Abstract: A valve for controlling flowing media, in particular suction air used in connection with suction heads or the like, in which closing diaphragms (17, 18) made from elastically deformable material are disposed within a valve housing (10) and are subjected to the action of compressed air via actuating lines (14, 15) in the closing or blocking direction, such that when each diaphragm (17, 18) moves into an open position, a subatmospheric pressure is generated on the side ling opposite the closing side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for diagnosing machines (10) for manufacturing products such as cigarettes (12) or cigarette packets (11), the products being examined for faults, and a signal indicating a faulty product being generated. The invention is based on the problem of improving the diagnosis. In order to solve this problem, the method according to the invention is characterized in that the fault-indicating signal (46) is evaluated for possible periodicity of faulty products (11, 12), and a possible periodicity is determined. For this purpose, the device according to the invention has an appropriately constructed control device (27a).

Abstract: Device for filling cartons (11) by inserting a group—filler group (19)—of small packs, pouches (10), into the carton (11), which is open at the top. The filler group (19) of pouches (10) corresponds to one layer (20) in the carton (11). A special filling conveyor (25) conveys the filler group (19) into the carton (11) and lays the pouches down one after another, forming a layer (20).

Abstract: In the handling of cigarettes in the region of a cigarette-packaging machine or the like, the first filling operation of containers, conveying sections and cigarette magazine (12) is problematic because the cigarettes (21) are conveyed largely under their own weight during operation of the installation. In order to avoid impairment of the cigarettes as the installation is filled therewith, the containers, conveying sections and the cigarette magazine are assigned supporting and guide elements which are moved downwards or horizontally within the (empty) spaces in accordance with the filling operation, with the result that the cigarettes pass into the corresponding space with support and guidance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking that batches of cigarettes are complete and that the cigarettes are sufficiently filled. In spite of careful manufacturing, when cigarettes are produced and batches of cigarettes are filled in cigarette packs (11) using high-performance machines, it is possible that some of the packs of cigarettes manufactured have cigarettes missing or contain cigarettes which are not sufficiently filled with tobacco. The invention provides an improved, non-contact method of checking the batches of cigarettes or the individual cigarettes. According to this method, the intensity signal of a CCD camera or a CCD-line-scanning chip in subareas of the front ends (24) of the cigarettes and/or the spaces between them is measured and analysed in the front end area of the batch of cigarettes.

Abstract: A hinge-lid box for cigarettes has a box part (10) and lid (11). A lid front wall (19) and a box front wall (15) form closing edges which are located opposite each other, specifically a lid closing edge (34) and an opposing closing edge (35). The closing edges (34, 35) are arranged at a distance from each other in such a way that, in the region of a field of view or a gap (40) which assumes different shapes, a sub-area of a collar (28), specifically a collar front wall (29), is visible.

Abstract: During the production of cigarette packs having an inner wrapper of thin packaging material, the blank (10) of the inner wrapper is provided with impressed lines, namely transverse impressed lines (19, 20) which delimit a base wall (11) which is first contacted by a cigarette group (23) when the latter is wrapped in a U-shaped manner. By virtue of the impressed lines (19, 20), the mechanical load forces exerted on the cigarette group during the U-shaped folding process is reduced. Furthermore, a cigarette conveyor (25) for transferring the cigarette groups (23) is driven in a non-uniform manner, i.e. at reduced speed, when receiving a blank (10), and at a correspondingly greater speed during other conveying operations.

Abstract: The invention proposes measures for controlling a production and packaging system for cigarettes such that a certain number of cigarettes (batch) of a certain brand or design are produced and the system is then switched off. This is based on a quantity which is to be produced, that is to say a specified quantity. Taking account of the actually occurring defective production at individual production units and subassemblies, the overall production requirement is determined and produced accordingly and packaging material is made available to the individual production units.

Abstract: The hinge-lid box is accompanied by a printing carrier or coupon (38), which is arranged within the hinge-lid box in a position which is favorable from the point of view of production and for handling the hinge-lid box. For this purpose, the coupon (38) has a leg (41) which is directed toward a lid front wall (17) on the inside. Said leg is in form-fitting engagement with a lid inner tab (39), which is likewise arranged on the inside of the lid front wall (17). When the lid (11) is opened, the coupon is partially pulled out of the hinge-lid box or of a box part (10) of the same.

Abstract: In order to improve the outer appearance of (cigarette) packs (10) of the hinge-lid-box type, said packs, once an outer wrapper (13) has been provided and sealed, are conveyed through a shrinking station (26) and subjected to the action of heat in the region of the large-surface-area pack sides, in particular in the region of upwardly directed front sides. For this purpose, heating plates (32, 33) are positioned in the region of the shrinking station (26) and transmit heat to the upwardly directed surfaces of the packs (10).

