Method and device for handling a continuous material web for producing blanks for packets for products of the cigarette industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for handling a continuous material web (14) for producing blanks (15) for packets for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks (15) are separated from the continuous material web (14) and are processed in a packaging machine (39) for products of the cigarette industry. According to the invention, the continuous material web (14) is printed inline.

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Method and device for handling a continuous material web for the production of blanks for packaging for products of the cigarette industry

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a method for handling a continuous material web for the production of blanks for packaging for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks are separated from the continuous material web and processed in a packaging machine for products of the cigarette industry, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device according to the preamble of claim 18.

[0006] The market is increasingly demanding that the external appearance of cigarette packaging can be easily and quickly adapted to meet different customer preferences and / or country-specific requirements. This is generally accompanied by a need for processes and devices that enable rapid brand change.

[0007] When packaging of a specific brand is produced, the corresponding packaging materials must also be provided. This means that with frequent brand changes, the reels or blanks must be replaced repeatedly. This is complex and costly. Purchase quantities are also smaller and more expensive than with production where the product remains unchanged. Frequent brand changes also lead to errors and require readjustments to the device components. Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further developing methods and devices of the type mentioned above or at least adding further solutions to the state of the art.

[0008] A method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that the continuous material web is printed inline.

[0009] In the context of this application, "inline" means that the processing step must essentially be aligned with the cycle or speed of the machine, i.e., it takes place only in parallel or with only a slight time offset from the other processing steps involved in the overall process. Therefore, "inline" does not include processing of the material web during the (spatially separate) production of the material web. "Inline" is understood, in particular, to mean that the processing step takes place "on-site" during the processing of the material web, i.e., in direct connection with, in the immediate vicinity of, or directly in the packaging machine.

[0010] Preferably, the continuous material web is guided from a reel to a printing device for printing the continuous material web, which printing device is arranged above the packaging machine.

[0011] The printing device is therefore located above the packaging machine. This solution has the advantage of requiring less floor space, thus reducing the device's footprint.

[0012] Preferably, the continuous material web is cleaned before it is printed in the printing device.

[0013] Removing contaminants (e.g. from storage) can improve print quality.

[0014] It is preferably provided that the width of the continuous material web drawn off from a reel corresponds to a multiple of the width of the material web processed in the packaging machine, wherein the continuous material web drawn off from the reel is printed over a width which corresponds to a multiple of the width of the material web processed in the packaging machine, and that it is preferably provided that the continuous material web is divided in the longitudinal direction after printing in order to produce the material web to be processed in the packaging machine.

[0015] This solution offers numerous advantages. Only one printing unit is required, allowing the system layout to be kept small. Furthermore, the web speed during printing is reduced, which has a positive impact on print quality.

[0016] Preferably, it is provided that the continuous material web is fed to the printing device, which is arranged in a preferably air-conditioned chamber separate from the packaging machine, in particular together with other elements associated with the printing of the material web, such as a drying device and a control device.

[0017] The printing device places greater demands on the environment (dirt, temperature, etc.) than packaging machines, and therefore could not previously be installed in close proximity to them. The chamber ensures consistent environmental conditions for the sensitive printing process, resulting in improved print quality.

[0018] It is preferably provided that the continuous material web is fed to a drying device after printing, in which the continuous material web is subjected to heat on one side and cooled on the other side.

[0019] By applying heat, the cooling distance can be shortened. Cooling from the rear results in minimal warping of the material web caused by the heat applied to the front.

[0020] Preferably, it is provided that the continuous material web is guided in the drying device over deflection rollers, all of which are driven, so that the continuous material web is guided through the drying device in web loops, wherein the length of the individual web loops is monitored by a length sensor and controlled in such a way that all web loops have the same length.

[0021] Preferably, the material webs separated from the printed continuous material web are fed to a splicer and joined together.

[0022] Preferably, it is provided that individual material webs separated from the printed continuous material web are fed upstream of the splicer to a web storage device until the material webs are joined in the splicer.

[0023] An advantage of this solution can be that a continuous web can be created by storing and connecting the material webs.

[0024] It is preferably provided that when cutting blanks from the continuous material web for the production of (tobacco) pouches, the necessary separating cuts are made in such a way that the splice points created by joining the material webs in the splicer are arranged in the area of ​​later pouch (transverse) seams.

