Bundle Pack Coding Station with Label Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bundle packs, particularly cigarette packs, often have their coding inadvertently read instead of the bundle pack's coding due to transparent outer wrapping, leading to incorrect pricing calculations during sales.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a conveyor system with coding and testing stations where bundle packs are rotated to facilitate the application of codes or labels on the outer wrapping, ensuring the bundle pack's coding is visible while concealing the individual pack's coding, using either printed codes directly on the wrapping or separate blanks, and incorporating a testing station to verify correct coding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If transparent outer wrapping is used for bundle packs, then the individual packs and their codes are visible and readable through the wrapping, but this leads to accidental reading of individual pack codes instead of the bundle pack code, causing incorrect pricing calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic element (individual pack codes) from the visible area by placing a covering element (blank or label) over the transparent wrapping in the code reading area. This removes the source of the problem while maintaining the transparency and visibility benefits of the wrapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (a blank or label with the bundle pack code) that is placed between the transparent wrapping and the code reading area. This intermediary covers the individual pack codes while displaying the correct bundle pack code, preventing misreading.
2Loss of information
If a covering element (blank or label) is added to cover individual pack codes, then correct pricing is enabled, but this increases production complexity and requires additional coding stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated coding station that performs both the application of covering elements (blanks or labels) and the coding of the bundle pack information. This merging reduces the number of separate equipment pieces needed and simplifies the overall production line.
Solution Approach 2:
The coding station is designed with multi-functionality, capable of both applying covering elements to transparent wrapping and printing/coding the bundle pack information on these elements. This universal equipment reduces device complexity compared to having separate dedicated machines for each function.
3Loss of substance
If continuous strips of material are used for blanks or labels, then material waste is minimized, but this requires additional equipment for cutting and applying the continuous strips to each package
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares continuous strips of material in advance with pre-printed codes or pre-attached blanks, so that during the coding process, the material is already ready for application. This preliminary preparation reduces waste by optimizing material usage while the automated system handles the cutting and applying efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing bundle packages, particularly bundle packages (10) for cigarettes (cigarette carton 11), wherein a group of packets (12), particularly cigarette packets, are enveloped in an exterior encasement (13) to form the bundle package (10), and wherein the packets (12) each exhibit a code (19), particularly a bar code, and the group of packets (12) are enveloped in the exterior encasement (13) such that the code (19) of the packets (12) is not covered by the exterior encasement (13) and that a means (20, 23) for covering the coding of the packets (12), particularly a pre-cut piece (20) such as an (adhesive) label, and a code (21) for the bundle package (10) are then arranged on the bundle package (10). According to the invention, the bundle package (10) is fed to a coding station (30) for application of the code (21) for the bundle package (10) on the exterior encasement (13) and/or for application of the means (20, 23) for covering the coding (19) of the packets (12), wherein the bundle package (10) is transported by a cyclically driven conveyor (27) at least in the region of the coding station (30) and/or the means (20, 23) for covering are applied during a brief standstill of the conveyor (27) in the coding station (30). The invention furthermore relates to a device for executing the method and a bundle package.