EP0272337A1 - Method for checking the filling degree and the quality of cigarette packets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for checking the filling degree and the quality of cigarette packets, which consist of an inner wrapper (1), which completely surrounds the cigarette block, a printed outer wrapper (2), which at least partially surrounds the inner wrapper, and, if appropriate, a transparent wrapper forming the outermost covering, which are formed in several operations from prefabricated blanks and/or web sections, and are provided with a closure or sealing mark (5) before being covered with the transparent wrapper. In order to be able to carry out this check reliably independently of the materials used, the inner wrapper (1) is provided, at least in the region of the subsequent removal side, with a luminophore-containing material which lies outside the visible region of the spectrum and becomes discernible by irradiation, the said inner wrapper being checked with the aid of a luminescence sensor between the various operations. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for checking the completeness and quality of cigarette packs, which consist of an inner casing completely enclosing the cigarette block and a printed outer casing at least partially enclosing the inner casing, which are formed in several working steps from prefabricated blanks and / or material web sections and with a seal - or closure mark. In many cases, the packs are then provided with a transparent cover.

In the production of cigarette packs consisting of inner casing, outer casing and possibly a transparent casing on cigarette packing machines, it is common to check during the various operations with the help of photocells or initiators whether the individual packaging materials are present and properly shaped around the cigarette block consisting of a certain number of cigarettes have been supplied to the cigarette packing machine as packaged goods. The photocells used for the control respond to contrast differences that exist between the cigarettes to be packaged and the inner casing or the inner and outer casing. Since the transparent envelope forming the outermost envelope does not result in such contrast differences, its presence and its correct folding cannot be checked with the known photocells.

With the usual cigarette packs there is the inner casing from an aluminum-coated paper, so that there is a sufficient contrast difference on the one hand with the white cigarette paper or white cigarette filter and on the other hand with the outer casing consisting of printed paper. However, if white or colored paper is used for the inner wrapper, either the contrast to the cigarettes or the printed outer wrapper is eliminated.

The invention has for its object to provide a method for checking the completeness and quality of cigarette packs of the type described above, which works reliably regardless of the materials used for the inner shell.

The solution to this problem by the method according to the invention is characterized in that the inner shell is provided at least in the region of the later removal side with a luminophore-containing material which is outside the visible spectral range and can be recognized by irradiation and is checked between the various operations with the aid of a luminescence sensor.

Through the use according to the invention of a material containing luminophore, which is applied to the inner casing at the appropriate points, for example sprayed on or printed on, or is incorporated over the entire surface into the base material, reliable control of both the quality and the completeness of the manufactured cigarette packs is possible without one materials with visible contrast must be used for the inner shell, since the luminophore-containing material lies outside the visible spectral range and can only be recognized by irradiation. The luminescence switch switched on in the workflow thus recognizes the presence of the luminophor containing material and previously irradiated marking, without this marking being visible to the human eye.

According to a further feature of the invention, the contrast between the non-luminophore-containing cigarettes and filters and the completely or partially luminophore-containing inner casing is scanned. According to food legislation, the cigarettes and filters must not contain any substances containing luminophore. Accordingly, there is a good contrast to the cigarettes and their filters if the inner casing is provided with a material containing luminophore either in zones or over the entire surface. It is also possible to incorporate the luminophore-containing material into the base material of the inner shell.

In order to also be able to check the presence and correct position of the outer shell, according to a further feature of the invention, the outer shell is also provided, at least in the area of its later bond points, with a luminophore-containing material that is outside the visible spectral range and can be recognized by radiation and between the different ones Operations are checked using a luminescence button. The outer shell therefore does not have to be provided with optically disruptive markings in order to be able to be checked.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the presence of the inner casing is checked at the latest after the outer casing has been applied and before the closure or sealing mark has been applied in the area of the fold on the later removal side and the presence of the outer casing in the area of its bottom or side fold before the presence of the closure or seal mark is also checked in the area of the later removal side. Through the Inspection on the one hand in the area of the head fold for the later removal side and on the other hand in the area of the bottom or side fold of the outer cover is checked with the presence of the quality of the folding process and thus the correct fit of the inner and outer cover, so that the number of luminescence switches is reduced .

