Method and apparatus for handling packs for products of the cigarette industry
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024711884
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-29
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for handling cigarette industry product packs often result in freshly glued folding flaps being subjected to shear loads when inserted into drying turrets, leading to displacement and malformation of packs due to adhesive connections not being fully set.
Conveying packs into an upright drying tower where folding flaps are brought together in a transfer station, allowing the adhesive connection to set without disruptive shear loads, and using fixed folding elements and belt conveyors to ensure gentle handling and proper alignment.
Prevents malformation of packs by allowing adhesive connections to set during transport in the drying tower, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the risk of defective packs entering the drying process.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024056795_03102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Method and device for handling packages for products of the cigarette industry
[0002] Description
[0003] The invention relates to a method for handling packs for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks of packaging material are folded on a folding turret around a pack content of the packs, and wherein the partially finished packs are discharged from the folding turret and conveyed along a transport path, and wherein folding flaps of the blanks are provided with adhesive and connected to one another in the region of the folding turret and / or the subsequent transport path, according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0004] Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device according to the preamble of claim 11.
[0005] Numerous variations of this type of method and device are known in practice. A common problem is ensuring the drying of freshly glued flaps or other pack components. For this purpose, a drying turret can be used, for example, in which the packs or their adhesive joints are dried during circulation. In practice, the packs are usually inserted into a pocket of the folding turret shortly after the last flaps have been joined (usually the flaps near the narrow side walls of the packs).
[0006] A disadvantage of this solution can be that the still fresh adhesive bonds have not yet set when the packs are inserted into the drying turret and the packs are subjected to corresponding shear loads during insertion, which can lead to displacement of the pack parts or folding flaps and thus to correspondingly malformed packs.
[0007] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further developing methods and devices of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular with regard to more gentle handling of the packages.
[0008] A method according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that the packs are conveyed from the transport section into a preferably upright drying tower, wherein the packs are conveyed in the drying tower transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the transport direction in the transport section along a drying section which extends along the drying tower, and wherein folding tabs of the blanks are brought into contact with one another in a transfer station during the transfer of the packs from the transport section into the drying section in order to form narrow side walls of the packs, so that the resulting adhesive bond of the folding tabs sets during the transport of the packs along the drying section.
[0009] In this way, the problem mentioned above is solved, at least for the folding flaps of the narrow side walls, which are usually joined last. The folding flaps are only joined immediately at the transfer station, where the transport direction ensures that no disruptive shear loads can occur.
[0010] Furthermore, it can be provided that the packs are moved past fixed folding elements when they are transferred from the transport section to the drying section, so that the folding flaps are brought together to form the narrow side walls.
[0011] An advantage of the fixed folding elements may be that no complex drive is required for active movement of the folding elements.
[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that the transfer station is arranged below the drying tower extending in the vertical direction, and that the packages are transferred from the transport section to the drying section by a lifting device.
[0013] As a further special feature, it can be provided that a device for lifting a pivotable lid of the packages is arranged in the transport path, with which the lids of the packages are opened (slightly).
[0014] This device can be used to prevent unwanted overlap between the lid and the front of the box.
[0015] Furthermore, it can be provided that an alignment station for the pivotable lids of the packages is arranged in the area of the drying tower or along the drying section, in which pressure is exerted on the lids and the bottom walls of the packages opposite the lids in the drying tower in such a way that the lids are closed again and the packages are aligned.
[0016] In this way, the lid opening formed in the transport section can be closed again later in the drying tower.
[0017] Another special feature can be that faulty packages are detected in the transport area and the transfer of the faulty packages to the drying section is suppressed, so that the faulty packages are not transferred to the drying tower, but instead are conveyed further along the transport line and subsequently disposed of.
[0018] This prevents faulty packages from entering the drying tower and taking up space.
[0019] Furthermore, it can be provided that the packages in the drying tower are transported by belt conveyors that are independent of the drive of the packages in the transport line, in particular by continuous slalom belts.
[0020] In this way, the belts can convey the packages independently of the transport route. Another special feature can be that the tension of the belt conveyors resting on opposite sides of the packages can be adjusted, particularly by adjusting the deflection rollers in the area of a preferably lower deflection of the belt conveyors.