[0025] One advantage of this solution is that the splice does not need to be disposed of, but is included in the packaging. This eliminates the need for cycle interruption due to the splice ejection that would otherwise be necessary.

[0026] Preferably, the end and beginning of the web of material webs to be joined are butt-connected to one another, in particular by welding.

[0027] Preferably, it is provided that, particularly in the event of malfunctions, the material web is stored in a web storage device following the splicer and can be fed from the storage device to the further packaging process if required.

[0028] One advantage of this solution is that the printing device can continue running smoothly even in the event of a malfunction, eliminating any quality losses due to a machine stoppage. After the printing process is complete, this reel can be unwound and fed into the packaging process. Thus, the entire material web is used up and does not need to be disposed of.

[0029] Preferably, it is provided that the material web coming from the splicer is at least partially folded onto itself by a folding switch, wherein it is provided that the web storage or the feed to the web storage is arranged upstream of the folding switch.

[0030] An advantage of this solution can be that the web does not have to be wound up as a double layer in the accumulator, which ensures an even distribution of the web on the bobbin.

[0031] It is preferably provided that the continuous material web is printed on both sides, wherein the corresponding printing devices for each side of the material web are arranged one above the other.

[0032] Preferably, a film web or a paper web is used as the continuous material web.

[0033] It is preferably provided that the continuous material web is printed immediately before processing in the packaging machine, wherein the continuous material web is processed blank, i.e. in particular has no printing, or is only partially printed.

[0034] It is preferably provided that blanks are printed immediately before processing in the packaging machine, wherein the blanks are processed blank, i.e. in particular have no printing, or are only partially printed.

[0035] A device according to the invention has the features of claim 18. Accordingly, the device is provided with a printing device with which the continuous material web is printed inline. Preferably, the printing device is arranged above the packaging machine. The advantages of this solution were mentioned above.

[0036] It is preferably provided that the printing device is arranged in a preferably air-conditioned chamber separate from the packaging machine, in particular together with other elements associated with the printing of the material web, such as a drying device and a control device, the chamber being arranged above the packaging machine.

[0037] Preferably, for the double-sided printing of the continuous material web, two printing devices are provided for each side of the material web, which are arranged one above the other.

[0038] Preferably, the processing of the printed, continuous material web or the blanks produced therefrom is carried out in line with the printing or at right angles to it.

[0039] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0040] Fig. 1 a bag for products of the cigarette industry made of a single-sided printed material web,

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a bag made of a double-sided printed material web,

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a sealing block for products of the

[0043] Cigarette industry in spatial schematic representation,

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a sealing block for products of the

[0045] Cigarette industry in a spatial schematic representation, Fig. 5 a first embodiment of the production of bags from single-sided printed material web in a schematic spatial representation,

[0046] Fig. 6 is a side view of the device according to Fig. 5,

[0047] Fig. 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of the

[0048] Production of bags from double-sided printed material web in a representation analogous to Fig. 6,

[0049] Fig. 8 shows a vertical section through the device along section line VIII -

[0050] VIII in Fig. 8,

[0051] Fig. 9 shows a third embodiment of the production of sealing blocks from single-sided printed material web in a schematic spatial representation, and

[0052] Fig. 10 is a side view of the device according to Fig. 9.

[0053] The invention is described below using packaging for products of the cigarette industry. For the purposes of this 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. Another product of the cigarette industry is (loose) tobacco packaged in pouches.

[0054] Fig. 1 shows a (tobacco) pouch 10 designed as a so-called wrap-around pouch. (Longitudinal and transverse) seams 11 are formed by sealing the material of the pouch 10. A pocket 12 of the pouch 10 is intended to hold the contents of the pack, namely tobacco in this case. On a front side of the pocket 12 is a print 13, e.g., a warning.

[0055] The bag 10 according to Fig. 1 is made from a single-sided printed film, which is processed as a continuous material web 14, from which blanks 15 for the bags 10 are cut out. Bags 10 are formed from the blanks 15 in a known manner and are filled in a conventional manner.

[0056] Fig. 2 shows a variant of the bag 10 according to Fig. 1, in which the film is printed on both sides. In addition to the print 13 on the front of the pocket 12, a further print 13 is provided on the inside of the lid flap 16 of the bag 10. In this case, the prints 13 are not warnings, but advertising imprints.

