EP0905027A1 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing cigarette packages - Google Patents

Abstract

The outer face of the inner blank (28) bears a general printed finish, but incorporates a recessed section (45) which is devoid of the printed finish on the remainder of the blank. The recessed section (45) is printed with an individual message, motif or logo which is different to that of the general printed finish on the remainder of the inner blank, and is applied prior to the final packaging process. Independent claims are also included for the device for carrying out the above method.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Manufacture of packs, in particular cigarette packs, at which the package content in a packaging machine in at least a prefabricated one with a print Cutting from (thin) cardboard, paper, foil or coated Material is encased.

The preferred field of application of the invention is cigarette packs. Two types of pack are widely used worldwide, namely folding boxes (hinge-lid packs) on the one hand and soft cup packs, on the other hand. Both types of pack is common that the package contents - a cigarette group - of is surrounded on all sides by an inner covering. This can be made of paper, Tinfoil or other coated packaging material consist. The inner wrapping is on the outside with a Provide printing. This consists of a suitable material a colored print or from a (metal) vapor deposition. At Tin foil, the printing can also be an embossing, in particular a structured surface.

The actual packaging itself is for folding boxes made of (thin) cardboard, for soft cup packs made of paper. Also these blanks are mostly colored, both with ornamental representations as well with textual content.

The invention has for its object measures for the design and to propose manufacture of (cigarette) packs, the less expensive, more rational manufacturing options to lead.

The method according to the invention is used to achieve this object characterized in that the at least in terms of printing prefabricated blanks in the printing area have a pressure-free recess and that in Individual printing in the area of the packaging machine Area of this recess of the blanks is attached.

The invention is based on the finding that (cigarette) packs with mostly uniform, consistent Design often different in the area of printing Depending on the market requirements, details require individual legal regulations etc. This does not only apply regarding the use of ornamental details, but especially for text printing with informational content. It is superficially about the formulation of a prescribed Warning about health risks of smoking. The content of this warning must vary from country to country be designed.

The essence of the invention is now how the blanks so far - in terms of color or other printing to be prepared in the factory and available to the packaging system to deliver. Only different details of the printing, especially the warning notice, are used during manufacture of the packaging material left out and only in the area attached to the packaging machine, in accordance with the individual requirements. The advantage of this measure is in that packaging with different designs manufactured essentially uniform packaging material can be.

The device according to the invention, namely the packaging machine, is provided with a suitable printing unit, for example one Inkjet printer or a dye (toner) Laser printer. This brings when the packaging material is fed to the packaging machine at a suitable location due to precise control, the desired, adjustable, individual Printing in the area of the recess. The printing can be both continuous, already predominant Roll printed material or onto individual, prefabricated Blanks or partially manufactured packs are applied, the latter especially in the manufacture of cigarette packs of the folding box type.

Fig. 1

eine geöffnete Zigarettenpackung des Typs Klappschachtel in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

einen Abschnitt einer Materialbahn für die Fertigung von Zuschnitten für Innenumhüllungen,

Fig. 3

eine andere Ausführungsform einer Materialbahn, ebenfalls für die Fertigung von Innenumhüllungen,

Fig. 4

einen Abschnitt einer Materialbahn für die Fertigung von Zigarettenpackungen des Typs Weichbecher,

Fig. 5

einen Zuschnitt für eine Zigarettenpackung des Typs Klappschachtel,

Fig. 6

eine Vorrichtung für die Bearbeitung von Zuschnitten bzw. Materialbahnen für Innenumhüllungen in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 7

einen Teil einer Verpackungsmaschine in Draufsicht für die Fertigung von Zigarettenpackungen des Typs Klappschachtel,

Fig. 8

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 7 in stark vereinfachter Seitenansicht.

Further details regarding the design of the packaging and the device are explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Fig. 1

an opened cigarette packet of the hinged box type in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

a section of a material web for the production of blanks for inner wrappings,

Fig. 3

another embodiment of a material web, also for the production of inner coverings,

Fig. 4

a section of a material web for the production of cigarette packs of the soft cup type,

Fig. 5

a blank for a cigarette packet of the hinged box type,

Fig. 6

a device for the processing of blanks or material webs for inner coverings in a schematic side view,

Fig. 7

part of a packaging machine in plan view for the production of cigarette packs of the hinged box type,

Fig. 8

a detail of the device of FIG. 7 in a greatly simplified side view.

The drawings refer to a preferred area of application, namely on the design and manufacture of cigarette packs.

