Device and method for handling blanks for wrapping packaging items for products of the cigarette industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling blanks (67) for wrapping packaging items (10) for products of the cigarette industry, comprising a conveying path for transporting blanks (67) for the wrapping process in a conveying direction, and comprising a transfer station (70), in which the blanks (67) are kept ready in an in particular upright blank plane, wherein: the device is designed to transport packaging items (10) transversely to the conveying direction of the blanks (67) through the transfer station (70) and to transport the kept-ready blanks (67) by carrying one kept-ready blank (67) through a packaging item (10) in each case; and the device is designed to place the blanks (67) in a U-shape around the packaging items (10) and then to interconnect free ends of the particular blanks (67) such that the packaging items (10) are wrapped in the blanks (67) which have formed a tube; and the blanks (67) are held in the transfer station (70) in the region of lateral edges of the blanks (67) by means of a vacuum on holding members (72), in particular on suction belts. According to the invention, the blanks (67) are held in the region between the holding members (72) by being placed on holding means (76) in the blank plane, wherein the holding means (76) are designed to bleed off electrostatic charges of the blanks (67).

Description

[0001] Device and method for handling blanks for wrapping packs for products of the cigarette industry

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a device for handling blanks for wrapping packs for products of the cigarette industry, comprising a conveyor line for transporting blanks for the wrapping in a conveying direction, and comprising a transfer station in which the blanks are held ready in a, in particular upright, cutting plane, wherein the device is designed to transport packs transversely to the conveying direction of the blanks through the transfer station and the held blanks, with each pack carrying one held blank along with it, and wherein the device is designed to place the blanks in a U-shape around the packs and subsequently to connect free ends of the respective blanks to one another in such a way that the packs are wrapped in the blanks formed into a tube,and wherein the blanks are held in the transfer station in the region of lateral edges of the blanks by means of negative pressure on holding elements, in particular on suction belts, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method according to the preamble of claim 18.

[0004] For the purposes of the application, products of the cigarette industry are understood to include tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos and the like, but also novel tobacco products such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes.

[0005] During the packaging process for cigarette packs, each pack is wrapped in a blank of packaging material. For this purpose, the blanks are separated from a continuous web of material by cutting the web material to defined lengths using separating cuts. The resulting blanks are then conveyed further and wrapped around the packs.

[0006] The basic principle described above is known, for example, from DE 29 49685 A1. The material web is transferred to suction belts via speed-controlled feed rollers. These suction belts guide the material web toward a die. Along the way, the material web is cut into individual blanks by a knife device. The blanks, in turn, remain on the suction belts until they reach a transfer point in front of the die.

[0007] It has been found that film blanks, in particular, are prone to bulging during the conveying process. The problem here is that the bulges in the blanks run into the die and cannot be conveyed past it. At the very least, contact between the die and the blank causes damage to the film (e.g., scratches, etc.).

[0008] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further developing devices and methods of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular with regard to handling the blanks with as little disruption as possible.

[0009] A device according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that the blanks are held in the cutting plane in the area between the holding members by contact with holding means, wherein the holding means are designed to dissipate electrostatic charges of the blanks.

[0010] The invention is based on the finding that one cause of the problem lies in the electrostatic charging of the blanks during the transport process. This electrostatic charging leads to bulging and subsequently to damage to the blanks, particularly in the area of ​​the mouthpiece. This problem is solved by attaching the blanks to the holding means. Furthermore, the holding means can also counteract denting of the blanks. Preferably, the holding means are formed from an electrically conductive material, preferably a metallic material, in particular as guide plates.

[0011] Preferably, several holding means are arranged between the holding members.

[0012] Preferably, the number of holding means is variable.

[0013] Preferably, the distances between the holding means are variably adjustable.

[0014] It is preferably provided that the distances between the holding means can be adjusted independently of the cutting width.

[0015] It is preferably provided that the distances between the holding means are adjustable depending on the distance between the holding members.

[0016] It is preferably provided that spring means are arranged between adjacent holding means in order to align the distances between the holding means.

[0017] Preferably, it is provided that when adjusting the distance between the holding members, the distance between the holding means is maintained by uniform spring constants of the spring means or that the distance between the holding means can be changed by different spring constants of the spring means.

