Abstract: The pack according to the invention, comprising a wrapper and a group of cigarette packs—cigarette multipack—the wrapper being produced by being folded from an, in particular, single-piece blank, is configured in the manner of a hinge-lid pack. This gives an immediate indication of the contents of the pack to the person looking at it.

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: A soft pack for cigarettes comprises a, for example, carton-form wrapper made of paper or similar packaging material. Folding tabs, namely border strips (18 and 19) on the one hand, base tabs, namely longitudinal tabs (24 and 25) on the other hand, and also a band (or revenue stamp) (32) are connected to one another or to the pack by adhesive bonding, use being made of hot-melt adhesive which is applied in the correct position to a material web for producing blanks for the packs, is set and, once the folds or packs have been completed, is reactivated by heat. The relevant folding tabs or band are/is respectively connected to one another or to the pack by pressure.

Abstract: Hinge-lid box for cigarettes or other packaged items, comprising a box part (10), lid (11) and collar (12) with a closure aid for the lid (11). Inwardly directed protrusions, namely anchoring tabs (37), are arranged on the inside of a lid front wall (21) or of a lid inner flap (28) and, in the closed position, interact, by form-fitting engagement, with recesses in the region of a collar front wall (32). The depressions in the region of the collar front wall (32) are positioned immediately above a mating closure edge (30) formed by a box front wall (14), with the anchoring tabs (37) arranged appropriately on the lid inner flap (28).

Abstract: For supplying production and packaging machines, in particular for supplying lines (10, 11) for producing and packaging cigarettes, an intermediate store (12) is provided for storing packaging material, to be precise for pallets (20) with reels (18) of web-like material. Pallets (20) with the packaging material are fed to the intermediate store (12) by a pallet conveyor (28). A separate reel conveyor (48) transports reels (18), as required, to the individual machines and subassemblies of the lines (10, 11).

Abstract: Apparatus for handling (cigarette) packs, in particular for transporting and sealing the same. (Cigarette) packs (10) coming from a packaging machine or a folding turret (11) are transported in the region of a sealing subassembly (22) by a pocket conveyor (26), laterally arranged sealing jaws (35, 36) sealing sideways-directed end walls during a standstill phase. The packs (10) are fed, via an intermediate conveyor (23), to an accumulating conveyor (24) and, finally, to a pushing-off station (25) for the formation of pack groups (55) which are to be pushed off transversely. By virtue of relative movement, the pack group (55) is separated off from a following line of packs (52).

Abstract: A (cigarette) pack, in particular a hinge-lid box (10), with an outer wrapper (24) made of thin, transparent film includes a printing carrier (30) which is arranged, between the hinge-lid box (10) and outer wrapper (24), 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: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing products and a method of controlling such an apparatus, having a programmable logic controller—PLC—an axis control system, for controlling axes, and a visualization system for displaying processes and/or process parameters. In known apparatus of this type, the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system are implemented in physically self-contained appliances. Linking these components requires a great deal of effort both during construction and during operation of the apparatus. The data interchange between the components requires an “overhead” in order to ensure the communication between the components. This is disadvantageous. The invention therefore seeks to improve such manufacturing apparatus and control methods in that the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system run on a common physical appliance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine, especially a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes), which has an interface (38, 30, 40) for exchanging data between the machine (35, 36, 37) and a connected network (34, 52, 53). The invention also relates to a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes) which has a visual monitoring device for observing areas of the complex machine which are difficult to access or see, said monitoring device being located in the relevant area of the packing machine. This monitoring device records images of the area of the machine which is difficult to access using a line (24) and reproduces said images on a display screen for example, using a camera. The invention also relates to a network (34, 52, 53) of machines of this type, comprising a computer (42) for monitoring the functions of the connected machines (35, 36, 37) and/or a computer (57) for carrying out maintenance and/or defect repair measures on the connected machines (35, 36, 37).

