Cigarette packaging and method and device for producing same

Abstract

The packing has a packing blank made of thin cardboard or similar packing material for block-shaped packing content, particularly a cigarette block (25). The inner fold of the packing blank has protrusions or supporting frames (27) formed by press cut or deformation of the packing material. The protrusions or the supporting frames lie on the surface of the packing content, particularly on side surfaces of the cigarette block. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing packings, particularly cigarette packings of flip pack-, slider- and sleeve type.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cigarette pack of the hinged-lid type or the slider and sleeve type according to the preamble of claim 1 on the one hand and claim 2 on the other hand. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for producing cigarette packs of the hinged-lid type.

[0002] The invention relates to packs in which the block-shaped pack contents, namely the cigarette block, are smaller in width than the interior of the pack. Supporting webs, which are positioned by punching and folding and rest against the side walls of the cigarette block, serve to secure the cigarette block within the pack.

[0003] A cigarette pack designed as a hinged box is known, in which the cigarette block, which has smaller transverse dimensions, is supported by folding tabs formed by punching in the area of ​​a side flap of a collar of the pack. Alternatively, an inner side flap of the box section can be provided with a support tab, also defined by punching lines. This support tab can be pivoted about a vertical axis into the support position; the support tab is therefore located in a vertical plane. With these known packs, the production or filling process is complicated by inserting the cigarette block into the partially folded pack. Furthermore, a single tab positioned in an upright plane does not provide optimal support for the cigarette block (DE 71 19 018 U).

[0004] Also known are hinge-lid packs for cigarettes in which a plurality of support tabs are arranged in the area of ​​a collar side wall. These support tabs are positioned so that the fold lines are transverse and the support tabs are directed diagonally downward in the functional position (EP 0 801 011 A1).

[0005] The object of the invention is to design a cigarette pack of the hinged box type or the shell and slide type with an effective support of a cigarette block within the pack, without the manufacturing process or the filling of the pack being impaired.

[0006] To achieve this object, the package according to the invention is designed as a hinged box with the features of claim 1 and as a slide and sleeve package with the features of claim 2.

[0007] According to the invention, in a hinge-lid box, both inner side flaps are provided with punched support webs that are directed inward, i.e., into the interior of the box part, and thus rest against the side surfaces of the cigarette block, especially in the lower region of the pack, at least outside the area of ​​the collar side flaps. The support webs are further designed and positioned such that when the cigarette block is inserted over the open side of the partially folded box part facing the lid—in a pocket of a folding turret—the support webs projecting into the interior of the box part are deformed or folded over by the cigarette block, thereby transmitting a holding force to the cigarette block like barbs, such that the cigarette block is moved against the already erected bottom wall of the box part and held in this final position.The support bars counteract any restoring forces acting on the cigarette block.

[0008] In a similar manner, the support bars are attached to the upright slider flaps of this pack type and ensure that the cigarette block is secured after insertion into the slider, resting against a tab on the bottom.

[0009] The support bars are produced by appropriate punching in the area of ​​the unfolded, flat blank, preferably during the production of the blanks themselves through a joint punching process. During transport along a blank conveyor in the area of ​​the packaging machine, the bars are erected into a transverse position to the plane of the blank. In this position, the initial folding steps of the blank are carried out until the cigarette block is inserted into the partially folded blank in the area of ​​a folding turret.

[0010] The device for producing packs, particularly of the hinge-lid type, comprises a folding turret whose pockets have suction holes in the area of ​​the pocket side walls for transferring negative pressure or suction force to the side surfaces of the cigarette block to generate additional or alternative holding force. The suction air is transmitted via openings in the folded inner flaps of the blank.