[0018] It is preferably provided that the cutting plane has a curved profile at least in the region of the holding means, in particular convex with respect to the conveying direction of the packages.

[0019] Preferably, a mouthpiece is arranged in the pack conveyor downstream of the transfer station, through which the packs are transported together with the respective blank. Preferably, the mouthpiece has upper guides and lower guides, each of which is arranged in the region of opposite side surfaces of the packs.

[0020] Preferably, the upper guides are arranged so as to be adjustable relative to the lower guides in order to adapt to the format of the packs.

[0021] It is preferably provided that the distance between the holding members is designed to diverge in the conveying direction, in particular at least in the transfer station.

[0022] It is preferably provided that the holding means are arranged upstream of the transfer station in the conveying direction of the blanks.

[0023] It is preferably provided that the holding means are arranged on at least one common axis, and that spring means are arranged on at least one axis between adjacent holding means.

[0024] It is preferably provided that the holding means are rotatably arranged on a common axis.

[0025] Preferably, the holding means are fixedly mounted on several axes.

[0026] A method according to the invention has the features of claim 18. It is accordingly provided that the blanks are held in the area between the holding members by contact with holding means in the cutting plane, wherein the holding means dissipate electrostatic charges of the blanks.

[0027] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a first part of an apparatus for producing packs for products of the cigarette industry in a schematic side view, Fig. 2 shows a second part of the apparatus in a further schematic side view,

[0029] Fig. 3 shows a detail of the device in area III according to Fig. 3 in an enlarged view,

[0030] Fig. 4 shows a detail of the device according to Fig. 3 in an enlarged

[0031] Depiction,

[0032] Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the device along section line V - V in Fig. 4,

[0033] Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the device along section line VI - VI in Fig. 4,

[0034] Fig. 7 and 8 a horizontal section through the device along section line VII - VII in Fig. 6 to illustrate the adaptation to different widths of blanks, and

[0035] Fig. 9 a vertical section through the device along section line IX - IX in

[0036] Fig. 6.

[0037] The invention relates to the handling of packs 10 for products of the cigarette industry. Figures 1 and 2 show parts of a packaging machine for such packs 10. These show individual steps that follow the actual production of the packs 10. These steps are as follows:

[0038] The packages 10 are transferred by means of a feed conveyor to an accumulation belt 11 and in this way to a transfer station 12. The accumulated packages 10 are then transferred from the transfer station 12 to a separation station 13 and are thereby spaced apart from one another and thus separated.

[0039] After being separated, the packs 10 are transferred to a conveyor 15 by means of a turning wheel 14 and transported along a conveyor line 16. During transport along the conveyor line 16, the packs 10 are held between two holding means 17 of the conveyor 15. In the area of ​​the conveyor line 16, a device 18 for applying print carriers is arranged, which serves to apply print carriers to a side surface of the packs 10. In order to align the packs 10 so that a specific side surface faces the device 18, the packs 10 held by the holding means 17 are rotated during transport, namely with the aid of a stationary guide. At the end of the conveyor line 16, a second turning wheel 19 is arranged, which serves to remove the packs 10 from the conveyor 15 and feed them to a removal device 20.

[0040] Sensors 21 are used to detect the presence of the packages 10 between the holding means 17. Sensors 22 are used to detect the edges of the packages 10. The device 18 is controlled via the detected edges. Cameras 23 are used to check whether the packages 10 already contain printed media, whereas cameras 24 are used to check the correct position of the printed media on the package.

[0041] In the next step, the packs 10 are wrapped in a blank for an outer wrap. A corresponding material web 26 for the outer wrap is guided over deflection rollers 27. A tear-open thread 29 is unwound from a reel 28 and attached to the material web 26. The tear-open thread 29 and the material web 26 with the attached tear-open thread 29 are each guided over loop boxes 30, 31 as buffers. An ultrasonic sensor 32 is arranged in the area of ​​the second loop box 31. This sensor serves to monitor the formation of the loop in the loop box 31. Via a print mark sensor 33 and a splice sensor 34, the material web 26 enters a so-called film device 35 with feed rollers 36 for conveying the material web 26, a U-knife 37, and a thread position sensor 38.The U-blade 37 serves to form a U-cut for a gripping tip of the tear-open thread 29, whereas the thread position sensor 38 serves to monitor the position of the tear-open thread 29 on the material web 26. The material web 26 is held in an upright plane in the area of ​​a suction box 40 via suction belts 39 and separated by means of a cutting unit 41. The packs 10, fed via an infeed belt 42, are pushed into a sealing turret 44 by a pusher 43, taking with them the severed blank of the material web 26. There, the blanks are placed around the packs 10 with the assistance of an underfolder 45, sealed in several sealing stations 46 and transferred to another infeed belt 47.