1 shows a cigarette packet of the hinged box type (Hinge lid). This type of pack is cut from a Fig. 5 formed. The basic structure consists of a box part 10 and a lid 11. The box part 10 is through a box front wall 12, a box rear wall 13, through Box side tabs 14 and 15 and formed by a bottom 16. The box side tabs 14 and 15 each form in pairs together box side walls by overlap and Bonding together. External box side tabs 15 are attached to the side of the box front wall 12.

Accordingly, the lid 11 is designed with a lid front wall 17, lid rear wall 18 and lid side tabs 19 and 20. Des an upper end wall 21 is also provided. A lid inner tab 22 is against the inside of the finished hinged box the lid front wall 17 folded and with this connected. The lid side tabs 19, 20 also form Pair of lid side walls due to covering and gluing together.

Box part 10 and lid 11 are in the area of the rear walls foldable with one another by a transverse hinge line 23 connected.

The hinged box also usually includes one separately cut collar 24. This consists of Collar front wall 25 and collar side tabs 26. The collar 24 is anchored in the box part 10, namely fastened by gluing. In the area of a protruding from the box part 10 Is part of the collar 24 or the collar front wall 25 a recess 27 with a rounded contour attached.

The package contents, namely a group of cigarettes, are of one Surround the inner wrapper 28 and thus forms a cigarette block 29.

A cigarette pack of the type described is accordingly in essentially formed from two blanks. The inner wrapping 28 consists of relatively thin packaging material, in particular made of paper, tinfoil or the like. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show two different embodiments for the inner casing 28. The blank according to FIG. 2 is after the Principle of the "cross winding" designed. Cutting areas for Formation of an inner front wall 30, an inner side wall 31 and an inner rear wall 32 are in the longitudinal direction of the blank arranged sequentially. On the inside front wall 30 on the one hand and inner rear wall 32 on the other hand close edge tabs 33 and 34 at. These lie in the fully folded inner wrapper 28 with a partial overlap and result in an inside wall opposite the inner side wall 31.

Upper and lower folding strips 34 and 35 form end folds on the one hand and bottom folding flaps on the other hand for bulkhead and Bottom wall of the inner casing 28. The front wall - and accordingly the bottom wall - are designed so that trapezoidal Longitudinal tabs 36, 37 partially overlap each other. 1 is an outer longitudinal tab 36 with the inner front wall 30 of the inner casing 28 connected.

The cut for the inner casing 28 according to FIG. 3 is analogous trained, namely on the principle of longitudinal winding. Inner front wall 30 and inner rear wall 32 are here by a continuous Inner bottom wall 38 connected to each other. Hard shoulder 39, 40 extend the full length of the elongated Cut and serve to form inner side walls by partial coverage. The inside front wall is covered by Folding strips 41, 42 formed at opposite ends of the cut. These folding strips 41, 42 are so folded that - as in the embodiment of FIG. 1st and Fig. 2 - trapezoidal longitudinal tabs 36, 37 as part of the inner end wall arise.

The blanks for the inner wrapping 28 can also cover the entire surface be printed and / or embossed. The latter will mainly used for inner wraps made of tin foil, can but can also be used for inner wrappings made of paper. At In the examples shown, the inner coverings 28 are only in one out of the packaging, i.e. out of the hinged box the soft cup pack or another pack outstanding Provide part with a print. Accordingly points 2 only has a printing field on one side on, namely a printing strip 43. This is prefabricated in the manufacture of the inner casing 28. This is used as a continuous material web 44 Provided and in a wound formation as a bobbin. The printing strip attached on one side as a continuous strip 43 corresponds to the one visible in the packaging Area of inner wrapper 28, including security area.

The peculiarity is that the printing field, namely the printing strip 43, at least one recess 45 has each cut. This is rectangular in the present case Feld is therefore free of any printing, however, if necessary so far prepared that printing later, namely in the area of a packaging machine, by a suitable one Printing unit can be attached.

The unprinted recess 45 is in the embodiment 2 in the upper region of the inner front wall 30, namely in one from the packaging at least in the open State outstanding area. With a folding box 1, the recess 45 is in the depression 27 formed by the collar front wall 25 Opening the cover 11 is therefore the recess 45 and thus a print arranged in the area for the user recognizable.

The recess 45 extends in the present case a partial area within the inner end wall of the inner casing 28, namely on the outside of the outer longitudinal tab 36. This creates a larger area for individual printing given. Secondly, it is ensured that through this special printing conveyed information both when viewing the front of the (opened) package as well as in the Area of the face is readable.