[0011] Further features and special features of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1a spread-out blank for a (cigarette) pack of the hinged box type, Fig. 2a blank made from a blank according to Fig. 1 formed hinged box in perspective view, Fig. 3 a detail of a packaging machine, namely a folding turret, in perspective view, Fig. 4 a detail of the folding turret according to Fig. 3, namely a bag, in enlarged scale, Fig. 5 the detail according to Fig. 4 in plan view according to arrow V in Fig. 4 , Fig. 8a vertical section through a hinged box in the section plane VI-VI of the Fig. 2 , Fig. 7 a cross-section through a pocket of the folding turret in the section plane VII-VII of the Fig. 5 , Fig. 8 shows an expanded, unfolded blank for a slider of a slider and sleeve pack, Fig. 9 shows an expanded blank for a sleeve of the same pack type, Fig. 10 shows a finished slider and sleeve pack in perspective view, Fig. 11 shows a vertical section through the pack according to Fig. 10 .

[0012] The important embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 concerns cigarette packs of the hinged lid type. This pack typically consists of a pack blank in the design according to Fig. 1The "one-piece" package blank, made of particularly thin cardboard, forms a box part 10 and a lid 11. Folding flaps or package walls are separated from each other by punching lines and by folding lines (dashed). The box part 10 consists of a box front wall 12, a box rear wall 13 and a base wall 14. The box side walls are formed by box side tabs which overlap one another and are connected to one another by adhesive, namely by outer box side tabs 15 arranged on both sides of the box front wall 12 and inner box side tabs 16 arranged in the area of ​​the box rear wall 13. The lid 11 is designed analogously, namely with a lid front wall 17, a lid rear wall 18 and an end wall 19. (Outer) lid side tabs 20 are arranged on the lid front wall 17 and inner lid side tabs 21 are arranged correspondingly on the lid rear wall 18.Furthermore, bottom corner tabs 22 are typically arranged on the box side tabs 16, and end corner tabs 23 are arranged on the lid side tabs 21. The area of ​​the lid 11 is connected to the box part 10 via a linear joint 37 between the box rear wall 13 and the lid rear wall 18.

[0013] The finished folding box ( Fig. 2) is usually provided with a collar 24, which here consists of a separate blank. The pack contents are block-shaped. In the present case, it is a cigarette block 25, i.e. a formed group of cigarettes wrapped in an inner blank. The cigarette block 25 is adapted to the hinge-lid box such that the interior of the closed hinge-lid box is filled by the cigarette block 25. In the present preferred application, however, the cigarette block 25 has smaller external dimensions than the interior of the hinge-lid box. In particular, the cigarette block 25 has a lower height than the hinge-lid box. As can be seen from Fig. 2 and from Fig. 6 As can be seen, an upper boundary, i.e., a block end wall 26 of the cigarette block 25, ends at a distance from the end wall 19 of the lid. The cigarette block 26 rests on the bottom wall 14 or on the bottom corner flaps 22 folded against the bottom wall 14.

[0014] The pack is provided on the inside with support members that rest against side surfaces 30 of the cigarette block 25. Several spacers or support members, here in the form of support webs 27, are arranged on at least one side wall of the pack, here on one or both inner box side flaps 16. The spacers or (several) support webs 27 serve to position and fix the cigarette block 25 in the hinge-lid box, particularly in the position shown, in which the cigarette block 25 rests against the bottom wall 14.

[0015] The support members or support webs 27 are designed and arranged in a special way. U-shaped punches 28 are provided in each of the folding tabs 16, which delimit the support web 27. A transverse axis line 29 is created at the ends, which serves as a pivot axis for the tongue-shaped support member 27. The punches 28 are arranged such that all support webs 27 are aligned in the same direction, namely with the end contour facing the lid 11. In this case, both inner box side tabs 16 are provided with three support webs 27 arranged in a row, all outside the area of ​​the collar 24 or collar side tabs.