If the cigarette packs are provided with a carcase, which forms the outermost wrapper, according to the invention the transparent casing is also provided with luminophore-containing material at a suitable point, preferably in the region of the tear tape, and checked for completeness and quality. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tear tape containing or coated with luminophore material is used.

In the case of bottom folding packs, the inner cover is provided with a marking made of luminophore material at least in the area of the top fold for the later removal side over the entire width, and the outer casing in the area of its bottom fold and / or side fold is provided with a marking made of material containing luminophore. These markings ensure that, in addition to the presence, the quality of the inner and outer shell can also be checked.

In the case of side folding packs, the inner sleeve is provided with a marking made of luminophore-containing material in its longitudinal center over the entire length and the outer sleeve is provided with a marking made of luminophore-containing material at least in the area of one of the two side folds, so that not only the presence of all packaging materials is checked with this type of packing can, but also their quality.

When the method according to the invention is applied to hard packs with a hinged lid, according to the invention the inner cover is preferred, at least in the area of the head fold wise on the front side lying in the recess of the outer casing, with a coating of luminophore-containing material and the outer casing in the area of the inside of the unfolded lid blank with a coating or marking of luminophore-containing material. In this way it is possible to also check such hard packs for completeness and quality by the method according to the invention.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf den Zuschnitt einer Innen­hülle für eine Bodenfaltpackung,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Zuschnitt der zugehörigen Außenhülle,
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht der aus den Zu­schnitten nach Fig.1 und 2 hergestellten Boden­faltpackung mit vorn liegender Bodenfaltung der Außenhülle vor dem letzten Faltvorgang und
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung der aus den Zu­schnitten nach Fig. 1 und 2 hergestellten Boden­faltpackung mit vorn liegender, durch eine Siegelmarke verschlossener Entnahmeseite;
• Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht auf den Zuschnitt der Innenhülle einer Seitenfaltpackungen,
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf die zugehörige Außenhülle,
• Fig. 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht der aus den Zu­schnitten gemäß den Fig.5 und 6 hergestellten Seitenfaltpackung mit vorn liegender Entnahme­seite,
• Fig. 8 eine der Fig.7 entsprechende Perspektive beim Aufbringen der Siegelmarke und
• Fig. 9 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Hartpackung als drittes Ausführungsbeispiel.

The drawing shows three exemplary embodiments of cigarette packs provided with markings made of luminophore-containing material, on which the method according to the invention is to be explained below.

• 1 is a plan view of the blank of an inner shell for a bottom folding pack,
• 2 is a plan view of the blank of the associated outer shell,
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom folding pack made from the blanks according to Fig.1 and 2 with the front bottom folding of the outer cover before the last folding process and
• 4 shows a perspective illustration of the bottom folding pack produced from the blanks according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the removal side located at the front and closed by a sealing mark;
• 5 is a plan view of the blank of the inner shell of a side gusset,
• 6 is a plan view of the associated outer shell,
• 7 is a perspective view of the side folding pack made from the blanks according to FIGS. 5 and 6 with the removal side at the front,
• 8 shows a perspective corresponding to FIG. 7 when applying the sealing mark and
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a hard pack as a third embodiment.

The first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 involves the production of a cigarette pack in the manner of a so-called bottom folding pack. The cut of the inner casing 1 shown in FIG. 1 shows the later broad and long sides as well as the bottom and top fold parts divided by lines. In the area of the head fold forming the later removal side, the inner casing 1 is provided over its entire width with a marking 6 made of luminophore-containing material, which lies outside the visible spectral range and is only made visible to luminescence sensors by irradiation.