[0057] Figs. 3 and 4 show packs for cigarettes. More specifically, Figs. 3 and 4 show inner packs 17 with sealed seams, i.e. a so-called sealing block. In use, the inner pack 17 is arranged in an outer pack (not shown), for example an outer pack as a hinge-lid pack. In the region of a rear side of the inner packs 17, a seam is designed as a fin seam 18. In the region of narrow sides of the inner pack 17 according to Fig. 3, the seams are formed by a sealed envelope fold 19. In the region of narrow sides of the inner pack 17 according to Fig. 4, the seams are formed by a fin seam 18, as on the rear side.

[0058] In both cases, an (opening) label 20 is formed at least in the area of ​​a front side and an end side of the inner package 17, which is delimited by incisions 21 and perforations 22 in the material of the inner package 17. A print 13 is located below the label 20. As shown in Fig. 3, the print 13 can also be provided in the area of ​​the label 20.

[0059] During the production of the inner pack 17, a blank 15 is cut out of a continuous web 14 of suitable packaging material and wrapped around the pack contents, in this case the group of cigarettes, in a conventional manner.

[0060] Fig. 5 and 6 show schematically the production of bags 10 according to Fig. 1:

[0061] Accordingly, the material web 14 for producing the blanks 15 for the bags 10 is pulled off one or more reels 23 and cleaned in a cleaning device 24 so that contaminants cannot impair the subsequent printing.

[0062] The material web 14 then enters a climate-controlled chamber 25 where printing takes place. In successive stations, a primer is first applied in a station 26, followed by printing in a printing device 27, and finally, the print 13 is fixed, for example, by means of an applied sealing layer, in a station 28.

[0063] This is followed by a drying chamber 29 with a heater 30. The material web 14 is guided into loops over driven deflection rollers 31 and heated in the front area by the heater 30. The back is cooled by cooling surfaces 66. The material web 14 rests there on one side because a suction air blower 52 arranged below creates a vacuum. In this way, the heat supply shortens the cooling distance, while the rear-side cooling reduces the risk of warping of the material web 14. The cooling principle is analogous to a loop storage system.

[0064] A length sensor monitors and controls the respective web loops so that they have a common length in the drying chamber 29. This ensures that the material web 14 travels the maximum possible drying distance and is not guided unevenly through the chutes. Furthermore, an optional infrared dryer 32 can be provided. The printing 13 can then be inspected in an inspection station 33. If the printed image does not meet the expected quality, it can be discarded after a subsequent splicer 37.

[0065] Following the drying chamber 9, the now printed material web 14 is transported through a feed roller 34 and the material web 14 is separated in a cutting station 35. Fig. 5 shows that the material web 14 has a width up to the cutting station 35 which corresponds to a multiple of a corresponding width of the blanks 15. In the cutting station, the material web 14 is therefore separated longitudinally, so that several (here three) material webs 14 are created whose width corresponds to the width of the blanks 15. The material webs 14 are then guided through a web storage 36 and then joined together in a splicer 37. The material webs 14 which are not currently being fed further are fed to the web storage 36 until they are processed.

[0066] The splices created in the splicer 37 are positioned so that they are located within the finished bag 10 at the level of a transverse seam and thus laterally next to the pocket 12. The overlap of the material webs 14 in the splice must be less than twice the width of the lateral seam 11. In this way, the splices do not cause interference and do not need to be disposed of, thus saving material. Furthermore, no interruption of the production cycle is required to eject the splice. Another conceivable option would be to join the material webs 14 by butt-welding the beginning and end of the web. This joint then also does not need to be disposed of as a double layer. Nevertheless, a waste container 53 for sections of the material web 14 to be disposed of is located below the splicer 37.

[0067] Following the splicer 37, the printed material web 14 can be fed to a storage reel 38 so that it does not have to be disposed of in the event of a malfunction in the downstream packaging machine 39. The printed material web 14 is then folded onto itself by means of a folding gate 40 to form the bag 10. The at least partially double-layered material web 14 is then fed to the packaging machine 39.

