Abstract: In the production of packs with an outer wrapping of plastic film, a continuous forced guiding of a web of material (13) and the blanks (12) produced therefrom is important. The web of material (13) is fed to a knife roller (20). In the region thereof, the blanks (12) are produced by severing. The web of material (13) or each blank (12) is fed to upright suction belts (25, 26) via a transfer roller (39) with suction bores (42). The suction belts (25, 26) are movable up and down relative to the knife roller (20) and transfer roller (39) for carrying out a change of format.

Abstract: An apparatus including a material accumulator (10) which is used, in conjunction with a packaging machine, for temporarily storing a continuous web (11) of material. Accurate operation of the material accumulator (11) is achieved by pivoting at least one deflecting roller (12, 13) of the material accumulator (10) about a rotational axis (38), which is directed transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the web (11), to adjust the relative position of the web of material.

Abstract: Soft packs, especially for stacks of paper tissues, may be provided with a closing tab extending over an end wall up to a front wall. This closing tab may be attached to neighboring regions of the wrapping by gussets. Folding members, specifically folding devices (57), which are designed in a special manner, serve for folding in the region of a folding station (34). These folding devices (57) fold the closing tab into an upright position thereby folding in the gussets, during the transport of the packs. A downstream folding tool, specifically a covering-tab folder (83), then folds a covering tab as a part of the closing tab against the front wall.

Abstract: A package for stacks of folded paper handkerchiefs is disclosed. Paper handerkchiefs (10) and similar cellulose products are offered in soft packs. An outer wrapper (blank 11) is made of paper or a (plastic) foil. A withdrawal opening (19) in the region of a front wall (12) is substantially smaller in width than the front wall (12). Likewise, a closure flap (23) which covers the withdrawal opening (19) in the closed position is smaller in width than the front wall (12), so that any variations in the measurements of the packages do not lead to undesired package configurations. The closure flap (23) is designed to be a part of an outer tab (28) of an end wall (16) of the pack. This part of the closure flap (23) is firmly connected to folding tabs of the end wall (16) disposed thereunder, so that the withdrawal opening (19) extends only up to a transverse edge (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (blank unit) for feeding blanks to an article to be wrapped is disclosed. In the feeding of blanks (13) or of a web of material (14) made from critical packaging materials (thin foils), suction conveyors (32 . . . 37) are used which transport, guide and retain the web of material (14). An optimum guidance of the web of material (14) is ensured when lateral elongated suction conveyors (32, 33) reach below a pack track (15). Additionally, shorter suction conveyors (34 . . . 37) are disposed above the pack track (15) in the region of the web of material (14). To adjust the blank unit to different widths of the web of material (14), the lateral elongated suction conveyors (32, 33) can be displaced transversely relative to one another. Moreover, individual shorter suction conveyors (34 . . . 37) can be removed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and an apparatus for transporting pack rows. When a pack string (12) formed from several superposed rows (13, 14, 15, 16) of cuboid packs (10) is transported, it is required to compensate misalignments of the individual rows (13 . . 16). A correct relative position is to be ensured in order to permit a transverse transfer of pack groups (11) formed from a portion of the pack string (12). A row which lies behind in the transport direction is conveyed further by an associated additional conveyor in the form of conveyor belts (28) until it reaches the correct relative position. The adjustment of the rows (13 . . 16) is carried out at the end of a conveying cycle, when the pack string (12) runs up against a stop (guide 18). A row which lies behind is conveyed further by the conveyor belts (28) until it contacts the stop.

Abstract: For the transport of blank stacks (22) to a packaging machine, there are re-usable cassettes (21) which have chambers (23) for receiving a multiplicity of blank stacks (22). The cassettes (21) are filled with the blank stacks (22) in a paper factory and are emptied in the region of the packaging machine. The cassettes (21) are designed so that several emptied cassettes (21) can be nested in one another and returned as a space-saving unit to the paper factory. Furthermore, the cassettes (21) are designed so that they can be transported by overhead conveyors and supported on downwardly directed carrier arms (49) which include horizontally directed carrier spars (50) having a step-shaped configuration (60, 62, 64) which also accommodates different sizes of material reels associated with the packaging machine.

Abstract: For the transport of blank stacks (22) to a packaging machine, there are reusable cassettes (21) which have chambers (23) for receiving a multiplicity of blank stacks (22). The cassettes (21) are filled with the blank stacks (22) in a paper factory and are emptied in the region of the packaging machine. The cassettes (21) are designed so that several emptied cassettes (21) can be nested in one another and returned as a space-saving unit to the paper factory. Furthermore, the cassettes (21) are designed so that they can be transported by overhead conveyors, without any manual labor being involved.

Abstract: The feeding of web-shaped wound packaging material (reels) and/or prefabricated blanks to high-performance packaging machines has hitherto required considerable manual involvement. Above all, the sometimes considerable dead weight of the packaging material has an adverse effect here. To allow a virtually full automatic feed of the packaging machines with packaging material, a conveyor track (31) leads to the individual consumption points at the packaging machines is arranged above the packaging machines. Individual reels (26, 27, 28) or blanks (82) stacked in cassettes (84) are transported along this conveyor track (31) by means of respective material conveyors (41) which are each equipped with material holders (44) that consist solely of rigid immovable supporting members for the reels or cassettes (84). The feed and discharge of these material holders (44) take place automatically as a result of an appropriate relative movement of feed and discharge members.