[0021] In this way, the belt tension can be (finely) adjusted.
[0022] Furthermore, it can be provided that the speed of the belt conveyors is adapted to the feeding of the packages to the drying tower with the proviso that the packages are transported in a sealed position along the drying section.
[0023] It is conceivable, for example, that the speed of the belt conveyors is reduced when faulty packages are ejected from the transport route and / or that the speed of the belt conveyors is increased when packages pile up in the transport route.
[0024] A device according to the invention has the features of claim 11. It is accordingly provided that a preferably upright drying tower is arranged in the region of the transport path, wherein the packages in the drying tower can be conveyed transversely to the transport direction in the transport path along a drying path which extends along the drying tower, and wherein the device is designed to bring folding flaps of the blanks into contact with one another in a transfer station during the transfer of the packages from the transport path to the drying path in order to form narrow side walls of the packages, so that the resulting adhesive bond of the folding flaps sets during the transport of the packages along the drying path.
[0025] Furthermore, it can be provided that when the packs are transferred from the transport section to the drying section, they are moved past fixed folding elements in such a way that the folding flaps can be brought together to form abutment.
[0026] A special feature may be that the transfer station is located below the drying tower extending in the vertical direction and that the packages can be transferred from the transport section to the drying section by means of a lifting device.
[0027] It can also be provided that a device for lifting a pivotable lid of the packages is arranged in the transport path, which device is designed to (slightly) open the lids of the packages.
[0028] Preferably, a drive of the device for lifting the lid is coupled to a drive of the lifting device. This eliminates the need for an additional drive.
[0029] A special feature may be that an alignment station for the pivoting lids of the packages is arranged in the area of the drying tower or along the drying section, which is designed to exert pressure on the lids and the bottom wall of the packages opposite the lids in such a way that the lids are closed again and the packages are aligned.
[0030] Furthermore, it can be provided that the packages in the drying tower can be transported by belt conveyors that are independent of the drive of the packages in the transport line, in particular by continuous slalom belts.
[0031] In particular, it can be provided that the tension of the belt conveyors lying on opposite side surfaces of the packages is adjustable, in particular by adjusting deflection rollers in the region of a preferably lower deflection of the belt conveyors.
[0032] A special feature can be that a drive for the alignment station and a drive for the belt conveyor are coupled. This eliminates the need for an additional drive.
[0033] Furthermore, it can be provided that, following the alignment station, guide rails are arranged on opposite sides of the drying tower. These guide rails are designed to maintain the alignment of the packs achieved in the alignment station. Preferably, the guide rails serve not only to guide the packs but also as a breakage check, i.e., to verify proper pack formation.
[0034] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0035] Fig. 1 shows a first part of a schematic spatial representation of a part of a packaging machine for products of the cigarette industry,
[0036] Fig. 2 a second part of the packaging machine,
[0037] Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the second part of the packaging machine according to section line III - III in Fig. 2,
[0038] Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the second part of the packaging machine according to section line IV - IV in Fig. 3,
[0039] Fig. 5 shows a detail of the second part of the packaging machine as a side view according to arrow V in Fig. 2,
[0040] Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the second part of the packaging machine according to section line VI - VI in Fig. 4,
[0041] Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the second part of the packaging machine according to section line VII - VII in Fig. 6, and
[0042] Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a transport position of the second part of the packaging machine.
[0043] Figs. 1 and 2 show a schematic overview of a packaging machine 10 for cigarette industry products. For the purposes of this application, cigarette industry products 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. It is understood that the packaging machine 10 need not be limited to this intended use and can also be used to package other products.
[0044] A first section of the packaging machine 10 is shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, packaging material is drawn off two reels 12 as a continuous material web 11 for inner wrapping of the products, guided through a splicing unit 13, and then guided over several deflection rollers 14 through an embossing device 15, in which the material web is provided with embossing or the like. A web guider 16 is arranged upstream of the embossing device 15 and is used to align or center the material web.
[0045] The products - here, for example, cigarettes - are fed via a magazine 17 and ejected from there by means of a plunger 18 into pockets of a revolver 19.