[0068] Particularly when looking at Fig. 6, it is noticeable that the system is arranged on two levels. The packaging machine 39 stands on a floor 41, and the chamber 25 with the printing device 27 and the subsequent stations and components up to and including the splicer 37 are located above the packaging machine 39 on a level formed by a platform floor 42. The upper level is also enclosed laterally by a handrail 43. The reel 23 is also located on the lower level adjacent to or to the side of the packaging machine 39. The cleaning device extends at the transition between the two levels.

[0069] The double-layer material web 14 is deflected by a deflection roller 44 and transported by a feed roller 45. A zip strip for the bags 10 is fed from a reel 46 and attached to the material web 14 in an (ultrasonic) welding station 47. Following a web edge control 48, the (transverse) seams 11 are (ultrasonic) sealed in a timed sealing station 49. The thus-processed material web 14 is transported further by a further feed roller 50, and in a separating station 51, individual blanks 15 for the bags 10 are separated and transported further to a filling station (not shown).

[0070] Figs. 7 and 8 show a variant of the device according to Figs. 5 and 6 for the production of bags 10 from double-sided printed material web 14. For this purpose, a second chamber 54 with stations 26, 27, and 28 and a second drying chamber 55 are provided in the lower level below the platform floor 42. Functionally, this corresponds to the chamber 25 and the drying chamber 29 in the upper level. The chambers 25, 29, 54, and 55 can be connected to one another, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, or separate. A cleaning device 24 is also provided.

[0071] Since space on the lower level is limited in the variant shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the layout was slightly adjusted. The packaging machine 39 is arranged at right angles to the material flow in the preceding stations. However, it is also conceivable that in this embodiment, the packaging machine 39 is arranged in line with the preceding stations, as is the case in Figs. 5 and 6. Likewise, in the solution shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the packaging machine 39 can also be arranged at right angles to the material flow to the preceding stations.

[0072] Instead of processing a film web, it is also possible to process a paper web to produce a sealing block according to Fig. 3 and 4. Such a solution is shown in Fig. 9 and 10.

[0073] The structure of the device largely corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are used. Only after the splicer 37 is the handling of the printed material web 14 adapted as follows:

[0074] Following the splicer 37, the material web 14 is glued by means of a contact glue nozzle

[0075] 63 is provided with a one-sided coating, which is then dried in a subsequent dryer 64. The material web 14 is then twisted 56 and, after being deflected onto a horizontal transport path, is first embossed in an embossing station 57 and then provided with material weakenings in a creasing station 58. In a cutting station 59, the label 20 is produced from the material web 14 itself. For this purpose, an edge of the material web 14 is then cut off and placed on the remaining material web 14. Appropriate glue is then applied to the remaining material web 14 using a glue nozzle 65. Alternatively, a separate label can of course also be used. After the material web 14 has been wrapped around the cigarette block (with tray if necessary) (folding switch 60) and welded (welding station 61), the sealing block can be fed to a hinge lid packer.In this case, this is done via a deflection conveyor 62 with a 90° deflection, creating an L-shaped layout. An alternative, of course, would also be conceivable.

[0076] List of reference symbols

[0077] 10 bags 42 platform floor

[0078] 11 Seam 43 Handrail

[0079] 12 Pocket 44 Pulley

[0080] 13 Printing 45 Feed roller

[0081] 14 Material track 46 Bobine (Zip)

