EP2755892B1 - Method and device for producing cigarette packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing packages according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.

The packs to be produced consist of foldable packaging material which is available as a continuous material web in the area of a processing or packaging machine, from which blanks for packs are separated. Due to the material thickness and / or dimensional stability, the packaging material is provided with fold lines formed by material deformation for the formation of fold edges, in particular packing edges. This usually applies to packaging material with a material weight of significantly more than 100 g / m ² (paper). Priority is given to cardboard with a weight of about 140 g / m ² or more. The blanks made from this material can also have punching or cutting lines for limiting folding flaps and / or perforation lines for folds. Such a blank can advantageously according to the examples according to patent application DE 10 2011 105 695.9 be educated.

The processing of the material from a continuous web is topic of DE 694 00 120 T2 , The applications required for the processing of the blanks are applied in the area of the continuous web with assignment to a blank. This is then separated from the web and fed to the packaging process. The above example concerns the production of soft packs for cigarettes. Also for the production of packs of cardboard blanks, namely folding boxes for cigarettes, the processing of a continuous web is known ( EP 0 885 809 B1 ). Here, too, will be so procedure that embossing and punching in the area of the web attached and then the finished blanks are separated from the web. See also EP 1 103 369 , The invention has for its object to further develop the production of blanks from foldable packaging material with respect to paper increased dimensional stability and in particular to improve the accuracy in the attachment of the applications (embossing, punching).

To achieve this object, the inventive method is carried out with the characterizing features of claim 1.

The invention is based on the finding that the applications can be attached to the web with greater accuracy and with higher performance after separation of the blank from the web. The separated blanks are preferably fed sequentially to an application unit. In its area, folding lines are created by embossing and punching cuts for folding flaps - controlled by print marks. The finished blank is then fed to a folding unit, in particular a folding turret. Appropriately, the (outer) printing is applied according to the design of the pack on the continuous web of material - in the field of printing or in the packaging machine. The deformations or embossments, cuts and punches, on the other hand, are applied to the blank immediately after the blank has been cut off.

The device consists of a device for feeding the material web to a cutting or punching member for separating the blanks, a transfer unit for feeding the blanks sequentially to a stamping and punching unit, preferably with creasing and embossing rollers and with cutting rollers.

A special feature is the drive of organs of the device. Transport organs, in particular preferred rollers, transport rollers, guide rollers, etc. are driven by individually controllable servomotors. The embossing and punching unit (application unit) may be connected to the central machine drive, in particular with a "king shaft".

Fig. 1

eine (Zigaretten-)Packung in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

eine Einzelheit der Packung gemäß Fig. 1, nämlich eine Bodenfaltung, ebenfalls in Perspektive,

Fig. 3

einen ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt eines Außenbechers der Packung gemäß Fig. 1, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 4

Organe einer Verpackungsmaschine mit einem Aggregat zur Vorbereitung von Zuschnitten,

Fig. 5

die Einzelheit V in Fig. 4, in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 6

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in Draufsicht entsprechend Pfeil VI, bei vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 7

eine Abwicklung einer Rill- und Prägewalze mit Zuschnitten,

Fig. 8

eine Abwicklung eines Teils einer Schneidwalze,

Fig. 9

eine Einzelheit IX der Fig. 5 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 10

eine Darstellung analog Fig. 9 einer anderen Ausführung,

Fig. 11

einen Ausschnitt XI der Fig. 5 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 12

eine weitere Einzelheit von Prägewerkzeugen in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 9, Fig. 10,

Fig. 13

eine Einzelheit der Verpackungsmaschine entsprechend Fig. 5 für ein verändertes Ausführungsbeispiel.

Further features of the method and the device are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a (cigarette) pack in perspective,

Fig. 2

a detail of the package according to Fig. 1 namely, a bottom fold, also in perspective,

Fig. 3

an unfolded blank of an outer cup of the package according to Fig. 1 , on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4

Organs of a packaging machine with an aggregate for preparing blanks,

Fig. 5

the detail V in Fig. 4 , on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 6

a detail of the device according to Fig. 5 in plan view according to arrow VI, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 7

a development of a creasing and embossing roller with blanks,

Fig. 8

a development of a part of a cutting roller,

Fig. 9

a detail IX of Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 10

a representation analog Fig. 9 another version,

Fig. 11

a section XI the Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 12

another detail of embossing tools in a representation analog Fig. 9, Fig. 10 .

Fig. 13

a detail of the packaging machine accordingly Fig. 5 for a modified embodiment.

