not extend into the region of the manufacturing unit that is respectively adjacent on the manufacturing line.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging machine, in the second configuration, has at least the following in succession in a manufacturing flow direction:
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging machine, in the second configuration, has at least the following in succession in a manufacturing flow direction:
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, between the separable forming unit and the first separable folding unit, in particular adjoining each of these, there is arranged a separable manufacturing unit—transfer unit—which conveys the respective cigarette groups from the separable forming unit to the first separable folding unit.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the separable transfer unit additionally completely or partially wraps the cigarette groups in a blank composed of wrapping material, in particular foil material or (coated) paper, such as tin foil or aluminum-laminated paper, in particular in such a way that the respective wrapping material blank is folded in a cup-like or U-shaped manner around the respective cigarette group, such that the wrapping material blank does not cover the filters of the cigarettes at least in their end region.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in the region of or along the parting plane between in each case two separable manufacturing units, in each case one conveying member of one separable manufacturing unit is arranged adjacent to a conveying member of the other separable manufacturing unit, specifically such that the respective cigarette groups can be transferred from one conveying member to the other conveying member.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and/or the second folding unit comprises a folding revolver which folds the inner blank around the cigarette group so as to form the inner pack and/or which folds the outer blank in each case around the sealing inner pack so as to form the outer pack.
In a further preferred embodiment, the plane of rotation of the folding revolver of the first separable folding revolver unit and/or the plane of rotation of the folding revolver of the second separable folding revolver unit is arranged horizontally.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first separable folding unit and the second separable folding unit are of (substantially) identical form.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the separable sealing inner pack unit has a turning device which rotates the respective inner or sealing inner pack with the cigarette group integrated therein—in particular within the conveying plane in which the cigarette group is conveyed in the region of the turning device, or within a plane parallel thereto—in particular through 180°, possibly in individual partial rotations, preferably in a horizontal plane.
Alternatively, it may also be provided that the respective inner or sealing inner pack is rotated in two or more individual rotations in such a way that a 0° rotation occurs overall in relation to the conveying path along which the inner or sealing inner pack is conveyed in the region of the turning device. This occurs for example in that, firstly, a first rotation (for example 90°) is performed in a first direction of rotation, and subsequently a second rotation of the same magnitude is performed in a second, opposite direction of rotation (for example −90°).
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing pack unit has a conveying device which conveys the respective inner or sealing inner pack, with cigarettes oriented parallel to the conveying direction, into the region of the turning device, in particular along a rectilinear conveying path of the conveying device.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing inner pack is in each case a separate pack, sealed on all sides and in particular (partially) composed of foil with a removal opening covered by a closure label, which completely envelops the respective inner pack together with the cigarette group.
Alternatively, the sealing inner pack is a pack in each case sealed on all sides and formed or created from the respective inner pack, in the case of which one or each opening of the inner pack is covered over its entire area with a label, in particular a closure label.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the or each label which covers the opening is applied to the inner pack in the separable sealing inner pack unit, preferably after or downstream of a (possibly first partial) rotation of the inner pack by the turning device.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner blank which is folded around the cigarette group in the first separable folding unit is, already before the folding process, provided with a closure label which is arranged so as to cover a removal opening of the subsequent sealing inner pack.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the curing device has a conveying device with a conveying path which runs perpendicular to the in particular rectilinear conveying path of the conveying device of the sealing inner pack unit and which in particular is likewise rectilinear and along which the outer packs are conveyed, in particular are discharged out of the packaging machine.
The method according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that the packaging machine is converted from the first configuration, in which the first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured, by virtue of at least one of the separable manufacturing units from the manufacturing line, by virtue of at least one of the separable manufacturing units in the manufacturing line being replaced by another separable manufacturing unit, and/or by virtue of at least one further separable manufacturing unit being added to the manufacturing line.
In a refinement of this concept, the packaging machine is converted into the second configuration by virtue of the separable sealing inner pack unit for the formation of the sealing inner pack of the first type being removed from the manufacturing line and being replaced by another separable sealing inner pack unit for the formation of a sealing inner pack of the second type, which differs from the first.