[0016] By appropriate deformation, an inwardly directed (intermediate) position of the support webs 27 is achieved ( Fig. 4 , Fig. 5). It is useful for the support webs 27 to be directed transversely to the plane of the folding flap when the box side flaps 16 are erected. When the cigarette block 25 is inserted into the pack or into the (partially folded) box part 10, the support webs 27 are folded over in accordance with the insertion process, specifically toward the bottom wall 14 ( Fig. 6 ). The support webs 27 slide against the side surfaces 30 of the cigarette block 25 during insertion of the cigarette block 25. In the final position ( Fig. 6 ) all support webs 27 preferably lie elastically deformed on both sides against the cigarette block 25 or the side surfaces 30.

[0017] The effect of the projections 27 ensures (lateral) guidance of the cigarette block 25 during insertion into the pack. In the final position, the cigarette block 25 is fixed, in particular, the contact with the base wall 14 is secured, so that, with a cigarette block 25 of lower height, a free space is created in the area of ​​the lid 11 ( Fig. 6 ).

[0018] During the production of the pack, the unfolded blank is cut according to Fig. 1A folding turret 31 is provided with a plurality of pockets 32 facing radially. These receptacles, each for a pack blank, are open at the top and radially on the outside. The blank is fed along a blank path above the folding turret 31. By downward movement using a punch (not shown), the blank is pressed into a pocket 32. In the process, the inner side flaps 16 and 21 are folded into an upright position, resting against the side pocket walls 33. Furthermore, the bottom wall 14 (with box front wall 12) is erected, including the bottom corner flaps 22.

[0019] Before the blank enters the pocket 32, the support members or support webs 27 are pre-folded, in particular into the transverse position, namely pointing into the pocket 32 ​​(pointing upwards in the area of ​​the blank path). The folding or deformation of the support webs 27 preferably takes place in the area of ​​a blank path leading to the folding turret 31. Appropriate folding members can act in this area, in particular a spiked roller mounted below the path of movement of the blanks, which, with spike-like projections, precisely grasps the punched holes on the underside of the blank and deforms them upwards, with the stipulation that the blanks face downwards with the printed outer side in the area of ​​the blank path.

[0020] The otherwise finished cigarette block 25 is inserted, preferably with the folded collar 24 placed in the correct package, in the radial direction over the open side into the pocket 32 ​​or into the partially folded blank ( Fig. 4 ). The support webs 27 are folded over by the side surfaces 30 of the cigarette block 25 into the final position according to Fig. 6 The cigarette block 25 is conveyed against the bottom wall 14 and fixed in this pack-appropriate position by the support webs 27.

[0021] The support webs 27 are expediently arranged such that they lie outside the area of ​​the support 24 or the collar side flaps 38. The outer or upper support webs 27 are arranged in this case such that a downward-facing edge of the collar 24 or the collar side flaps 38 rests against the upper support web(s) 27 ( Fig. 6), namely on the folding edge formed by the supporting webs 27 in the area of ​​the axis line 29 as a projection.

[0022] The positioning of the pack contents or the cigarette block 25 in the pocket 32 ​​can be achieved additionally or alternatively by other means. In the present embodiment, the cigarette block 25 is (additionally) secured by suction air. For this purpose, the pocket walls 33 of the pockets 32 are provided with suction holes 34, to which a suction line 35 is connected. This line is connected to a central vacuum source.

[0023] The suction holes 34 are arranged in the area of ​​the support webs 27. These create openings 36 in the box side flaps 16. Via these (suction) openings 36, negative pressure is transferred to the cigarette block 25, namely to the side surfaces 30, so that the block is held exactly in the contact position against the bottom wall 14 during the insertion movement. Openings 36 or suction holes can also be arranged in the area of ​​the lid side flaps 21 with corresponding suction holes in the pocket wall 33, so that (additionally or separately) the collar 24 is fixed in the pocket 32. The suction air at the side surfaces 30 is preferably maintained until the largely finished hinge-lid boxes are ejected from the folding turret 31. This is possible because the outer box side flaps 15 are only folded after the pack has exited the folding turret 31.The above-mentioned suction air holding system can also be used if the side flaps 16 do not have support webs 27. In this case, holes are provided in the respective folding flaps that correspond to the suction holes 34 of the pocket walls 33.