The present technology is preferably usable for packings from or with at least one blank 10 made of thin cardboard. A particular example of application are modified soft packs or soft packs ( Fig. 1 ) with an outer package 11 made of cardboard, which has a material thickness or strength of about 140 g / m ² . The example shown is a cigarette pack, in which a group of cigarettes with an inner blank or Stanniolzuschnitt forms a closed cigarette block 12. This is in the open-top, cup-shaped outer pack 11th arranged. At the open side of the outer pack 11, the cigarette block 12 projects slightly out of the outer pack 11. A transverse band 13 extends over this end face of the package.

The in Fig. 3 shown, spread blank 10 forms a front wall 14, a rear wall 15, a closed side wall 16 and edge tabs 17, 18 for a side wall formed from these 19. In a special way, a bottom wall 20 is formed. This consists of a trapezoidal inner tab 21, triangular intermediate tabs 22, side tabs 23 in the region of the side walls 16, 19 and an outer cover flap 24, which covers the outside of the bottom wall 20 substantially.

The blank 10 - according to Fig. 3 or in another embodiment - is provided with a plurality of applications. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these are deformations of the material of the blank 10, in particular grooves for forming longitudinal edges 25 and grooves for forming transverse edges 26. The longitudinal edges 25 in a parallel arrangement delimit the blank areas 14..18 and form the upright packing edges. The transverse edges 26 define the delimitation of the packing walls 14. 18 relative to the bottom wall 20. The stamping lines 25, 26 terminate at intervals in the region of intersections, so that each groove has a defined length.

Other applications are located in the region of the bottom wall 20 or an edge strip with the folding tabs 21.24 of the bottom wall 20. The folding tabs 21, 22 and 23 are limited by converging, obliquely directed fold lines 27, 28. These can be designed as material weakening, in particular as perforation lines. The fold lines 27, 28 are arranged at an acute angle to each other and run together in the region of a rear-side pack corner (after completion of the outer pack 11). The cover flap 24 assigned to the front wall 14 or arranged in its extension is laterally delimited by cut lines 29. The two line-shaped punches 29 extend in continuation of the front wall 14 delimiting longitudinal edges 25th

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the front wall 14 is provided with a (decorative) design, in this case with an emblem 30, which is formed as an embossment of the material of the blank 10, in particular as outwardly projecting embossing ( Fig. 1 ).

A special feature is the production of the blanks 10 in the area of a packaging machine. In the present embodiment ( Fig. 4 ) is about a schematically illustrated packaging machine for the production of cup packs, previously in the version "soft cup pack". Nuclear unit of such a packaging machine is a folding turret 31 with receptacles for each blank 10 and folding members (not shown) for folding the blank 10. The shots here are folding mandrels 32, so arranged axially parallel, rectangular in cross-section hollow body, the the outside record a blank 10 to be folded.

The packaging machine is assigned a special cutting unit 33. This is a material web 34, in particular board web fed. The material web 34 is expediently pulled off a reel (not shown). In the area of the trimming unit 33, the blanks 10 are successively separated from the material web 34 and fed to the packaging machine or the folding turret 31 after processing.

The trimming unit 33 (FIG. Fig. 5 ) consists essentially of a web guide 35, a separation unit 36 for separating the blanks 10 of the material web 34, an application unit 37 and a transfer member 38 for transferring the blanks 10 to the folding turret 31. The above units are arranged functionally successive.

The material web 34, which is preferably printed on one side completely in accordance with the packaging desgin, is fed via deflection rollers 39 to an edge control 40, in the region of which the continuously transported material web 34 is exactly aligned with respect to its longitudinal edges.

The material web 34 then passes into the region of the separation unit 36. This consists in the present case of a knife roller 41 with a fixed counter knife 42. The thus formed separating device is preceded by an adjusting unit which controls an exact printing cut in relation to the printing, by means of print marks, which are attached to the material web 34. The adjusted to the operation of the separator drive the web 34 consists of a web roll 43 with opposing pressure roller 44. The exact feed movement of the web 34 through the web roll 43 is effected by a print mark reader 45 which detects the position of the print marks in the region of a deflecting roller 46 and transmits a control signal to the drive of the web roll 43. Thereafter, the exact positioning of the separating cut for the blank 10 is controlled. The web roll 43 is driven by a servo motor 47 controlled by the print mark reader 45.