Further features of the present invention will emerge from the appended patent claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the figures:
A packaging machine 10 according to the invention for producing cigarette packs has, in a first configuration, individual separable manufacturing units 11-16 which are arranged adjacent to one another in a manufacturing line, cf.
In the configuration as per
The packaging machine 10 can be easily converted into other configurations in which it is in each case possible to produce inter alia the pack types 17, “box-in-box without tin foil/wrapping material partial wrapper”, and 19, “standard hinge lid with complete tin foil/wrapping material wrapper”, illustrated in
Furthermore, the packaging machine 10 can be converted into configurations in which so-called sealed bundle packs can be produced. On the one hand, sealed bundle packs 20, cf.
The present exemplary embodiments of the configurations of the packaging machine 10 concentrate, without being restrictive, primarily on the production of the aforementioned pack types 17-19.
These are constructed as follows:
In the substantially cuboid box-in-box pack 17, an inner pack 22 composed of dimensionally stable, foldable material, in particular (thin) cardboard or (relatively thick) paper, surrounds a formed cigarette group 23. The inner pack 22 has a removal opening 24 in the upper region for the removal of the cigarettes 29 from the cigarette group 23, which removal opening is closed by a closure label 25 in the closed state of the pack 17.
The closure label 25 is preferably provided with a glue which enables the closure label 25 to be used, or closed and opened, several times.
The closure label 25 forms, together with the inner pack 22, a sealing inner pack 26 which seals off the cigarette group 23 to the outside.
The sealing inner pack 26 is seated in a separate outer pack 27 composed of likewise dimensionally stable material, in particular (thin) cardboard or (relatively thick) paper. In the present case, the outer pack 27 is designed as a so-called hinged-carton or hinge-lid pack. It may alternatively also be designed as a shoulder box or sliding-sleeve pack or some other pack type made of dimensionally stable material.
The closure label 25 is attached in one end region to a pivotable lid part 28 of the outer pack 27, such that, when the lid part 28 is opened relative to a cup-shaped carton part 33 which can be closed by means of the lid part 28 and to which the lid part 28 is pivotably attached, the closure label 25 is automatically moved from a/the closure position, in which it covers the removal opening 24, into a position illustrated in
This however does not have to be the case. It is also conceivable for the closure label 25 not to be attached to the cover part 28. In this case, the closure label 25 would have a handling section that allows a user to pull the closure label 25 upward by hand in order to open up the removal opening 24.
The pack 18 as per
In the present case, the wrap or wrapper 30 is composed of tin foil. It is however also possible for other wrapping materials to be used, such as for example (aluminum-laminated) paper.
By means of this wrap 30, it is for example possible for flavorings, such as for example menthol or the like, to be introduced into the cigarettes 29, the wrap 30 being impregnated with these flavorings for this purpose.
The cigarette pack 19 as per
The material of the wrap 30 of the pack 19 may also be tin foil, aluminum-laminated paper or some other suitable wrapping material. The cigarette pack 19 furthermore has a collar 32 in a known manner.
The individual separable manufacturing units 11-16 of the packaging machine 10 are non-destructively separable from one another in the region of (imaginary) parting regions or (in particular vertical) parting planes between in each case two adjacent separable manufacturing units 11-16.
As indicated above, the packaging machine 10 can assume different configurations or can be converted to a different configuration in each case.
Below, a description will firstly be given of the main functions of the individual separable manufacturing units 11-16 of the packaging machine 10.
With the machine configuration as per
In the separable manufacturing unit 11—forming unit—individual cigarettes 29 originating from a cigarette magazine 34 are formed into cigarette groups 23 (in general, a cigarette group is composed of three layers of cigarettes arranged one above the other, though there may also be more or fewer) and subsequently transferred to the separable manufacturing unit 12.