[0046] To prevent the products from becoming sideways or jammed in the shafts of the magazine 17, a magazine wall 20 is set into vibration by a vibrating unit 21. The vibrations are transferred via the magazine wall 20 to the magazine 17 and thus to the products, for example to a filter side of the cigarettes. The products are pushed out of the pockets of the turret 19 as a group with the aid of drivers 22 of a conveyor 23 and conveyed along a transport track 24. Above the transport track 24 is a cutting unit 25, in which individual blanks for the inner wrapping are severed from the material web 11 coming from the embossing device 15. The blanks are then wrapped around the product group in a known manner to form the inner wrapping. The product group with the inner wrapping forms the pack contents.
[0047] Another component of the packaging is what are known as collars. The packaging material required for this is drawn off as a web of material from a (single) reel 27 and fed via deflection rollers 28 to a collar device 29. A pendulum is used to regulate the web tension. In the collar device 29, individual blanks are cut from the web of material and fed to a platform 30, from which the blanks, together with the products in the inner wrapping, are transferred into a pocket 31 of a folding turret 32. The structure of the folding turret 32 is known from the prior art. Partially erected blanks for an outer pack are inserted into pockets 31 that are evenly distributed around the circumference of the folding turret 32 and subsequently filled with the pack contents and collar via the platform 30. The blank is then folded around the pack contents and, partially completed, discharged from the folding turret 32.Further processing is shown in Fig. 2.
[0048] A blank magazine 33 is provided for feeding the blanks, with a blank feeder 34 and a light barrier 35, which can be used to monitor the fill level of the blank magazine 33. The blanks are removed individually from the magazine 33 via a blank extractor 36 and fed along a transport path above the folding turret 32. The blanks are fed to a bending station 38, where side flaps of the blanks are pre-formed during a brief downtime phase to reduce material-related restoring forces. The blanks are then fed to a coding roller 39 by means of a blank pusher 37. Codes can be applied to the blanks using the coding roller 39.Thereafter, embossing rollers 40 are used to emboss beads into the blanks, which can serve, for example, as stops for other blanks, and adhesive is applied to the blanks in a cold glue station 41 before the blanks are stamped into the pockets 31 of the folding turret 32 by means of a folding member 42.
[0049] Before the partially completed packs are discharged from the folding turret 32, they are checked for misalignment in a breakage control system 43. The breakage control system 43 functions like a height control device, stopping the machine and / or generating an error message in the event of collisions with parts of the pack.
[0050] The partially finished packs are transported along a conveyor line 44 with laterally protruding folding flaps for forming the pack's narrow side walls. Light barriers 45 arranged along the conveyor line check for the presence of the side flaps. The pack then passes through the work area of a so-called cap pusher 46, which slightly lifts or opens the pack lid in a conventional manner. The laterally protruding folding flaps are then coated with adhesive in a cold-glue station 47.
[0051] The packs are then conveyed upwards in a sealed position through a drying tower 48 and removed laterally at the upper end of the drying tower 48. In the drying tower 48, the lid is also aligned in a so-called cap alignment station 49. A light barrier 50 checks whether there are any packs below the drying tower 48 that can be lifted. This prevents gaps from forming in the pack flow in the drying tower 48.
[0052] At the end of the transport line 44, defective packages are removed in an ejection station
[0053] 51 discharged.
[0054] The details of the packaging machine components shown in Fig. 2 are described in detail below:
[0055] In the transport section 44, the packages 52 are transported in the longitudinal direction, namely lying flat on a conveyor belt 53. The packages
[0056] 52 are conveyed with the lid 54 in front, so that carriers 55 of the carrier belt 53 rest on the back of the packs 52.
[0057] With the aid of the cap slider 46, the lid 54 of the packs 52 is slightly lifted or opened. In the cold glue station 47 arranged downstream, glue nozzles 56 apply adhesive (cold glue) to the laterally projecting folding flaps 57 to form the narrow side walls of the packs 52.