[0042] The illustration of the infeed belt 47 is continued in Fig. 2. Accordingly, the packs 10 are transported by the infeed belt 47 into the area of ​​a vertical conveyor 48, which serves to transport the packs 10 in two lanes to a higher conveyor track. In the area of ​​the vertical conveyor 48, a stitching heater 49 for the top and bottom sides of the packs 10 is provided, as well as heating cassettes 50. Following the infeed belt 47, the packs 10 can be discharged via an ejection chute 51.

[0043] In the higher conveyor track, the packs 10 are transported on a track plate 52, namely first with an upper belt 53 and then with a lower belt 54. With the help of heating elements 55 of a side heater 56, the top and bottom sides of the packs 10 are heated, whereas with shrink heaters 57, 58 the large side surfaces of the packs 10 are heated.

[0044] Following the lower belt 54 or the conveyor plate 52, the packages 10 are transported by a belt conveyor 59. In the area of ​​an ejection station 60, several ejectors 61 are provided to convey any defective packages 10 into an ejection chute 62. The packages 10 not rejected are transferred to a subsequent discharge belt 63, which can lead, for example, to a cartoner.

[0045] For the present invention, the situation shown in Fig. 3 ff is of primary interest. This is as follows:

[0046] The material web 26 wound onto a reel (e.g. a film web) is drawn off from the reel by means of feed rollers and conveyed towards a cutting device 25. On its way there, a tear-open thread 29 is applied to the material web 26 and both materials are conveyed into a loop box 30, 31 or pendulum. The loop boxes 30, 31 serve to buffer the moving material in order to compensate for speed fluctuations while maintaining a constant web tension. An ultrasonic sensor 32 can be provided as a control device for the loop box 31, which monitors the formation of the loop. A print mark sensor 33 can be installed behind the loop box 31 to ensure the positioning accuracy of the subsequent cut to form the printed image. A further sensor 34 is used to detect a splice in the material web 26 in order to be able to separate out this double-layered material area later on.

[0047] Also visible in Fig. 3 is that the cutting device 25, the components just described, and other components are designed as a separate module of the overall machine. For this purpose, all elements of this part of the wrapping process are arranged on a machine frame 64, which can be integrated into the packaging machine.

[0048] Starting with Fig. 4, the further method and device will now be described in more detail: The material web 26 is conveyed by the feed rollers 36 towards the cutting unit 25. The feed rollers 36 are driven by a servo motor 81, so that their speed is fully controllable. Between the feed rollers 36 and the cutting unit 41, a U-shaped knife 37 is provided, which can make the U-cut for the gripping tip of the tear-open thread 29. This U-shaped knife 37 is also driven by a separate servo motor 81. This allows its rotational speed to be controlled, or the knife can be disengaged (if a U-cut is not provided for in the cut). A sensor 38 for thread position detection can be provided behind the U-shaped knife 37, with which the correct position of the tear-open thread 29 on the material web 26 is monitored.

[0049] In principle, optional (partial) cuts such as the U-cut can be switched on or off depending on the format.

[0050] The cutting device 25 is constructed according to the modular principle and, in addition to the feed rollers 36, U-blade 37, and cutting unit 41, also consists of the knife roller 65, suction belt as holding elements 72, handwheel 66, and suction box 40 with integrated guide plates (see Fig. 5). The material web 26 conveyed by the feed rollers 36 is placed on the knife roller 65 and held there by means of vacuum (orifices). This creates the required web tension behind the feed rollers 36. The holding elements 72 are mechanically connected to the knife roller 65 and transport both the material web 26 and the blanks 67 cut from it. The knife roller 65 and the correspondingly coupled holding elements 72 are also driven by a separate servo motor 81.