The separable manufacturing unit 12 is a transfer unit, the function of which is to transfer the cigarette groups 23 to the subsequent adjacent separable manufacturing unit, specifically a first separable folding unit 13.
The separable transfer unit 12 furthermore provides the cigarette groups 23 with a or the wrap 30. For this purpose, blanks 35 are in this case cut from a wrapping material bobbin 84, and in each case one blank 35 for such a wrap 30, cf. also
If such a wrap 30 is not desired, for example because the box-in-box packs 17 are to be manufactured without a wrap, the separable transfer unit 12 can be replaced with another transfer unit, in the case of which the corresponding apparatuses for providing the cigarette group 23 with the wrapper 30 are omitted.
Alternatively, it would also be possible for this purpose for the separable transfer unit 12 to be removed from the packaging machine 10 without substitution, and for the separable production units 11, 13 to be brought directly together in the parting regions or parting planes. The cigarette groups 23 would then be conveyed directly from the forming unit 11 to the first folding unit 13.
It is once again alternatively also conceivable for the separable transfer unit 12 to be designed such that, as required, either the cigarette groups 23 are provided with the wrapper 30 or the cigarette groups 23 are conveyed onward without further measures to the first folding unit 13. The cigarette group 23 may then be conveyed either with or without a wrap 30 to the first folding unit 13.
In the separable first folding unit 13, in the configuration of
For this purpose, the separable first folding unit 13 has a folding device 37 which comprises inter alia a folding revolver 38, in the present case rotating in a horizontal plane.
In the first separable folding unit 13, cf. also
In the present exemplary embodiment, the inner pack 22 formed is folded substantially into a final state, aside from two side tabs 39a, 39b which protrude (in a horizontal plane), in the first separable folding unit 13.
The side tabs 39a, 39b are folded into a final state and glued only in the next, adjoining separable manufacturing unit 14 in the manufacturing flow direction.
This separable manufacturing unit 14 to which the inner packs 22 are conveyed after their partial completion is a separable sealing inner pack unit, in which a or the sealing inner pack 26 is formed or manufactured in each case from the inner pack 22.
For this purpose, in particular, cf. also
Furthermore, the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 comprises a turning device 60 which rotates the respective inner pack 22 or the sealing inner pack 26 manufactured from the inner pack 22 in two steps through in each case 90°, and thus through a total of 180°, relative to a conveying path 50 of a conveying device 49 of the separable sealing inner pack unit, along which the inner packs 22 are each conveyed.
Before this, the side tabs 39a, 39b of the inner pack 22 which have not yet been folded into the final state in the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 are provided with glue and folded into a final state.
The further details in this regard will be discussed more specifically further below.
The sealing inner packs 26 manufactured from the inner packs 22 by the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 are then transferred to a separable second folding unit 15.
In the separable second folding unit 15, an outer blank 44 composed of cardboard (or another suitable dimensionally stable material, cf. above) and originating from a blank magazine 83 is folded around the sealing inner pack 26, in each case so as to form the outer packs 27, cf. also
Here, the outer pack 27 is, similarly to the inner pack 22, folded substantially into a final state, aside from two side tabs 44a, 44b which protrude laterally (in a horizontal plane), in the separable second folding unit 15.
In this state, having been folded substantially into a final state, with protruding side tabs 44a, 44b, the outer packs 27 are conveyed onward to the separable manufacturing unit 16, specifically a separable curing unit.
One of the main functions of the separable curing unit 16 is to allow the curing of adhesive arranged between folding tabs of the inner pack 22 and/or of the outer pack 27, and possibly of the wrap 30, which have been adhesively bonded together. For this purpose, the conveying device may for example have two curing revolvers, in particular drying wheels or revolvers 36a, 36b.
Additionally, in the present case, the side tabs 44a, 44b have glue or adhesive applied to them, and are folded into a final state, in the separable curing unit 16, cf. also
As already indicated above, the packaging machine 10 can, for example, be converted from the configuration shown in
For example, into a configuration in which the box-in-box pack 17 can be produced by virtue of the transfer unit 12, which also manufactures the wrap 30, being replaced with the transfer unit (not illustrated) which does not manufacture such a wrap 30 and which transfers or conveys the cigarette groups 23 without the wrapper from the forming unit 12 to the separable first folding unit 13.