3 corresponds to a material web 46 the width of the blanks for the inner wrapping. Printing fields 47, 48 are each at the ends of the elongated Blanks formed, namely on the opening side of the Pack facing areas.

At least one printing field 47 is provided with a recess 45 provided, so a printing-free area for Recording of individual printing in the area of the packaging machine. The recess 45 extends in this Embodiment also in the area of the inner front wall 30 as well as the adjacent end wall or the front printing area 47 with the trapezoidal, outer longitudinal lobe 36.

Another special feature of the blanks according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is that the unprinted field, that is, the recess 45 is formed in the area of a flap 49, 50. In which 2 is the flap 49 by an angular Perforation 51 limited. In the embodiment 3 extends a transverse perforation line 52 across the full width of the blank or material web 46 in the area of the front printing area 47. The attachment of the recess 45 and thus the individual Printing in the area of the flap 49, 50 is particularly advantageous if the flap 49, 50 forms a coupon, for example to participate in competitions.

The cuts described above can instead of one Print also have a different coating, for example a thin metal layer applied by vapor deposition. With blanks formed in this way, the vapor deposition process the field to be individually printed, i.e. the recess 45, kept free from vaporization. Outer coverings, namely the blanks for soft cups (Fig. 4) or hinged boxes (Fig. 5) can be formed in an analogous manner be.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of a material web 53 from something stronger paper or other suitable packaging material. Within this material web 53 are strung together Blanks 54 formed for a soft cup. The blanks 54 are continuously strung together within the material web 53 and with one of the brand or equipment of Provide packaging with appropriate printing 55 (hatched Area). In addition, ornamental representations 56 to be available. These prints 55 or representations 56 are applied at the factory in the manufacture of the material web 53. The blanks are in the area of the packaging machine 54 separated from the material web 53 and the packaging process fed.

The blank 54 is designed in the present case so that a first side wall tab in the longitudinal direction of the material web 53 57, a front wall 58, a second side wall 59, a Rear wall 60 and a second, inner side wall tab 61 follow each other. On one long side of the material web 53 bottom flaps 62 are formed.

Form in the finished package, i.e. the folded soft cup the bottom folding tabs 62 have a closed bottom. The side wall tabs 57, 61 cover each other and are glued connected with each other. The package is open at the top.

Here, too, there is a cutout 63 in the area of the printing 55 provided, that is an unprinted field. In this can individual printing in the area of the packaging machine or texts are attached. Since the blanks 54 in the area the packaging machine can be manufactured, the material web 53 in the recesses 63 with the individual printing before the blanks 54 are removed from the material web 53 be separated. Alternatively, the printing can also be done on the Blanks 54 already separated from the material web 53 be transmitted.

The recess 63 formed as a rectangular field can be on suitable position of the blank 54 that is clearly recognizable from the outside to be appropriate. In the present preferred embodiment there is the recess 63 for individual printing in the upper area of the (closed) side wall 59, so adjacent to the open side of the cup.

The cut according to FIG. 5 for hinged boxes is analogous to this educated. This cut is with several, through Hatching marked printing areas 64, 65, 66 provided and for example also with an ornamental representation 56. A recess 67 is provided in an upper pressure area 64, specifically on the lid 11. The lid front wall 17 is predominant provided as a recess 67. Only remains on the edge a factory-made print.

In those made from blanks according to FIGS. 4 and 5 Packs is the recess with individual printing 63, 67 each arranged on the outside. The finished one Pack is usually made from an outer wrapper surrounded by transparent film. This is a possible information in the area of the recess 63, 67 from the outside, even when closed Package recognizable.

An aggregate for treating a material web according to FIG. 2 is simplified from Fig. 6 can be seen. This unit can be used corresponding adjustment also for the production of blanks 3 or 4 are used.

The material web 44 is supported by a first, active bobbin 68 deducted. Another replacement bobbin 69 will be used up Bobine 68 introduced into the production flow.

The material web 44 essentially passes through a splice unit 70 known type for connecting a running material web with a new one to be connected when changing the bobbin. The running material web 44 is in the area of Splice unit 70 passed over a deflecting roller and passed through thereafter a generally known compensation pendulum 72. This compensates for different funding movements in individual areas of the material web 44.

In the present embodiment, the material web 44 - deviating from the illustration in Fig. 2 - double lane trained, i.e. with twice the width. The printing strip 43 can either be double-wide printing strips in the middle of the double-wide material web 44 run. Alternatively, the (double wide) material web 44 provided with two printing strips 43 on the free edges be. In any case, the length of the material web must be in the middle a continuous separation cut to be made to two individual To obtain material webs 44 in the sense of FIG. 2.