[0051] It is also conceivable that the suction belts or holding elements 72 could each be driven by separate drives. This would open up the possibility of aligning a blank 67 by varying the speeds of the two suction belts or holding elements 72, should a blank 67 become tilted during the process and this tilt is detected by the sensors 75.

[0052] For setup mode, the knife roller 65 with holding elements 72 can also be moved by the operator via the handwheel 66. For this mode of operation, the feed rollers 36 and the U-shaped knife 37 are electronically coupled to the knife roller 65 so that they follow the manually performed movement. For safety reasons, the feed rollers 36 and the U-shaped knife 37 are enclosed in a protective cover 68, so that there is no risk of injury to the operator from the electric drives (see Fig. 4).

[0053] Preferably, all rotationally driven components of the device are driven separately via servo motors 81 and their speed can be individually controlled and coupled to one another.

[0054] The cutting process is carried out according to the following procedure: The speed vi of the feed rollers 36 / material web 26 remains constant. The speed V2 of the knife roller 65 / holding elements 72 follows the law of motion that V2 is equal to the speed vi exactly at the time of cutting. The material web is mounted in static friction on the knife roller 65 or the holding elements 72. The cut itself takes place between the stationary counter knife 69 of the cutting unit 41 and the knife of the rotating knife roller 65 (see Fig. 6). After the cut has been made, V2 is accelerated in order to space the blank 67 from the continuous material web 26 (see Fig. 5). During this acceleration, V2 > vi and the continuous material web 26 is held taut by slipping on the knife roller 65.This approach also allows for a flexible cut length: By controlling the speed difference between V1 and V2, the cut length can be adjusted between two defined limits (minimum and maximum cut length depending on the circumference of the suction drum). Alternatively, the speed V1 (feed rollers / web material) can vary, while the speed V2 (knife roller / holding elements) remains constant. In this way, the cut lengths can be flexibly adjusted by controlling the speeds of the servo drives.

[0055] After the cut has been made, the holding members 72 transport the blank 67 to a transfer station 70 in front of a mouthpiece 71. The blank 67 is held by negative pressure, which is generated in suction air channels 73 and transferred to the blank 67 via suction holes 74 in the holding members 72 (see Fig. 7). In the transfer station 70 in front of the mouthpiece 71, the package 10 (conveyed by means of the infeed belt 42) is pushed through the blank 67 by means of a pusher 43 (see Fig. 6). The blank 67 is pulled off the holding members 72 by the passing package 10 and pushed together with it into the mouthpiece 71 and then into the sealing turret 44. The basic principle of this solution is known from EP 00 31 515 A1, to which reference is made for the purpose of a complete disclosure. To increase the positioning accuracy between blank 67 and pack 10, additional sensors are provided (see Fig. 6).These sensors 75 detect the lower edge of the blank 67, allowing the placement of the blank 67 on the holding elements 72 to be determined. From this placement, appropriate adjustments (interaction between the feed roller 36 and the knife roller 65) can be derived as soon as the placement becomes too large from a previously theoretically determined target position. Determining the placement also allows for the detection of errors that already occur upstream of the feed rollers 36 (e.g., insufficient web tension during material transport).

[0056] In the inlet area of ​​the mouthpiece 71, folding thumbs are located as upper guides 78 and lower guides 79, which serve to guide the pack 10 with the blank 67 laterally. Furthermore, the blank 67 is already pre-folded by these guides 78, 79 (see Fig. 9). If a different pack format (a taller pack) is to be used, the inlet opening of the mouthpiece 71 can be adjusted in height. This simultaneously adjusts the height of the upper guide 78 (also see Fig. 9).

[0057] During transport of the blanks 67, they are guided over vertical guide plates as holding means 76, which extend between the knife roller 65 and the transfer station 70 to the mouthpiece 71 (see Fig. 5 to Fig. 8). The purpose of these holding means 76 is, on the one hand, to guide or support the blank 67 so that it cannot sag between the holding elements 72. On the other hand, the static charges on the blanks 67 that arise during transport of the blanks are dissipated via these holding means 76 (which are in direct contact with the blank 67). The curved shape of the holding elements 72 and the holding means 76 assist in guiding the blanks 67 and in contacting the blank 67 with the holding means 76. Bulging of the blank 67 caused by the static charge can at least be greatly reduced in this way.