[0024] Another pack type, known as a shell and slide pack, is also widely used for cigarettes, so the same or similar problems arise with regard to the fixation of the pack contents - cigarette block 25. This pack consists of two pack blanks, namely a pack blank according to Fig. 8 for the inner slider 39 and on the other hand from a separate blank for the outer sleeve 40 ( Fig. 9 ). The first-mentioned package blank, namely for the slide 39, is formed with supporting elements, namely support webs 41 analogous to the support webs 27 of the above embodiment.

[0025] The package cut according to Fig. 8 consists of a bottom wall 42 with folding flaps arranged on both long sides, namely slide flaps 43. These extend over the full length of the bottom wall 42 and thus over the full length of the package in the closed position ( Fig. 10, Fig. 11 ). At the ends of the base wall 42, tabs are arranged, namely a base tab 44 on the one hand and a closing tab 45 opposite. The base tab 44 forms a boundary of the slider 39 for the pack contents, i.e. the cigarette block 25, namely a slider base 46, which forms the bottom end of the pack when the base tab 44 is folded ( Fig. 11 ).

[0026] The closing tab 45 is designed in a similar manner so that in the folded position a slider end wall 47 is formed.

[0027] The outer sleeve 40 forms the outer packing walls with front wall 48 and rear wall 49 by folding. The sleeve 40 is open at both ends.

[0028] In the finished pack, the erected slider tabs 43 rest on the inside against the side walls 50 of the sleeve 40. The slider tabs 43 are provided with several - here three - support webs 41, which are shaped inwards and, due to a 180° fold, rest resiliently against the side surfaces 30 of the cigarette block 45. The latter is thereby fixed within the slider 39, in particular in contact with the slider base 46. The support webs 41 are preferably arranged only in a lower region, in particular below a dividing line 51 for delimiting a flap of the inner wrapper of the cigarette block 25. When this pack is opened as usual for removing cigarettes, the support webs 41 are not visible.

[0029] The Fig. 3 , Fig. 4 , Fig. 5The folding turret shown can also be used analogously in the production of slide and sleeve packs. Furthermore, the described additional fixation can also be achieved here using negative pressure. This can be used for both packs even without the presence of support webs 27, 41. In this case, only the openings 36 are provided in the inner lobes 16, 43. List of reference symbols: 10 Box part 36 opening 11 Lid 37 Line joint 12 Box front wall 38 Collar side flaps 13 Box back panel 39 slider 14 floor wall 40 sleeve 15 outer box side lobes 41 Support bridge 16 inner box side lobes 42 floor wall 17 Lid front wall 43 Slide flap 18 Lid back wall 44 bottom flap 19 front wall 45 locking tab 20 Lid side flaps 46 Slider bottom 21 Lid side flaps (inside) 47 Slider front wall 22 Floor corner flaps 48 front wall 23 Forehead corner flaps 49 back wall 24 collar 50 side wall 25 cigarette block 51 dividing line 26 Block front wall 27 Support bridge 28 Punching 29 axis line 30 side surface 31 folding revolver 32 Bags 33 Pocket wall 34 Suction bore 35 suction line

Claims

1. A hinge-lid box for cigarettes, namely for a formed group of cigarettes having an inner wrapper - cigarette block (25) - with box part (10) and lid (11) made from a pack blank made of thin cardboard and having a collar (24), wherein the box part (10) has box side walls comprising outer and inner box side flaps (15, 16) which at least partially overlap one another, of which an inner side flap (16) has a supporting crosspiece (27) folded in the inner direction against which the cigarette block (25) abuts, characterized by the following features: a) at least one of the inner box side flaps (16) has a plurality of supporting crosspieces (27) which are distributed over the length of the box side flap (16) outside of the region of the collar (24) , b) the supporting crosspieces (27) have a tongue-like configuration formed by U-shaped punched formations (28) with an axial line (29) directed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the box side flap (16). c) the axial lines (29) of the supporting crosspieces (27), in the starting position of the supporting crosspieces (27), face a base wall (14) of the box part (10), d) the supporting crosspieces (27) butt elastically, under stressing, against side surfaces (30) of the cigarette block (25).