Proceeding from the configuration of
In this case, a further separable manufacturing unit 45 shown in
This separable collar unit 45 is then integrated into the manufacturing flow of the packaging machine 10 in the region of the separable second folding unit 15. In the collar unit 45, individual collars 32 (composed of cardboard or some other dimensionally stable material) are cut from a collar material web 85, cf. also
Proceeding from the configuration of
In this case, the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 from
The separable sealing inner pack unit 14, by means of which the sealing inner packs 26 are manufactured or formed from the inner packs 22 correspondingly to the configuration from
The conveying device 49 of the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 has an (endless) conveying belt 51 (toothed belt) with individual, spaced-apart drivers 52.
The drivers 52 delimit receptacles for the inner packs 22. The rectilinear conveying path 50 of the conveying device 49, along which the inner packs 22 or, subsequently, the sealing inner packs 26 formed therefrom are conveyed, extends along the entire sealing inner pack unit 14, specifically between the two parting planes, which are adjoined in each case on one side by the first folding unit 13 and on the other side by the second folding unit 15.
A glue-applying unit 53 for applying glue to the side tabs 39a, 39b is arranged in a first region of the conveying path 50 in a manufacturing flow direction. The inner packs 22 are fed to the glue-applying unit 53 with cigarettes 29 oriented parallel to the conveying direction, specifically in the present case with filters 31 situated at the front in the conveying direction. In this orientation, they have been conveyed out of the folding revolver 38 of the first separable folding unit 13 and transferred onto the conveying path 50.
The glue-applying unit 53 has in each case a glue valve 54a, 54b to/at each side of the conveying path 50. By means of the glue-applying unit 53, glue, in particular hot melt, is applied to the inner packs 22 conveyed along the glue-applying unit 53, specifically (from below) to the laterally protruding side tabs 39a, 39b.
A side tab folding unit 55 is arranged immediately downstream of the glue-applying unit 53 (downstream in the manufacturing flow). With the side tab folding unit 55, the side tabs 39a, 39b are folded (downward) and brought into their final position, specifically are folded onto, or laid against, further side tabs of the inner pack 22 which are already situated in a final position.
For this purpose, the side tab folding unit 55 has in each case one motor-driven, movable side tab folding member 55a or 55b at/to both sides of the conveying path 50.
The side tab folding members 55a, 55b move in (vertical) planes which are perpendicular to the (horizontal) conveying plane of the inner packs 22 and perform reciprocating movements there. In particular, in such a way that in each case one folding part 56 of the respective side tab folding member 55a, 55b is, during the folding process, guided from above against the side tabs 39a, 39b and pivoted downward while in contact with said side tabs or so as to drive said side tabs along. There are self-evidently also other possibilities for folding the folding tabs 39a, 39b.
The conveying device 49 has, along the conveying path 50, lateral guides 57a, 57b with different sections. Each lateral guide 57a, 57b has an associated (in particular vertical) guide surface 61a, 61b. The guide surfaces 61a, 61b are situated opposite one another with a spacing.
In order to hold the side tabs 39a, 39b folded by means of the side tab folding unit 55 in position while the respective inner packs 22 are conveyed onward, the lateral guides 57a, 57b or the guide surfaces 61a, 61b downstream of the side tab folding unit 55 are initially arranged parallel to one another, specifically with a spacing to one another which approximately corresponds to the pack width of the inner pack, that is to say to the spacing between the narrow longitudinal sides (formed by the side tabs 39a, 39b and the further side tabs) of the inner pack 22, as far as a first turning location 58.
The inner packs 22 are guided along this section of the lateral guides 57a, 57b as far as the turning location 58, which is part of a first turning station 59 of a turning device 60.