2 shows the cut of the associated outer cover 2, which is shorter than the cut of the inner cover 1, so that the later removal side of the bottom folding pack is not enclosed by the outer cover 2. In the area of the bottom fold, the outer casing 2 is provided with a marking 7 made of luminophore-containing material. In the embodiment shown, the outer cover 2 also has a marking 8 made of luminophore-containing material in the area of the side fold.

The cigarette block supplied to the cigarette packing machine and consisting of a certain number of cigarettes is first enveloped by the inner casing 1. It is customary here to fold the inner casing around a cuboid mandrel with the dimensions of the cigarette block, so that the side and bottom folds are produced, but the top side remains open. The cigarette block is then pushed into the inner casing 1 through this open head side. The head is then folded and the inner envelope 1 is closed.

The outer cover 2 is then fed in and folded around the inner cover 1. Both the side fold and the bottom fold are carried out.

Before the last flap of the bottom fold of the outer casing 2 is folded over (this state is shown in FIG. 3), a luminescence switch is used to determine whether the outer casing 2 is present during the packaging process. Here, the marking 7 is scanned, which has been made visible to the luminescence scanner beforehand or simultaneously by irradiation. Simultaneously or subsequently, it can be checked with the aid of the marking 8 whether the lateral folding of the outer casing 2 has been carried out correctly. Proper implementation of the bottom folding of the outer casing 2 can also be checked if it is checked again after the last rattles of the bottom folding have been folded over whether parts of the marking 7 are visible. If this is the case, there is an incorrect bottom fold.

The presence and correct folding of the inner cover 1 is carried out in the area of the head fold forming the later removal side, since parts of the marking 6 are visible here. A seal mark 5 is only applied when all of these checks have revealed the presence and the correct quality of the inner and outer shells 1 and 2, respectively. Their presence can also be subsequently checked by determining by means of a luminescence sensor whether the marking 6 is visible in the area of the sealing mark 5. If this is the case, the seal mark is missing.

Provided that all the tests described above have been successfully completed, the packaging provided with the seal mark 5 is enclosed with a transparent cover which is on the Drawing is not shown. The presence of this transparent cover is also checked by a mark made at a suitable location.

The second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 8 involves the production of a cigarette pack in the manner of a so-called side folding pack. The blank of the inner cover 3 shown in FIG. 5 shows the later broad sides, the bottom and the parts for the side and top folds divided by lines. The inner shell 3 is provided in its longitudinal center over the entire length with a marking 9 made of luminophore-containing material.

The cut of the associated outer casing 4 according to FIG. 6 is in turn shorter than the cut of the inner casing 3, so that the later removal side of the side gusset pack is not enclosed by the outer casing 4. In the area of the two side folds, the outer cover 4 is each provided with a marking 10 made of luminophore-containing material.

In this exemplary embodiment too, a cup-like container with an open head is first produced from the inner casing 3 with the aid of a cuboid-shaped mandrel and by executing two side folds, through which the cigarette block is then pushed into the inner casing 3. Then the head is folded and thus the inner casing 3 is closed around the cigarette block.

Now the outer cover 4 is fed in and folded around the inner cover 3 by executing the two side folds. This results in the state recognizable in FIG. 7.

In this state, in the area of the later removal side, ie in the area of the head fold of the inner casing 3 by means of a luminescence button it can be determined whether the inner casing 3 has been present on the one hand and has been properly folded around the cigarette block on the other hand. By scanning the two side folds of the outer casing 4, it can be determined at the same time or with a time delay by means of luminescence sensors whether the outer casing 4 has also been present and has been properly attached.

If these tests have shown complete and correct packaging, the seal mark 5 is applied in accordance with FIG. It covers the visible part of the marking 9 of the inner shell 3, so that it can subsequently be checked whether a sealing mark 5 is present. If this test was also positive, the transparent cover is attached - not shown on the drawing - and its presence is checked by scanning the mark made at a suitable point. In a preferred embodiment, either a tear tape made of luminophore-containing material is used or the hot glue or wax coating of the tear tape is provided with luminophore-containing substances in order to be able to detect the absence or incorrect attachment of the transparent cover.