[0082] 15 Cutting 47 Welding station

[0083] 16 Cover flap 48 Web edge control

[0084] 17 Inner pack 49 Sealing station

[0085] 18 Fin seam 50 Feed roller

[0086] 19 Envelope folding 51 Separation station

[0087] 20 Label 52 Suction air blower

[0088] 21 Incision 53 Waste container

[0089] 22 perforation 54 chamber

[0090] 23 Bobine (material web) 55 Drying chamber

[0091] 24 Cleaning device 56 Twist

[0092] 25 Chamber 57 Embossing station

[0093] 26 station (primer) 58 creasing station

[0094] 27 Printing device 59 Cutting station

[0095] 28 Station (Fixing) 60 Folding Switch

[0096] 29 Drying chamber 61 Welding station

[0097] 30 Heating 62 Deflection conveyor

[0098] 31 Deflection rollers 63 Contact glue nozzle

[0099] 32 infrared dryers 64 dryers

[0100] 33 Control station 65 Glue nozzle

[0101] 34 Feed roller 66 Cooling surfaces

[0102] 35 cutting stations

[0103] 36 railway storage facilities

[0104] 37 Splicers

[0105] 38 storage reels

[0106] 39 packaging machine

[0107] 40 folding switch

[0108] 41 Floor

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for handling a continuous material web (14) for producing blanks (15) for packaging for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks (15) are separated from the continuous material web (14) and processed in a packaging machine (39) for products of the cigarette industry, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is printed inline.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is guided from a reel (23) to a printing device (27) for printing the continuous material web (14), which is arranged above the packaging machine (39).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is cleaned before it is printed in the printing device (27).

4. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the continuous material web (14) drawn off from a reel (23) corresponds to a multiple of the width of the material web (14) processed in the packaging machine (39), wherein the continuous material web (14) drawn off from the reel (23) is printed over a width which corresponds to a multiple of the width of the material web (14) processed in the packaging machine (39), and that it is preferably provided that the continuous material web (14) is divided in the longitudinal direction after printing in order to produce the material web (14) to be processed in the packaging machine (39).

5. Method according to claim 2 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is fed to the printing device (27) which is arranged in a preferably air-conditioned chamber (25, 54) separate from the packaging machine (39), in particular together with further elements which are connected to the Printing of the material web (14), such as drying device (29, 55) and control device (33).

6. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is fed after printing to a drying device (29, 55) in which the continuous material web (14) is subjected to heat on one side and cooled on the other side.

7. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is guided in the drying device (29, 55) over deflection rollers, all of which are driven, so that the continuous material web (14) is guided in web loops through the drying device (29, 55), the length of the individual web loops being monitored by a length sensor and controlled such that all web loops have the same length.

8. Method according to claim 4 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the material webs (14) separated from the printed continuous material web (14) are fed to a splicer (37) and joined together.

9. Method according to claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that individual material webs (14) separated from the printed continuous material web (14) are fed upstream of the splicer to a web storage device (36) until the material webs (14) are joined in the splicer (37).

10. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that when cutting off blanks (15) from the continuous material web (14) for the production of (tobacco) pouches (10), the required separating cuts are made in such a way that the splice points created by joining the material webs (14) in the splicer (37) are arranged in the region of later pouch (transverse) seams (11).

11. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the web end and web start of material webs (14) to be joined are butt-connected to one another, in particular by welding.

12. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that, in particular in the event of faults, the material web (14) is stored in a web storage (38) following the splicer (37) and can be fed from the storage (38) to the further packaging process if required.

13. Method according to claim 12 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the material web (14) coming from the splicer (37) is at least partially folded onto itself by a folding switch (40), wherein it is provided that the web storage (38) or the feed to the web storage (38) are arranged upstream of the folding switch (40).

14. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is printed on both sides, the corresponding printing devices (27) for each side of the material web (14) being arranged one above the other.

15. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a film web or a paper web is used as the continuous material web (14).

16. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the continuous material web (14) is printed immediately before processing in the packaging machine (39), wherein the continuous material web (14) is processed blank, that is to say in particular has no printing, or is only partially printed.

17. Method in particular according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that blanks (15) are printed immediately before processing in the packaging machine (39), wherein the blanks (15) are processed blank, i.e. in particular have no printing or are only partially printed.

18. Device for handling a continuous material web (14) for the production of blanks (15) for packaging for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks (15) are separated from the continuous material web (14) and processed in a packaging machine (39) for products of the cigarette industry, characterized in that the device has a printing device (27) with which the continuous material web (14) is printed inline.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the printing device (27) is arranged above the packaging machine (39).

20. Device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the printing device (27) is arranged in a preferably air-conditioned chamber (25, 54) separate from the packaging machine (39), in particular together with further elements which are related to the printing of the material web (14), such as a drying device (29, 55) and a control device (33), the chamber (25) being arranged above the packaging machine (39).

21. Device according to claim 18 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that for the double-sided printing of the continuous material web (14) two printing devices are provided for each side of the material web (14), which are arranged one above the other.

22. Device according to claim 18 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the processing of the printed, continuous material web (14) or the blanks (15) produced therefrom takes place in alignment with the printing or at right angles thereto.

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