For this purpose, the material web 44 runs through a cutting unit 73. This is with a disc-shaped, rotating Cutting knife 74 for cutting the material web in the longitudinal direction equipped during the transport of the same.

An edge control 75 is arranged upstream of the cutting unit 73, also known design. This ensures constant monitoring and correct alignment of the material web on the Cutting unit 73. This ensures that the separating cut is executed exactly in the middle of the material web 44.

Pass through the two separate material webs 44 then another edge control 76. This causes one exact alignment of the two single tracks to the following units.

A first treatment unit is an embossing device 77 The material will be embossed with embossing rollers provide an embossed surface structure, For example, with tinfoil a matt surface structure to achieve.

Following the embossing apparatus 77, the material web or the two material webs 44 run in the area of an upright one Conveyor strand past a printing unit 78. This has the task of creating the required printing (text or ornament) to install in the area of the recess 45. With the printing unit 78 can be, for example, an inkjet printer act. The exact placement of the printing in the area the recess 45 is preceded by a upstream in the conveying direction Print mark reader 79 causes. This controls the Functions of processing elements on the basis of print marks 80 the material web 44.

The material web 44 is then fed to a cutting unit 81. This separates the individual blanks for the inner wrapping 28 according to FIG. 2 from the material web 44. Also the exact positioning of the separating cuts is made possible by the print marks 80 controlled. Be in the area of the cutting unit 81 the blanks prepared for packaging in one vertical level ready. On a horizontal Packing web 82, the object to be wrapped is transported, in the present case a group of cigarettes. This will in the area of the cutting unit 81 first of all U-shaped Blank wrapped. In the further course the blank is folded to form the cigarette block 29. This becomes then another packaging unit or packaging machine for attaching an outer casing, namely in particular to form a hinged box.

When attaching blanks 54 for soft cup packs can be operated similarly or using a device analogous to FIG. 6.

When manufacturing folding boxes using 5 are usually as a stack of blanks delivered. The individual printing in the area the recess 67 can after separating the blanks 54 can be carried out, for example in the region of a cutting path during the transport of the blanks to the folding turret. The blanks 54 should be positioned so that the side with the print areas 64, 65, 66 and the recesses 67 face up during printing.

Fig. 7 shows details of a packaging machine with a Folding turret 83, which rotates in the horizontal plane is. The folding turret has pockets arranged in pairs 84, 85 provided. These are cut in pairs 54 introduced. In the area of a radially directed cutting path 86, the blanks 54 in the area of the recess 63 be provided with a print.

An alternative looks like that the outer box side tabs 15 (or lid side tabs 20) in the printing area 66 (or outside of it). Doing so the usual manufacturing technology used for such folding boxes. The mostly finished folding boxes are in the radial direction ejected from the folding turret 83 into a subsequent one rectilinear packing track 87. In the area of this Packing lane 87, the hinged box is completed.

The folding boxes are at the introduction to the packaging line 87 folded so far that only in an upper level outer box side tabs 15 and the outer lid side tabs 20 are winged to the side, in a horizontal plane. The outside of this folding rag is facing upwards (Fig. 8). To attach an individual Printing in the area of the side walls of the hinged box, namely in particular in the area of the box side tabs 15, is a printing element 88 above the packaging web 87 arranged. This ßedruckungsorgan 88, for example an inkjet printer or a laser printer that works with toner, is one of the box side tabs above the trajectory 15 positions and transfers the imprint. Alternatively, you can two such printing elements 88 can be arranged side by side for printing on both box side tabs 15.

The preparation of the blanks for the production of inner coverings or outer wrapping can also be done in such a way that coated packaging material is an interruption the coating or has a window within it, to apply a print without a local coating of the material.