The blank 10 with (complete) printing is supplied to the application unit 37. Subsequent to the separating unit 41, 42, the blank is taken over by a conveyor, in the present case by a transfer roller 48, which is designed as a suction roller. Also, this conveying member is controlled to ensure that the blank 10 is transferred in an exact relative position to the application unit 37. By an edge sensor 49, the cutting edge of the blank is detected and then controlled the drive of the transfer roller 48, in this case also by a servo motor 47th

In the region of the application unit 37, the different material deformations and punches on the blank 10 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) appropriate. For this purpose, the application unit 37 is equipped with different, corresponding to the respective application tools that attach 10 deformations and / or punched during transport of the blank.

In the embodiment of the Fig. 5 are provided two axially parallel rotating machining tools, namely a forming or embossing roller 50 and a (subsequent to the conveying direction) cutting roller 51. The embossing roll 50 is provided along the circumference with elevations, in the present case with axially parallel ribs 52 and extending in the circumferential direction rib portions 53. This Surface design of the embossing roller 50 causes the transmission of groove-like deformations or depressions on the blank 10 to form the longitudinal edges 25 on the one hand and the transverse edges 26 on the other. The embossing roller 50 cooperates with a counter-member, in this case with a counter-roller 54. This is expediently provided with a smooth circumferential surface, that is without depressions in the region of the embossing organs. This results in a formative material deformation essentially only by compressing the material of the blank 10 (FIG. Fig. 9 ). The blank 10 is preferably positioned in the area of the application unit 37 such that the inside faces the application organs, that is to say in particular the embossing roller 50, and the printed outside rests against the counter-member or counter-roller 54.

The next, second application tool is the cutting roller 51 with cutting or punching tools for applying separating cuts, perforations or the like. In the present embodiment of the blank ( Fig. 3 ) are provided parallel to the axis or transverse cutting blade 55 for producing the punching lines 29 and perforation 56. These cutting or punching members are arranged in a relative position, which corresponds to the corresponding design of the blank 10, in this case in the region of the bottom wall 20. For the production of the fold lines 27, 28 corresponding rows of a plurality of spaced perforation blades 56 are arranged for each perforation line on the circumference of the cutting roller 51.

The processing rollers 50, 51 are adapted in terms of design and dimension to the individual application tasks. The embossing roller 50 is provided with the ribs 52 and rib portions 53 in the region of a cylindrical roller portion 57. Outside the roller section 57, the diameter of the embossing roller 50 is reduced. Accordingly, the cutting roller 51 has a presently arranged on the edge, narrow roller portion 58 which carries the cutting tools 55, 56 on the lateral surface.

The movements of the organs are coordinated with regard to the (conveying) speed. Conveniently, the transfer roller 48 with A higher conveying speed is driven than the material web 34 in the region of the separation unit 36. A speed of the transfer roller 48 increased by 4% makes sense in order to separate the blank 10 from the separation unit 36. The organs of the application unit 37 in turn have a higher conveying speed than the transfer roller 48, namely by preferably 8% higher. This applies in the embodiment of Fig. 5 for the rotational or conveying speed of the rollers 50, 51 and 54.

In addition to the technical applications, 37 decorative deformations can be generated by the application unit, in this case the emblem 30. For this purpose, a corresponding increase 59 is arranged with the contours of the emblem 30 on the lateral surface of the embossing roller 50. In the present embodiment, the elevation 59 of the embossing roller 50 is associated with a correspondingly formed recess 61 in the region of the counter-element, in the present case in the lateral surface of the counter-roller 54.

A special feature is that in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 . Fig. 6 the (two) application organs 50, 51 are assigned to a common counter-roller 54. The embossing roll 50 and the cutting roll 51 are arranged to cooperate with a circumferential offset of the counter roll 54 therewith. The cooperating rollers 50, 51, 54 are preferably driven separately due to geared connection to the central machine drive. Bevel gears 60 are symbolically associated with the organs to show their geared connection with the machine drive (bevel).

The blanks 10 provided with the described applications are transported one after the other following the application unit 37 along a blank web 62 and transferred to a feed roller 63. This is designed as a suction roll and connected to the central machine drive. An intermediate roller 64, which takes over the blank 10 from the blank web 62 and rests against the circumference of the feed roller 63 with an outer guide and a corresponding deflection, is arranged upstream. The intermediate roller 64 is also an organ for the exact transfer of the blanks to the Feed roller 63, so that they have a matched to the folding turret 31 and the folding mandrels 32 relative position. For this purpose, a further edge sensor 65 of the intermediate roller 64 is assigned to the scanning of a transverse edge of the blank 10. The edge sensor 65 controls a servo motor 47 as a drive for the intermediate roller 64. The transfer of the finished blank 10 to the folding turret 31 takes place in a suitable, known manner ,

FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically show a development of the lateral surfaces of the embossing roller 50 on the one hand ( Fig. 7 ) and the cutting roller 51 on the other hand ( Fig. 8 ). The situation in the area of the roller sections 57, 58 is shown in each case. Out Fig. 7 It can be seen that due to corresponding dimension two blanks 10 with a corresponding distance in the circumferential direction on the embossing roller 50 recording. For a full turn, therefore, two blanks 10 are provided with applications. The roller section 58 of the cutting roller 51 is designed and dimensioned accordingly ( Fig. 8 ).