[0058] The holding means 76 are variably adjustable relative to each other, depending on the distance between the two holding elements 72 (depending on the blank width to be conveyed). However, the respective distance between the individual holding means 76 is preferably always kept constant using compression springs as spring means 77 (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8). This allows for a uniform distribution of the contact surfaces between the holding means 76 and the blank 67. The number of holding means 76 is also variable. This can vary depending on the blank properties (film thickness, blank width, blank length, etc.).

[0059] The holding means 76 are arranged in a fixed position on several axes 80, on which the spring means 77 are also arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding means 76 are mounted on three axes 80. A variant in which all holding means 76 are rotatably mounted on a common axis 80 is also conceivable, but not shown in the drawings.

[0060] The holding means 76 are preferably arranged parallel to one another. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, it can be provided that the holding means 76 have a course that diverges from one another in the conveying direction of the blanks 67. The diverging course can result in any wrinkles present in the blanks 67 being smoothed out during transport along the holding means 76. One possible way of constructively implementing such a diverging course can be to use different spring means 88 on the axes 80. For example, on an upstream axis 80, the distances between the holding means 76 can be smaller than in the region of a subsequent axis thanks to corresponding spring means 88, so that the diverging course is established.It is also conceivable that stronger spring means 88 are arranged on the upstream axis 80 only on the outside of the holding means 76, which compress the holding means 76.

[0061] Another possibility could be for the holding members 72 to be arranged in a divergent manner. This would increase the distance between the holding members 72 in the conveying direction, thereby pulling the blanks 67 taut. This would help reduce wrinkling and hold the blanks 67 to the holding means 76.

[0062] The separate drives of the cutting device 25 allow individual blanks 67 to be blocked within a machine cycle. This means that the drives are stopped and the blank 67 or the material web 26 is no longer conveyed. This blocking is particularly advantageous if a package 10 is missing from the infeed belt (e.g., previously rejected) and the pusher 43 would accordingly run an empty cycle. This prevents the unused blank 67 from ending up as scrap. Furthermore, the separate drive control makes it possible to separate the previously detected (splice sensor 34) double-layer splice points from the material web and reject them.

[0063] After the transfer of the pack 10 with the blank 67, the pack 10 is sealed in the sealing turret 44 according to a known principle, for example, according to the aforementioned EP 00 31 515 A1. For this purpose, several sealing stations 46 with heating jaws are provided, which are lowered onto the pack side during the rotation of the sealing turret 44 (see Fig. 4). Finally, the packs 10 are transported away and fed to the further processing step (see Fig. 2).

[0064] ***** List of reference symbols

[0065] 10 pack 42 inlet belt

[0066] 11 stowage belt 43 inserter

[0067] 12 transfer station 44 sealing turret

[0068] 13 Separation station 45 under-butterflies

[0069] 14 Turning wheel 46 Sealing station

[0070] 15 Conveyor 47 Infeed belt

[0071] 16 conveyor lines 48 vertical conveyors

[0072] 17 Holding device 49 Staple heater

[0073] 18 Equipment 50 Heating Cassettes

[0074] 19 Turning wheel 51 Discharge chute

[0075] 20 removal 52 railway plate

[0076] 21 Sensor 53 Upper Belt

[0077] 22 Sensor 54 Lower Belt

[0078] 23 Camera 55 Heating element

[0079] 24 Camera 56 Side heating

[0080] 25 Cutting device 57 Shrink heater

[0081] 26 Material web 58 Shrink heating

[0082] 27 Deflection pulley 59 Belt conveyor

[0083] 28 Bobine 60 Ejection station

[0084] 29 Tear-off thread 61 Ejector

[0085] 30 Loop box 62 Ejection chute

[0086] 31 Loop box 63 Push-off belt

[0087] 32 Ultrasonic sensor 64 Machine frame

[0088] 33 Print mark sensor 65 Knife roller

[0089] 34 Splice sensor 66 Handwheel

[0090] 35 Foil device 67 Cutting

[0091] 36 Feed roller 68 Protective cover

[0092] 37 U-knives 69 counter knives

[0093] 38 Thread position sensor 70 Transfer station

[0094] 39 Suction belt 71 Mouthpiece

[0095] 40 Suction box 72 Holding element

[0096] 41 Cutting unit 73 Suction air duct Suction hole Sensor Holding means Spring means Guide (upper) Guide (lower) Axis Servo motor