2. A cigarette pack of the shell-and-slide type made of thin cardboard for a formed group of cigarettes having an inner wrapper - cigarette block (25) - as the pack contents, wherein an inner pack blank for the slide (39) has erected slide flaps (43) which are arranged on both sides of a base wall (42) of the slide (39) and which abut the cigarette block (25), characterized by the following features: a) at least one of the slide flaps (43) has a plurality of supporting crosspieces (41) which are distributed over the length of the slide flap (43), b) the supporting crosspieces (41) have a tongue-like configuration formed by U-shaped punched formations (28) with an axial line (29) directed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the slide flap (43), c) on account of the packaging material of the slide flaps (43) being deformed or folded, the supporting crosspieces (41) butt elastically, under stressing, against side surfaces (30) of the cigarette block (25).

3. Pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of the inner box side flaps (16) has at least three equally spaced-apart supporting crosspieces (27) which, in a starting and / or interim position, are directed transversely to the plane of the inner flap (16) and, by virtue of the cigarette block (25) being introduced into the partially folded pack, can be folded in an end position with abutment against side surfaces (30) of the cigarette block (25), in which end position the supporting crosspieces (27) have their free ends oriented in the direction of a base wall (14).

4. Pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the case of a hinge-lid box, at least one upper supporting crosspiece (27) directed towards the lid (11) serves as a stop for a collar (24), which comprises a separate blank, wherein collar side flaps (38), in the position corresponding to the finished pack, have a lower edge supported on a folding edge formed by virtue of the supporting crosspiece (27) being folded over.

5. Pack according to Claim 2 or one of the further claims, characterized in that a plurality of, in particular three, supporting crosspieces (41) are arranged in each slide flap (43) in a region directed towards a slide base (46), in particular beneath a flap which is bounded by a separating line (51) and belongs to an inner wrapper of the cigarette block (25).

6. Method of producing cigarette packs of the hinge-lid-box type from at least one pack blank for forming a box part (10) and lid (11), wherein inner flaps, that is to say inner box side flaps (16), are arranged on both sides in the region of a box rear wall (13), characterized by the following features: a) the non-folded pack blank is provided, in the region of lateral inner flaps (16), with punched formations for supporting crosspieces (27, 41), b) the pack blank, which is formed with the punched formations in the region of the inner flaps (16), is introduced into a pocket (32) of a folding turret (43) such that the inner flaps (16) are folded into a position transverse to the rear wall (13), in particular into an upright position, c) prior to the blank being introduced into the pocket (32) of the folding turret (31), in particular in the region of a blank path for feeding the non-folded blanks, the supporting crosspieces (27) are folded into a position transverse to the plane of the inner flap (16), and the supporting crosspieces (27) are therefore directed into the interior of the pocket (32), d) and this is followed by the cigarette block (25) being introduced, via an open side of the partially folded pack blank, into the latter and / or into the pocket (32) of the folding turret (31) such that the cigarette block (25) can be moved with sliding action, by way of side surfaces (30), along the supporting crosspieces (27) and folds the latter into a position in which they are directed towards the base wall (14).

7. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the cigarette block (25) in the pocket (32) of the folding turret (31), or in the partially completed box part (10) of the pack blank, is fixed in the pack blank in addition, or as an alternative, at least temporarily by suction air or negative pressure, wherein the suction air is transmitted to the cigarette block (25) via openings (36), formed by the folded supporting crosspieces (27), of the inner flaps (16).

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