The formation of tools or working means of the application organs, here the rollers 50, 51, 54, are in FIG. 9 to FIG. 12 shown by way of example. Fig. 9 shows the formation of the embossing roller 50 with the ridge 52 and smooth-surfaced counter roller 54. The alternative shows Fig. 10 , There, the rib 52 is a bead-like depression 66 corresponding dimension, but associated with rounded cross-sectional shape. The material of the blank 10 is pressed into the depression 66 during the formation of folded edges 25, 26 with corresponding deformation and formation of a deeper groove of the material.

Out Fig. 11 It can be seen that the cutting or punching tools of the application member 51 are formed like a knife with a sharpened cutting edge. This penetrates completely through the material of the blank 10 until it rests against the lateral surface of the counter roller 54.

Fig. 12 shows a detail for embossing the blank 10, for example, for attaching the emblem 30. At the periphery of the embossing roll 50, a fitting 67 (releasably) is attached. This is provided with elevations and depressions according to the imprint to be produced. Corresponding is the Mantle surface of the counter-roller 54 with recesses 66, suitably provided to the increase 59 and the fitting 67.

An alternative embodiment to the device according to Fig. 5 is in Fig. 13 shown. The same or similar parts of the device are provided with the same reference numerals. The deviation relates in particular to the formation of the application unit 37. Each application element, that is to say the embossing roller 50 on the one hand and the cutting roller 51 on the other hand, is assigned a counter roller 68, 69. The unit therefore consists of four axially parallel rollers 50, 51 and 68, 69. The blanks 10 are conveyed along a horizontal path through the application unit 37 formed in this way. The transfer of material deformations or embossing as well as of punch cuts proceeds in the same way as already described.

It is also conceivable, for procedural reasons, to attach individual applications, for example embossing and / or punching, in the region of the material web 34, but the remaining or predominant applications, however, are advantageous to attach to the single blank.

The present technology is suitable for packs of various designs, in particular for cigarette packs, as far as a pack part (outer pack) is made of thin cardboard. Also folding boxes for cigarettes can be manufactured in the manner described. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 cut 40 edge control 11 overpack 41 knife roll 12 cigarette block 42 against knife 13 banderole 43 web roll 14 front wall 44 pressure roller 15 rear wall 45 Print Mark 16 Side wall 46 deflector 17 peripheral tab 47 servomotor 18 peripheral tab 48 Transfer roll 19 Side wall 49 edge sensor 20 bottom wall 50 embossing roller 21 inner flap 51 cutting roller 22 intermediate tab 52 rib 23 side tabs 53 rib section 24 cover tab 54 backing roll 25 longitudinal edge 55 cutting blade 26 transverse edge 56 perforation 27 fold line 57 roller section 28 fold line 58 roller section 29 cut line 59 increase 30 emblem 60 bevel gear 31 folding turret 61 deepening 32 folding mandrel 62 blank path 33 blank subassembly 63 feed roller 34 web 64 intermediate roll 35 web guide 65 edge sensor 36 separation unit 66 deepening 37 application generator 67 fitting 38 Transfer element 68 backing roll 39 idler pulley 69 backing roll

Claims (15)

1. A method of producing cuboidal cigarette packs from foldable packaging material, namely at least one blank (10) made of cardboard, which is severed from a material web (34) and has, as applications, folding lines formed by stamping and/or punched lines and/or perforation lines and/or material deformations and/or prints, characterized by the following features:

   a) the print, appropriate for the outer appearance of the packs which are to be produced, is applied to the continuous material web (34) made of thin cardboard or similar packaging material,

   b) then blanks (10) are severed from the material web (34) in a positionally precise manner by means of a printed-mark reader (45) for detecting printed marks arranged on the material web (34),

   c) thereafter, further applications, in particular stamping arrangements and/or punching arrangements, are provided on the blank (10),