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device for handling blanks (67) for wrapping packages (10) for products of the cigarette industry, comprising a conveyor for transporting blanks (67) for wrapping in a conveying direction, and a transfer station (70) in which the blanks (67) are held in a, in particular upright, cutting plane, wherein the device is configured to transport packages (10) transversely to the conveying direction of the blanks (67) through the transfer station (70) and the held blanks (67), taking one held blank (67) with it each time through a package (10), and wherein the device is configured to place the blanks (67) in a U-shape around the packages (10) and then to connect the free ends of the respective blanks (67) together in such a way that the packages (10) are wrapped in the blanks (67) formed into a tube,and wherein the blanks (67) are held in the transfer station (70) in the area of ​​the lateral edges of the blanks (67) by means of suction against holding elements (72), in particular suction belts, characterized in that the blanks (67) are held in the area between the holding elements (72) by contact with holding means (76) in the cutting plane, wherein the holding means (76) are configured to dissipate electrostatic charges of the blanks (67).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (76) are formed from an electrically conductive material, preferably from a metallic material, in particular as guide plates.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several holding means (76) are arranged between the holding elements (72).

4. Device according to claim 3 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the number of holding means (76) is variable.

5. Device according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the distances between the holding means (76) are variably adjustable.

6. Device according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the distances between the holding means (76) are adjustable independently of the cutting width.

7. Device according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the distances of the holding means (76) to each other are adjustable depending on the distance of the holding elements (72).

8. Device according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that spring means (77) are arranged between adjacent holding means (76) in order to align the distances of the holding means (76) to each other.

9. Device according to claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that when the distance between the holding elements (72) is adjusted, the distance between the holding means (76) is maintained by uniform spring constants of the spring means (77) or that the distance between the holding means (76) is variable by different spring constants of the spring means (77).

10. Device according to claim 3 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting plane has a curved profile at least in the area of ​​the holding means (76), in particular convex with respect to the conveying direction of the packages (10).

11. Device according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a nozzle (71) is arranged in the conveying section of the packages (10) downstream of the transfer station (70), through which the packages (10) are transported together with the respective blank (67).

12. Device according to claim 11 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the mouthpiece (71) has upper guides (78) and lower guides (79) which are each arranged in the area of ​​opposite side surfaces of the packings (10).

13. Device according to claim 12 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the upper guides (78) are arranged adjustably relative to the lower guides (79) to adapt to the format of the packages (10).

14. Device according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the holding elements (72) is designed to diverge in the conveying direction, in particular at least in the transfer station (70).

15. Device according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (76) are arranged upstream of the transfer station (70) in the conveying direction of the blanks (67).

16. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining means (76) are arranged on at least one common axis (80), and that spring means (77) are arranged between adjacent retaining means (76) on at least one axis (80).

17. Device according to claim 16 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (76) are rotatably arranged on a common axis (80).

18. Device according to claim 16 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (76) are fixedly mounted on several axes (80).

19. Method for handling blanks (67) for wrapping packages (10) for cigarette industry products, wherein blanks (67) for wrapping are transported along a conveying path in one conveying direction. and wherein the blanks (67) are held in a transfer station (70) in a cutting plane, in particular an upright one, and wherein the packages (10) are transported transversely to the conveying direction of the blanks (67) through the transfer station (70) and the held blanks (67), taking one held blank (67) with them each time through a package (10), and wherein the blanks (67) are placed in a U-shape around the packages (10) and then free ends of the respective blanks (67) are connected to each other in such a way that the packages (10) are wrapped in the blanks (67) formed into a tube, wherein the blanks (67) are held in the transfer station (70) in the area of ​​the lateral edges of the blanks (67) by means of clamping holding elements (72), in particular suction belts, characterized in thatthat the blanks (67) are held in the cutting plane in the area between the holding elements (72) by contact with holding means (76), wherein the holding means (76) dissipate electrostatic charges of the blanks (67).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized by features of one or more of claims 1 to 18. *****

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