Reference symbol list :

10th

Box part

11

cover

12th

Box front wall

13

Box back wall

14

Box side tabs

15

Box side tabs

16

ground

17th

Lid front wall

18th

Lid back wall

19th

Lid side tabs

20th

Lid side tabs

21

Front wall

22

Inner lid lobes

23

Hinge line

24th

collar

25th

Collar front wall

26

Collar side tabs

27

deepening

28

Inner wrapping

29

Block of cigarettes

30th

Inner front wall

31

Inner side wall

32

Interior rear wall

33

Marginal lobe

34

Folding strips

35

Folding strips

36

Longitudinal lobes

37

Longitudinal lobes

38

Inside floor wall

39

Hard shoulder

40

Hard shoulder

41

Folding strips

42

Folding strips

43

Printing strips

44

Material web

45

Recess

46

Material web

47

Printing area

48

Printing area

49

Flap

50

Flap

51

perforation

52

Perforation line

53

Material web

54

Cutting

55

Oppression

56

presentation

57

Sidewall tabs

58

Front wall

59

Side wall

60

Back wall

61

Sidewall tabs

62

Floor folding rag

63

Recess

64

Pressure range

65

Pressure range

66

Pressure range

67

Recess

68

Bobine

69

Replacement bobbins

70

Splice aggregate

71

Deflection roller

72

Compensation pendulum

73

Cutting unit

74

Cutting knife

75

Edge control

76

Edge control

77

Embossing machine

78

Printing unit

79

Print mark reader

80

Print mark

81

Cutting unit

82

Packing lane

83

Folding turret

84

bag

85

bag

86

Cutting path

87

Packing lane

88

Printing element

Claims (12)

Process for the manufacture of packs, in particular cigarette packs, in which the pack contents are wrapped in at least one prefabricated, printed blank made of (thin) cardboard, paper, foil or other coated material in a packaging machine, characterized by the following features: a) blanks (28, 54) or a continuous material web (44, 46, 53) for the production of blanks is provided outside the packaging machine with a print corresponding to the design of the blanks (28, 54), b) the printing has a printing-free recess (45, 63, 67), c) in the packaging machine in the area of the cutout (45, 63, 67), individual printing is applied for each blank (25, 54). A method according to claim 1, characterized by the following features: a) a continuous material web (44, 46, 53) made of paper or other thin, wrappable packaging material is provided with printing (43, 63, 67) with cutouts for the individual blanks (28, 54) of the packaging machine, b) in the packaging machine, the individual printing is applied in the area of the cutouts (45, 63, 67) to the continuous material web (44, 46, 53), c) the blanks (25, 54) are then separated from the material web (44, 46, 53). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recesses (45) for individual printing of an inner wrapper (28) for cigarettes have a recess (45) in the region of a part of the inner wrapper (28) protruding from the packaging (hinged box or soft cup) , in particular in an upper region of an inner front wall (30) and / or inner end wall of the inner casing (28). Method according to claim 3 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the recess (45) in the inner casing (28) for a hinged box is provided in the region of a recess (27) in a collar front wall (25) of a collar (24). Method according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that a material web (44) for blanks for the formation of inner coverings (28) has a continuous, edge-side printing strip (43) with recesses (45) which are arranged at spaced positions or at a spacing from one another has formed printing fields (47, 48), also with recesses (45). Method according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that in the case of blanks (54) for soft cups, a recess (63) for individual printing is formed in the region of a (closed) side wall (59) of the blank, in particular in the upper region. Method according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that for the production of hinged boxes, blanks with printing (printing areas 64, 65, 66) are produced in the factory and are provided with at least one recess (67) for individual printing and that the blanks in the packaging machine before folding or after partial folding in the area of the cutout (67) with individual printing and then the folding box is completed. Method according to claim 7 or one of the further claims, characterized in that in the case of a hinged box or a blank for a hinged box, the recess (67) is formed for individual printing in the region of a front cover wall (17). Method according to Claim 7 or one of the further claims, characterized in that individual printing is applied to a folding box in the region of the outside box side flaps (15), preferably after the folding box has been largely completed before the box side flaps (15) are folded over an extended, horizontal starting position in an upright folded position. Method according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that, in the case of an inner covering (28), the recess (45) is located in the region of a removable flap (49, 50). Device for producing packs, in particular cigarette packs, in which the pack contents are wrapped in a packaging machine in a printed blank of an inner wrapper (28) or a cup - blank (54) -, the blanks being separable from a continuous material web (44) characterized in that a printing unit (78) is preferably arranged in the region of a vertical conveying section of the material web (44) and, due to exact control in accordance with a print mark reader (79) arranged upstream in the conveying direction, a printing on the material web (44) in the region of prepared cutouts (45, 63) and that the material web (44) then passes through a cutting unit (81) for separating individual blanks. Device for producing cigarette packs of the folding box type in a folding turret (83), from which the largely fully folded folding boxes can be pushed out in the radial direction into a packing track (87), in the area of which the folding of the folding box can be completed, characterized in that in the area of the packing track (87) horizontally oriented outer side flaps of the box (15) of the folding box are provided with a print by means of a printing element (88) arranged above the packing web (87).

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