The third exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9 shows in perspective a hard pack with a hinged lid during the packaging process. It can be seen that the inner casing 11 surrounding the unrecognizable cigarette block is completely folded. This inner shell 11 is visible on the later removal side. In the exemplary embodiment, a luminophore-containing substance is incorporated over the entire surface of the material of the inner shell 11, so that the presence of the inner shell 11 in the packaging state according to FIG. 9 can be sensed by luminescence sensors, preferably on that part of the inner shell 11 which lies in a recess 13 in the region of the subsequent removal point; this recess 13 is located in the inserted or one-piece embossed collar of the outer shell 12.

This outer shell 12 comprises a hinged lid, the lid blank 14 of which can be seen in the unfolded state in FIG. In order to be able to sense the presence and the correct position of the outer casing 12, in the exemplary embodiment the inside of this unfolded lid blank 14 is completely or partially coated with luminophore-containing material, so that it can be scanned in a simple manner.

In all three described exemplary embodiments it is ensured that the tests can be carried out without additional markings which are visible to the human eye and thus impair the overall impression having to be applied. It is also not necessary to consider the checks to be carried out when printing on the outer casing 2 or 4.

List of reference numbers:

• 1 inner cover
• 2 outer shell
• 3 inner shell
• 4 outer shell
• 5 seal stamp
• 6 mark
• 7 mark
• 8 mark
• 9 mark
• 10 mark
• 11 inner shell
• 12 outer shell
• 13 recess
• 14 lid blank

Claims (9)

1. A method for checking the completeness and quality of cigarette packs, which consist of an inner casing (1,3) which completely surrounds the cigarette block and a printed outer casing (2,4) which at least partially surrounds the inner casing, which in several operations consists of prefabricated blanks and / or material web sections are shaped and provided with a closure or sealing mark (5),
characterized,
that the inner casing (1, 3) is provided, at least in the area of the later removal side, with a material containing luminophore, which is outside the visible spectral range and can be recognized by radiation, and is checked between the various operations with the aid of a luminescence sensor. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the contrast between the non-luminophore-containing cigarettes and filters and the completely or partially luminophore-containing inner sleeve (11) is scanned. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer shell (2,4) at least in the region of their later bond points with a luminophore-containing, lying outside the visible spectral range and recognizable by radiation material and is checked between the various operations using a luminescence button. 4. The method according to claim 1 and 3, characterized in that the presence of the inner shell (1,3) at the latest after the application of the outer shell (2.4) and before the attachment of the closure or sealing mark (5) in the area of the fold the later removal side and the presence of the outer casing (2,4) in the area of their bottom or side folds are checked before the presence of the closure or sealing mark (5) is also checked in the area of the later removal side. 5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4 for cigarette packs with a transparent envelope forming the outermost envelope, characterized in that the transparent envelope is provided at a suitable point, preferably in the region of the tear tape, with luminophore-containing material and is checked for completeness and quality. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a tear tape containing luminophore or coated with luminophore material is used. 7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the case of bottom folding packs, the inner casing (1) at least in the area of the top fold for the later removal side over the entire width with a marking (6) made of luminophore-containing material and the outer casing (2 ) is provided in the area of its bottom fold and / or side fold with a marking (7 or 8) made of luminophore-containing material. 8. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that with side folding packs, the inner sleeve (3) in its longitudinal center over the entire length with a mark (9) made of luminophore-containing material and the outer sleeve (4) at least in the area of one of the both side folds is provided with a marking (10) made of luminophore-containing material. 9. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in hard packs with a hinged lid, the inner sleeve (11) at least in the area of the top fold, preferably on the front side lying in the recess (13) of the outer sleeve (12) a coating made of material containing luminophore and the outer casing (12) in the region of the inside of the unfolded cover blank (14) is provided with a coating or marking made of material containing luminophore.

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