In the first turning station 59, the inner packs 22 are turned in each case through 90°, such that the cigarettes 29 previously oriented parallel to the conveying direction in the inner packs 22 are subsequently oriented transversely with respect to the conveying direction.
In order to create space for this turning process, the lateral guides 57a, 57b widen in the area of the turning location 58, or the spacing between the guide surfaces 61a, 61b is increased in the region of the turning location 58 in relation to the section immediately upstream of the lateral guides 57a, 57b.
For this purpose, the guide surfaces 61a, 61b of the lateral guides 57a, 57b each run outward (away from one another) in a curved manner in the region of the turning location 58.
Following the turning location 58 (downstream thereof), the lateral guides 57a, 57b or guide surfaces 61a, 61b thereof again run parallel in a further section, but with a spacing which is slightly greater than that in the section upstream of the turning location 58 and which approximately corresponds to the length of the inner pack 22 (spacing between the base bottom side and lid top side).
The turning device 60 or the first turning station 59 has, in the region of the turning location 58, a turning appliance 62 by means of which the respective inner pack 22 is turned or rotated through 90° relative to the conveying path 50. For this purpose, the turning unit 62 has a holding member 63, the holding forces of which can be controlled, in particular activated and deactivated. In the present case, a controllable suction member which can be charged with negative pressure.
The holding member 63, the holding forces of which can be activated and deactivated, can be moved by means of a motor.
For this purpose, the holding member 63 is in the present case connected to a pivot lever mechanism 64 with a first pivot lever 65a and a second pivot lever 65b. The two pivot levers 65a, 65b are each rotatable at one end about axes of rotation 66a, 66b running perpendicular to the conveying plane of the inner packs 22.
The other ends of the pivot levers 65a, 65b are rotatably articulated on a support part (support plate) 67 which is arranged, in the region of the turning location 58, above the conveying belt 51. The holding member 63 is fastened to this support part 67.
By means of motor-driven pivoting of the pivot levers 65a, 65b, cf.
The pivot lever mechanism 64 is designed such that the holding member 63 can perform both rotational movements about axes of rotation running perpendicular to the conveying plane of the inner packs 22 and translational movements in a plane parallel to the conveying plane of the inner packs 22 (horizontal plane). In particular, translational movements with a movement component in the conveying direction or opposite thereto.
Here, in the process, each inner pack 22 conveyed into the region of the turning location 58 is firstly conveyed under the holding member 63 until it abuts (by way of the pack top side) against a front stop 68 arranged on the support part 67.
At this moment at the latest, the holding force of the holding member 63 is activated (in the present case, the holding member is charged with negative pressure), such that the holding member 63 grips the inner pack 22 by suction.
In this state in which it is gripped by suction or held, the holding member 63 is then initially accelerated to a certain degree in the conveying direction in order to withdraw it from the engagement of the conveying device 49 or from the contact with the corresponding driver 52. Subsequently or in an overlapping manner, a rotational movement of the holding member 63 occurs, cf.
When the pack is in the 90° position, the holding forces of the holding member 63 are deactivated, such that the inner pack 22 is released from the holding member 63 again. The inner pack 22 is then conveyed onward in the transverse orientation in relation to the conveying path 50.
Downstream of the first turning location 58, there is arranged a labeling station 69 at which the closure labels 25 are applied to the inner pack 22, such that the respective closure label 25 covers the respective removal opening 24, so as to form the sealing inner packs 26.
The labeling appliance 40 is arranged in the region of the labeling station 69. Said labelling appliance has a label conveyor 70 which is arranged perpendicular to the conveying plane (vertically) and which conveys individual closure labels 25 into an application region in which the inner packs 22 conveyed past under the label conveyor 70 are each equipped with the respective label 25.
In the present case, the label conveyor 70 is designed as a suction conveyor, such that the labels 25 are held on the conveying belt 71 of the label conveyor 70 by means of negative pressure during the transport to the application region.