[0058] As usual, the narrow side walls of the packs 52 are each formed by two folding tabs that are brought together in the plane of the narrow side widths. In this case, the inner folding tabs were folded into the plane of the narrow side walls on the folding turret 32 as usual, whereas the outer folding tabs 57 are folded into the plane of the narrow side walls only after the adhesive has been applied in the cold glue station 47, where they are brought into contact with the inner folding tabs. This takes place in the area of the drying tower 48. The drying tower 48 is arranged above the transport section 44 and extends in a vertical direction. By means of a lifting device 58, the packs 52 are lifted from the carrier belt 53 and introduced into the drying tower 48. This takes place in a transfer station 77 at the intersection point of the transport section 48 and the drying section 60.The lifting device 58 grasps the packages 52 individually in the area of a rear side as well as on opposite end and bottom walls.
[0059] When the packs 52 are fed to the drying tower 48, the folding flaps 57 are also applied. This occurs by moving the packs 52 past two stationary folding members 59 (Fig. 4). The folding flaps 57 are folded into the plane of the narrow side walls and brought into contact with the inner folding flaps already located there, where they are bonded. The adhesive then dries in a drying section 60 during the subsequent transport in the drying tower 48.
[0060] During the transport of the packages 52 in the drying tower 48 along the drying section 60, the packages 52 are transported in the area of the narrow side surfaces by belt conveyors 61. The belts of the belt conveyors 61 are each guided as slalom belts over a series of deflection rollers 62. The lower deflection rollers 62 can be adjusted via eccentric shafts to adjust the contact pressure of the belt conveyors 61.
[0061] In a cap alignment station 49, the packs 52 are subjected to pressure by two cap aligners 63 on opposite side surfaces, namely the end wall and the bottom wall. This closes the lids 54 of the packs 52, and aligns the packs 52 with respect to one another. Accordingly, the contact surfaces of the cap aligners 63 each extend over several packs 52 in the drying tower 48. The alignment achieved in this way is maintained by the packs 52 being pressed against two guide rails 64.
[0062] At the upper end of the drying tower 48, the packages 52 are transported away laterally after the adhesive bonds have set. A pusher unit 65 serves this purpose. The pusher unit 65 has a pusher 66, which, by means of a drive 67, either pushes the packages 52 to the left onto a pusher track 68 or pushes defective packages 52 to the right via a ramp 69 into a waste container (not shown).
[0063] For possible transport, the drying tower 48 is mounted so that it can be pivoted laterally. A pivot axis 70 serves this purpose, allowing the drying tower 48 to be pivoted into a transport position. In Figure 8, the transport position is indicated by dashed lines. In the transport position, the drying tower 48 rests on a support column 71 and can be bolted to it. For this purpose, the screw connections in the area of the push-off station as well as on both cross struts between the support column and the drying tower 48 are loosened, and the drying tower 48 is tilted by approximately 40°. The parts that must be removed for this process are shown in dash-dotted lines.
[0064] It should also be mentioned that the lifting lever 58 is mechanically coupled to the slider 46 (not shown).
[0065] If a defective package 52 is detected during transport on the transport line 44, it is possible to block the lifter 58. This is achieved by a pneumatic cylinder in the gearbox (not explicitly shown here), which suppresses the movement of the lifter 58 by extending a piston rod, so that the defective package is conveyed further along the transport line 44 by the carrier belt 53, passing under the drying tower 48 and into a waste container. Three consecutive blockings by the pneumatic cylinder, whose position is monitored by a sensor, result in a machine stop.
[0066] In the event of a discharge, a light barrier at the entrance of the drying tower 48 detects that no package 52 has been fed in, and the speed of the belt conveyors 61 is reduced accordingly, so that the next lifted package 52 can still come into direct contact with the previous package 52 in the drying tower 48. Conversely, the speed of the belt conveyors 61 can be increased in the event of a possible package jam.
[0067] During the lifting movement of the lifting device 58, the packs 52 are first guided against a stop 72 in the drying tower and then reach the vertical height of the cap alignment station, which, as described, serves as a double-sided aligner for the packs 52 and ensures that the lid 54 of the packs 52, which has been opened in the cardboard path, is closed again. Subsequently, the guide rails 64 arranged on both sides ensure that the packs 52 are moved so that they can be conveyed further in alignment and in contact with one another. In the event of a malfunction, the rails can be removed manually, thus eliminating the malfunction.