   d) finally, the completed blank (10) is fed to a packaging subassembly, in particular a folding turret (31), via an intermediate roller (64), which has an edge sensor (65) for sensing a transverse edge of the blank (10).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the applications are applied on the blanks (10) in successive operating steps, in particular such that it is only once the blank (10) has been produced that material deformations are carried out, in particular linear stamping arrangements (25, 26) for folding flaps are applied, and then punching arrangements, in particular cut lines (29) for bounding folding flaps (24) and/or perforation lines in the form of folding lines (27, 28).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by stamping arrangements for forming folding edges (25, 26) on the inner side of the blank (10) on the side which is opposite to the print, preferably with the aid of stamping tools acting on the non-printed inner side and with smooth-surfaced abutment mechanisms.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the following features:

   a) the operation of severing the blanks (10) from the material web (34) can be controlled by means of printed marks,

   b) the operation of providing applications on the severed blanks (10) in the region of an application subassembly (37) can be controlled by means of transversely directed blank edges being sensed.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the applications on the blanks (10) take place in separate, successive operating stations, in particular such that applications generated by material deformation are produced in a first operating station and severing cuts or punching arrangements are produced in a separate second operating station.
6. An apparatus for producing cuboidal cigarette packs from foldable packaging material having at least one blank (10) made of cardboard, which is severed from a material web (34) and has, as applications, folding lines formed by stamping and/or punched lines and/or perforation lines and/or material deformations and/or prints, characterized by the following features:

   a) guiding and conveying mechanisms for a material web (34) prepared preferably with a complete print for the blank (10),

   b) a severing subassembly (36) for severing blanks (10) from the material web (34) and having a printed-mark reader (45) for detecting printed marks arranged on the material web (34).

   c) an application subassembly (37), which follows the severing subassembly (36) and is intended for providing applications on each blank (10), preferably using a plurality of, for example, two, application tools which follow one after the other in the conveying direction of the blank (10), in particular a stamping roller (50) and a cutting roller arranged alongside the same,

   d) further transporting mechanisms for transporting the blanks (10) to a folding device, in particular a folding turret (31), by means of an intermediate roller (64), which has an edge sensor (65) for sensing a transverse edge of the blank (10).
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized by the following features:

   a) the stamping roller (50) has elevations (59) or protrusions distributed along the circumference, in particular ribs (52) corresponding to the stamping arrangements and/or groove formations which are to be applied to the blank (10),

   b) an abutment tool, in particular an abutment roller (54), is designed preferably with a smooth lateral surface.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cutting roller (51), which preferably follows the stamping roller (50), has, on the outer circumference, protrusions configured in the form of cutting blades (55) or of perforation blades (56) for applying continuous cut lines or perforation lines in conjunction with an abutment roller (54).
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the mechanisms of the application subassembly (37), in particular the stamping roller (50) and the cutting roller (51), are assigned to a common abutment mechanism, in particular the common abutment roller (54).
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a conveying mechanism which follows the severing subassembly (36) and is intended for the blanks (10), in particular a transfer roller (48), is driven at a higher conveying speed than the severing unit (36), and in that the mechanisms of the downstream application subassembly (37), in particular the stamping roller (50) and the cutting roller (51), are driven at an even higher conveying speed than the transfer roller (48).
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the application subassembly (37) is followed by a transfer unit for feeding the completed blanks (10) to the folding turret (31), in particular using a feed roller (63), configured in the form of a suction roller, and an intermediate roller (64), arranged upstream of the feed roller, for aligning the blanks (10) precisely so as to be received by the folding turret (31).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that severing mechanisms (41, 42) of the severing unit (36) are assigned mechanisms for positioning the material web (34) precisely, in particular a web roller (43) with a pressure-exerting roller (44), wherein the mechanisms or the web roller (43) can be controlled by the printed-mark reader (45) for sensing printed marks on the material web (34), preferably via a drive using a servomotor (47) for the web roller (43).
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a conveying mechanism for transferring the severed blanks to the application subassembly (37), in particular the transfer roller (48) designed in the form of a suction roller, is assigned a control means for aligning the blanks (10) precisely, in particular an edge sensor (49) for sensing a blank edge and controlling the transfer roller (48) via a servomotor (47).
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that transfer mechanisms for feeding the blanks (10) to the folding turret (31), in particular the feed roller (63), are/is assigned a control unit for positioning the blanks (10) precisely, the edge sensor (65) for sensing a blank edge in the region of the intermediate roller (64), which is arranged upstream of the feed roller, wherein said intermediate roller is driven by a servomotor (47) which can be controlled by the edge sensor (65).
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that rotatable conveying or operating mechanisms, in particular a blade roller (41) of the severing unit (36) and/or rollers (50, 51, 54, 68, 69) of the application subassembly (37) and/or the feed roller (63) are connected to a central machine drive, in particular to a vertical shaft, in the region of the folding turret (31).

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