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing thermoplastic sheet materials or for closing packs, such as bags, made of such sheet materials with the aid of heated sealing jaws (22) and mating jaws (25), which accommodate between them the sheet materials and/or folding or closing flaps which are to be connected, the (non-heated) mating jaw (25) having an elastically deformable abutment surface for the sheet materials which are to be sealed, such that any possible elevations produced by a multi-layered design of the folding or closing flaps are compensated for by the elasticity of the abutment surface of the mating jaw. The sealing jaw (22) and/or mating jaw (25) can be moved by a special, oil-free actuating mechanism which, during continuous driving, brings about a standstill phase of the sealing jaw or mating jaw, which can be moved back and forth.

Abstract: For coding (cigarette) packs (10) in the region of a conveyor, in particular in the region of a (drying) turret (34). A region of an outer pack surface, in particular of a side surface (14), is exposed during the coding. For this purpose, it is possible for the conveying elements of the conveyor to be arranged or designed correspondingly and/or for the walls (42) of the conveyor pockets (33) to be dimensioned correspondingly. Alternatively, the packs (10) are removed from the conveyor, or moved out of the pockets (33), into the region of action of a laser coder (19).

Abstract: In order to produce (cigarette) packs with an (inner) wrapper made of heat-sealable sheet material and with folding tabs which are connected to one another by sealing, first of all a cigarette group (11) is enclosed by a wrapper blank and. following completion of the necessary folding operations, is fed to a sealing turret (48). In the region of the latter, folding tabs on sideways directed side walls and on radially outwardly directed end walls of the folded wrapper are sealed.

Abstract: Hinge-lid boxes for cigarettes, comprising a box part (12) and lid (13), are frequently fitted with a closure aid for the lid (13). Said closure aid comprises interlocking elements which can be brought into engagement with one another, namely a lid inner tab (16), on the one hand, and a collar front wall (17), on the other hand. In order to ensure operativeness as soon as the pack is used, it is ensured that the closure aid is already in engagement when the pack is completed, i.e. before it is used for the first time. For this purpose, the lid (13) is partially opened after being substantially completed and is then moved into the closed position again thereby ensuring engagement of the closing elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for automatically detecting printed marks which are applied at regular spacings to material webs. The invention is based on the problem of improving the detection of printed marks when separate prints are applied between the printed marks in the same movement path of the printed marks. This problem is solved in that the widths of printed sections and the spacings between printed sections are determined and, if the width and spacing essentially correspond to predetermined values, a printed section is detected as being a printed mark.

Abstract: For transporting sensitive articles, in particular cigarette groups, an endless conveyor (19,20) in the form of a toothed belt (21) is provided, carry-along elements (30) for gripping in each case one article being arranged on the same. The carry-along elements (30) are positively controlled such that, when an article is received and/or the movement direction is changed abruptly, an in particular rearwardly directed compensating movement of the carry-along elements takes place.

Abstract: Cigarette pack, i.e. a soft pack, composed of a blank of thin, foldable packaging material, which is made of a paper layer and an outer plastic layer of thermally sealable material. Due to respective folding in the area of bottom wall (16), top wall (17) and side wall (15), folding webs partially overlap with outer plastic layers (19) directly facing each other and being sealed together or with the plastic layer being joined by sealing with the paper layer or a further inner layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying and transferring blanks, in particular revenue stamps, to (cigarette) packs a supply of blanks being stored in at least one upright magazine shaft from which the blanks are removed individually on the underside. In order to increase the capacity, a loading station with a supply unit for blanks is arranged at a distance from a transfer station assigned to the packs, to be precise in a disruption-free, easily reachable region of the packaging machine.

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: Process and apparatus for checking (cigarette) packs for the correct positioning of material strips. In order to check the correct position of a material strip (11) on a cigarette pack (10), at least two sensors are used to compare spaced-apart measurement or checking points (19, 20) in terms of the relative position in relation to one another. This gives the relative position of the material strip (11). If the latter is in a skewed position, the relevant cigarette pack (10) is separated out.