[0068] Figure 4 shows another sectional view of the drying tower 48. Here, two drive belts 73, 74 are visible, which are mechanically coupled to each other via a common axis 75 and driven by the same drive 76 (servo motor). While a first belt 73 ensures the movement of the cap aligners 63, a second belt 74 is responsible for driving the two vertical slalom belts 61.
[0069] Figures 6 and 7 show the lifting movement of the lifting device 58 in detail in a sectional view. It shows the moment when a package 52 is guided to the stop 72 and the folding tabs 57 are pressed against the package 52 by the folding members 59. The lid 54 is still slightly open here and is subsequently closed by the cap aligners 63, so that the packages 52 are moved from the belt conveyors 61 to the
[0070] Guide rails 64 can be conveyed.
[0071] *****
[0072] List of reference symbols
[0073] 10 Packaging machine 43 Breakage control
[0074] 11 Material web (inner wrapping) 44 Transport route
[0075] 12 Bobine 45 light barrier
[0076] 13 Splice unit 46 Cap slider
[0077] 14 Deflection roller 47 Cold glue station
[0078] 15 Embossing machine 48 Drying tower
[0079] 16 Web guide controller 49 Cap alignment station
[0080] 17 Magazine 50 Light barrier
[0081] 18 Ram 51 Ejection station
[0082] 19 Revolver 52 Pack
[0083] 20 Magazine wall 53 Carrier belt
[0084] 21 Vibrating unit 54 Lid
[0085] 22 drivers 55 drivers
[0086] 23 Conveyor 56 Glue nozzle
[0087] 24 Transport track 57 Folding flaps
[0088] 25 Cutting unit 58 Lifting device
[0089] 27 Bobine 59 Folding organ
[0090] 28 pulley 60 drying section
[0091] 29 Collar apparatus 61 Belt conveyor
[0092] 30 Stage 62 Pulley
[0093] 31 Bag 63 Cap aligner
[0094] 32 folding turret 64 guide rail
[0095] 33 Cutting magazine 65 Push-off unit
[0096] 34 cutting feeder 66 pusher
[0097] 35 Light barrier 67 Drive
[0098] 36 Cutting extractor 68 Push-off track
[0099] 37 Cutting slide 69 Ramp
[0100] 38 Bending station 70 Swivel axis
[0101] 39 Coding roller 71 Loading column
[0102] 40 Embossing roller 72 Stop
[0103] 41 Cold glue station 73 Drive belt
[0104] 42 Folding device 74 Drive belt axle drive transfer station
Claims
Patent claims 1. A method for handling packs (52) for products of the cigarette industry, wherein blanks of packaging material are folded on a folding turret (32) around a pack content of the packs (52), and wherein the partially finished packs (52) are discharged from the folding turret (32) and conveyed along a transport path (44), and wherein folding flaps of the blanks are provided with adhesive and connected to one another in the region of the folding turret (32) and / or the subsequent transport path (44), characterized in that the packs (52) are conveyed from the transport path (44) into a preferably upright drying tower (48), wherein the packs (52) are conveyed in the drying tower (48) transversely to the transport direction in the transport path (44) along a drying path (60) which extends along the drying tower (48),and wherein folding flaps (57) of the blanks are brought into contact with one another in a transfer station (77) for forming narrow side walls of the packs (52) during the transfer of the packs (52) from the transport section (44) to the drying section (60), so that the resulting adhesive bond of the folding flaps (57) sets during the transport of the packs (52) along the drying section (60).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packs (52) are moved past fixed folding members (59) during the transfer of the packs (52) from the transport section (44) to the drying section (60), so that the folding tabs (57) are brought into contact with one another to form the narrow side walls.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transfer station (77) is arranged below the drying tower (48) extending in the vertical direction, and in that the packages (52) are transferred from the transport section (44) into the drying section (60) by a lifting device.
4. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that in the transport path (44) a device (46) for lifting a pivotable lid (54) of the packages (52) is arranged, with which the lids (52) of the packages (52) are (slightly) opened.
5. Method according to claim 4 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the drying tower (48) or along the drying section (60) an alignment station for the pivotable lids (54) of the packages (52) is arranged, in which pressure is exerted on the lids (54) and the bottom walls of the packages (52) opposite the lids (54) in the drying tower (48) in such a way that the lids (54) are closed again and the packages (52) are aligned.
6. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that faulty packages (52) are detected in the region of the transport path (44) and the transfer of the faulty packages (52) to the drying path (60) is suppressed, so that the faulty packages (52) are not transferred to the drying tower (48), but instead are conveyed further along the transport path (44) and subsequently disposed of.
7. Method according to claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packages (52) in the drying tower (48) are transported by belt conveyors (61) which are independent of the drive of the packages (52) in the transport section (44), in particular by continuous slalom belts.
8. Method according to claim 7 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the tension of the belt conveyors (61) resting on opposite side surfaces of the packages (52) is adjustable, in particular by adjusting deflection rollers (62) in the region of a preferably lower deflection of the belt conveyors (61).
9. Method according to claim 7 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the speed of the belt conveyors (61) is adapted to the supply of the packages (52) to the drying tower (48) with the proviso that the packages (52) are transported along the drying section (60) in a sealed position.
10. Method according to claim 7 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the speed of the belt conveyors (61) is reduced when faulty packages (52) are ejected from the transport path (44), and / or that the speed of the belt conveyors (61) is increased when the packages (52) accumulate in the transport path (44).
11. A device for handling packs (52) for products of the cigarette industry, comprising a folding turret (32) for folding blanks of packaging material around a respective pack content of the packs (52), and comprising a transport path (44) following the folding turret (32) for transporting partially finished packs (52) following the folding turret (32), and comprising means for applying adhesive to folding flaps (57) of the blanks in the region of the folding turret (32) and / or the subsequent transport path (44), characterized in that a preferably upright drying tower (48) is arranged in the region of the transport path (44), wherein the packs (52) in the drying tower (48) can be conveyed transversely to the transport direction in the transport path (44) along a drying path (60) which extends along the drying tower (48), and wherein the device is designed tofolding flaps (57) of the blanks for forming narrow side walls of the packages (52) are brought into contact with one another in a transfer station (77) during the transfer of the packages (52) from the transport section (44) to the drying section (60), so that the resulting adhesive bond of the folding flaps (57) sets during the transport of the packages (52) along the drying section (60).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the packages (52) are moved past fixed folding members during the transfer of the packages (52) from the transport section (44) into the drying section (60) in such a way that the folding tabs (57) can be brought into contact with one another.
13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the transfer station (77) is arranged below the drying tower (48) extending in the vertical direction, and that the packages (52) can be transferred from the transport section (44) into the drying section (60) by a lifting device.
14. Device according to claim 11 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a device (46) for lifting a pivotable lid (54) of the packages (52) is arranged in the transport path (44), which device is designed to (slightly) open the lids (54) of the packages (52).
15. Device according to claim 13 and 14 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a drive of the device (46) for lifting the lid (54) is coupled to a drive of the lifting device (59).
16. Device according to claim 14 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the drying tower (48) or along the drying section (60) there is arranged an alignment station for the pivotable lids (54) of the packages (52), which is designed to exert pressure on the lids (54) and the bottom wall of the packages (52) opposite the lids in such a way that the lids (54) are closed again and the packages (52) are aligned.
17. Device according to claim 11 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the packages (52) in the drying tower (48) can be transported by belt conveyors (61) which are independent of the drive of the packages (52) in the transport section (44), in particular by continuous slalom belts.
18. Device according to claim 17 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the tension of the belt conveyors (61) resting on opposite side surfaces of the packages (52) is adjustable, in particular by adjusting deflection rollers (62) in the region of a preferably lower deflection of the belt conveyors (61).
19. Device according to claim 16 and 17 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a drive of the alignment station and a drive of the belt conveyor (61) are coupled.
20. Device according to claim 16 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that following the alignment station Guide rails (64) are arranged on opposite sides of the drying tower (48) and are designed to maintain the alignment of the packs (52) achieved in the alignment station.
21. Device according to claim 11 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that sensors (50) for folding tabs (57) of the packages (52) are arranged in the transport path, which sensors are designed to check the presence and / or the orientation of certain folding tabs (57).
22. Device according to claim 11 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the drying tower (48) can be tilted laterally by means of a pivoting mechanism, in particular by an angle of 30° to 50°, preferably by about 40°. *****