Abstract: It has not been possible hitherto to equip outer wrappings (10) for (tobacco) bagpacks of the twistbag type (11) with a tear-open thread or strip (15). The present wrapping (10) is provided with a tear-open strip (15) extending transversely relative to the longitudinal extension of the twisting (11). A longitudinal edge strip (17) with a longitudinal welding seam (18) is folded round against a wrapping wall (19,20) and fixed at the ends by transverse welding seams (21,22). A process and apparatus for producing such a twistbag.

Abstract: In pouch packs for tobacco or the like of the "side-folding pouch" type, it is difficult to make a hermetic closure for the orifice of a pocket of the pouch pack, because accumulations of material impeding the provision of a closing seam or the like arise in the edge regions as a result of the construction of the pack. For this reason, the pouch pack is spread out to the full width of the blank in the region of the orifice for the provision of a closing seam, the closing seam is then made and the projecting lengths of material thus formed in the region of a covering tab are folded over inwards against the latter. This results in a pouch pack which is closed in an absolutely leak-proof manner and which has an essentially cuboid shape after completion.

Abstract: In pouch packs for tobacco or the like of the "side-folding pouch" type, it is difficult to make a hermetic closure for the orifice of a pocket of the pouch pack, because accumulations of material impeding the provision of a closing seam or the like arise in the edge regions as a result of the construction of the pack. For this reason, the pouch pack is spread out to the full width of the blank in the region of the orifice for the provision of a closing seam, the closing seam is then made and the projecting lengths of material thus formed in the region of a covering tab are folded over inwards against the latter. This results in a pouch pack which is closed in an absolutely leak-proof manner and which has an essentially cuboid shape after completion.

Abstract: Bags for packaging cut tobacco are severed from a continuous longitudinally moving film sheet along transverse welding seams 28 which are made by a thermal welding unit 29 having three, transverse-welding jaws, during each working cycle. The welding unit can be moved to and fro and is movable with the film sheet 25 for a part section (conveying section). During the return movement of the welding unit to its starting position, the film sheet is conveyed onwards by a special draw element, until a conveying cycle has been completed.

Abstract: To increase the efficiency of a packaging machine for tobacco portions (10) without adversely affecting the tobacco, two or more tobacco portions (10) are supplied to a packaging turret (11) at the same time. The tobacco portions (10) supplied individually, for example by a bucket chain (13), are collected in cells of a collector formed of two star feeders (32, 33), until the number of tobacco portions corresponding to the simultaneous packaging requirement is available. A distributor (22) with portion receiving chambers is located in front of the collector to sequentially receive tobacco portions.

Abstract: In the packaging of (long-fiber) cut tobacco, individual tobacco portions (10) are formed from a strand of tobacco (17). These are underweight. In the region of a tobacco balance, the difference between the actual weight and the nominal weight is determined and a difference portion (25) is added accordingly. The complete tobacco portion (10) has to be transferred to a discharge conveyor (bucket chain 28). For this purpose, a star feeder rotating synchronously with a bucket mechanism is used as a distributor device (26).

Abstract: An apparatus for closing and transporting tobacco pouches includes a turret type feed conveyor, a reciprocating preconveyor and a pocket-chain type discharge conveyor. Closing apparatus are associated with the pre-conveyor. A tobacco pouch is transported from the feed conveyor to one of a plurality of movable pack receptacle regions at a feed station, and then transported, by reciprocating fingers, to a discharge station where closing apparatus seals the pouch. The sealed pouch is thereafter discharged to a pocket of the discharge conveyor. Each discharge station is provided with a pair of spaced, movable walls which receive a pouch therebetween, retain the pouch during sealing and are thereafter moved to carry the sealed pouch to the discharge conveyor. Finger retraction and extension apparatus are provided to move the fingers into engagement with a pouch at the feed station and to disengage the fingers from a pouch at the discharge station.

Abstract: For the accurate metering of tobacco portions in the course of the packing of the latter, rough portions (28) are first produced by separation from a strand of tobacco and brought to the desired weight (desired portion 15) by adding difference portions measured in a fine metering device (12, 13). The rough portions (28) are fed in each case by an intermediate conveyor (13), which is in the form of a star feeder, to one of two balance receiver members (32, 33), which are likewise in the form of star feeders and each of which is connected to a precision balance (43, 44).

Abstract: In pouch packs for tobacco or the like of the "side-folding pouch" type, it is difficult to make a hermetic closure for the orifice of a pocket of the pouch pack, because accumulations of material impeding the provision of a closing seam or the like arise in the edge regions as a result of the construction of the pack. For this reason, the pouch pack is spread out to the full width of the blank in the region of the orifice for the provision of a closing seam, the closing seam is then made and the projecting lengths of material thus formed in the region of a covering tab are folded over inwards against the latter. This results in a pouch pack which is closed in an absolutely leak-proof manner and which has an essentially cuboid shape after completion.

Abstract: A gusseted pouch for cut tobacco is made from outer sheet blanks sandwiching an intermediate paper layer, folded to form a pocket with side walls. This causes an excess accumulation of material at the side edges in the region of the pouch pocket opening due to a plurality of layers of material. To counteract the difficulties resulting therefrom during the production of a closure for the pocket, recesses 28, 29, 30, 31 are provided in the paper blank at its lateral edges and corners.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically weighing and separating specific individual quantities of a bulk material such as tobacco is disclosed. The weighing container is separated from the carrier and from the measuring system of a scale during the phase in the operating cycle during which no measuring is taking place so as to avoid operationally induced vibrations.