Abstract: During the production of cuboid-shaped packages, in particular bundle packages made of thin cardboard, it is necessary to form sharp-edged package edges (44, 45), namely those having a right-angled cross-section. This is ensured by means of a folding aid, namely by edge supports (40, 41), around which the folding flaps (27, 28) are folded to form the package edges (44, 45). The edge supports (40, 41) are retracted from their supporting position after folding is completed and the package is finished.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of, and to a device for, checking cigarettes (12) during the production or packaging of the cigarettes (12), a push rod (35) being displaced axially in the direction of a cigarette end, with the result that, in the event of the incorrect formation or absence of a cigarette (12), the push rod (35) assumes a position other than an ideal position. The invention is based on the problem of improving the operation of checking cigarettes and of configuring this operation such that it is less susceptible to malfunctioning. This problem is solved by a method according to the invention in that an electric, magnetic or electromagnetic field assigned to a sensor (32, 53) is influenced in dependence on the position of the push rod (35), a signal which corresponds to the push-rod position being generated as a result of said field being influenced. The invention also relates to a device for implementing said method.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing markings, in particular printing, on a material web (11) for producing blanks (10), the material web (11) is stopped temporarily, with the result that a printing unit (34) can provide the marking or printing. In order to ensure that the marking is positioned precisely in each case, the relative positioning between the material web (11) and printing unit (34) is controlled by a printed-mark reader (37), which is assigned to the printing unit (34). In the case of incorrect positioning, the material web (11) is moved, for correction purposes, in the conveying direction or counter to this until the correct relative positioning is achieved.

Abstract: Pack units comprising a (cigarette) pack, in particular hinge-lid box (10), and an outer wrapper (24) made of thin, transparent film are assigned a printing carrier (30) which is arranged between the hinge-lid box (10) and outer wrapper (24), to be precise with (zigzag) folding. The printing carrier (30) is positioned in the region of an end wall (22) such that automatic unfolding takes place when the outer wrapper (24) is opened.

Abstract: For removing blanks (10) from a blanks magazine (14, 15) a transfer roller (18, 19) is employed which grips the blank (10) with a suction head (20) and takes it along its circumference. The transfer roller (18, 19) must be moved back and forth along a linear path of movement below the blanks magazine (14, 15) by rotating about its own axis. This movement is driven by a crank gear —crank arm (24) and strut (26) —which are directly, i.e. by means of a swivel arm (28), connected to the transfer roller (18, 19). A differential gear (23) acts to produce a linear movement of the transfer rollers (18, 19).

Abstract: In configuring soft packs for cigarettes from a single (-piece) blank, firstly, in the region of a base wall, a material reinforcement is formed by double-layered arrangement of the blank. In order to protect the cigarettes against glue being transferred during gluing of the folding tabs of the base wall, a covering tab is arranged on the inside, above the base wall. An extended base corner tab serves here as a covering. In addition, in the region adjacent to an end wall (17), a multi-layered material strip is formed by a Z-shaped fold. In the region of overlap of the material strip on a side wall (13), at least one cutout is arranged in one layer, said cutout ensuring a correct closed position of the layers in this region.

Abstract: Cigarette packs of the soft pack type of a (pack) shape (11) of paper, foil or the like which directly encases a group of cigarettes (32) with folding flaps or edge strips (34, 35) which are glued together. In order to protect the group of cigarettes (32) from unwanted discharged glue, a cover shape (36) is positioned within the pack (10) between the group of cigarettes (32) and the pack shape (11), i.e., in the area of a side wall (21) of edge strips (34, 35) which are glued together.

Abstract: Package for a group of cigarette packs which are surrounded by an outer wrapping (11) made of paper, foil, thin cardboard or the like. For easy opening of such a package for cigarette packs in particular, a perforated line (27) is formed in the region of a long side wall (17), specifically in the region of a separation plane (14) between subgroups of the cigarette packs (10).

Abstract: Hinge-lid box for cigarettes or the like, comprising a box part (10) and lid (11) and a collar (35) which is positioned in the box part (10) and projects out of the same by way of a top collar part (39), the lid (11) enclosing the top collar part (39) in the closed position. Fastened on the inside of a lid front wall (17) is a lid inner tab (32) which, merely in the region of a (relatively long) side edge (50), has a recess (52) which ensures form-fitting interlocking with a ridge (42) in the region of a collar front wall (36) when the lid is closed.

Abstract: Package for a group of cigarette packs which are surrounded by an outer wrapping (11) made of paper, foil, thin cardboard or the like.