The labels 25 originate in each case from labeling units 72a or 72b. Each labeling unit 72a, 72b has in each case one peel-off station 75 with in each case one peel-off member 73, for example a peel-off edge, by means of which individual labels 25 are peeled off from a label carrier strip 74 and are applied to the conveying belt 71.
The labels 25 applied in each case to the inner packs 22 in the application region must also be folded into a final position.
For this purpose, firstly, on one side of the conveying path 50, there is arranged a lateral, motor-driven label folding member 76, cf.
A stationary label folding member 77 is arranged downstream of the label folding member 76. Said stationary label folding member is designed as a folding switch and is part of the lateral guide 57b, cf.
Downstream of the labeling station 69, in particular downstream of the label folding switch 77, a second turning station 78 of the turning device 60 is arranged in the region of a further turning location 80. In order to create space for the rotating of the respective sealing inner pack 26, the guide surfaces 61a, 61b also have, in the region of the further turning location 80, a section in which they are spaced further apart than in the section immediately upstream of the turning location 80.
The second turning station 78 has, in the region of the second turning location 80, a turning appliance 79 with the same members and components as the turning appliance 62. Correspondingly, the same reference designations are used, cf.
By means of the turning appliance 79, the respective inner pack 22 or the respective sealing pack 26 is turned or rotated once more through 90° relative to the conveying path 50, such that the two rotations in the two turning stations 59, 78 in each case through 90° result in a total rotation of the cigarette group 23 situated in the respective inner pack 22, or, downstream of the labeling station 69, in the sealing inner pack 26, by 180° relative to the conveying path 50.
Following or downstream of the turning location 80, the lateral guides 57a, 57b or their guide surfaces 61a, 61b, in a further section, run parallel again but with a somewhat smaller spacing than in the section upstream of the turning location 58, which approximately corresponds again to the width of the inner pack 22.
Overall, with the turning device 60, as already indicated above, the orientation of the cigarettes of the cigarette groups 23, which are fed to the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 within the inner packs 22 with cigarettes 29 oriented parallel to the conveying direction and filters 31 situated at the front in the conveying direction, is rotated in its orientation through 180°, such that said cigarette groups leave the separable sealing inner pack unit 14 again with cigarettes 29 likewise oriented parallel to the conveying direction but with filters 31 situated at the rear in the conveying direction.
Finally,
This is possible because the first separable folding unit 13 is fed with inner blanks 39′ (composed of cardboard or some other dimensionally stable material suitable for forming a dimensionally stable inner pack) which have already been provided with a closure label 25 for what will later be the removal opening 24. These inner blanks 39′ are conveyed to the folding revolver 38 of the first separable folding unit 13.
They may for example also originate from a separable manufacturing unit which is connected to the manufacturing line and which serves for the production of such blanks or blank stacks—blank-forming and stacking unit.
In the separable sealing inner pack unit 14′, the side tabs 39a ′, 39b ′ then still have glue applied to them by means of the glue-applying unit 53 and the glue-applying valves 54a, 54b, and are folded into a final state.
Furthermore, in the sealing inner pack unit 14′, the inner packs 22 or the sealing inner packs 26 formed therefrom are correspondingly turned/rotated by means of a turning device 60′ in order to orient the cigarettes 29 in these packs correspondingly. In this case—because the labeling station 40 has been omitted—the rotating may also be performed directly through 180° in one operation.
A further special feature of the configuration of the packaging machine 10 in
It is self-evident that the above exemplary embodiments may be modified in a variety of ways without departing from the concept of the invention.
We expressly reserve the right to make each of the features mentioned above or in this application, where technically meaningful, individually or in any combination with others of the features above or mentioned in this application, the subject of a claim for protection.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 011 309.2 | Dec 2017 | DE | national |
This application is the US National Phase of and claims the benefit of and priority on International Application No. PCT/EP2018/083729 having a filing date of 6 Dec. 2018, which claims priority on and the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2017 011 309.2 having a filing date of 8 Dec. 2017.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/083729 | 12/6/2018 | WO | 00 |
