EP0514340B1 - Method and device for preparing packing blanks - Google Patents

Abstract

The blanks or labels (1) are taken one after the other from a storage part (20) by transfer means (21) and are arranged on the cylindrical bearing surface of a drum (3) driven in rotation according to turn portions. It is during the rotational movement of the drum or during the stops between two rotational movements that different preparation operations are performed on the blanks, such as, for example, the folding of a tab (16) and the adhesive bonding of this tab against a surface portion (15) of the blank or, alternatively, the printing of a code (17) on a part of the blank. Before these operations are carried out, the correct presence, positioning and alignment of the blank on the drum are checked. When the above operations have been effected, the blank is removed from the drum in order to be conveyed towards the packing machine. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cardboard packaging blanks, in particular for cigarette pack labels, as well as a device developed for this purpose.

Packing packages, especially cigarette packages, requires a large number of operations; the present invention particularly considers the preparation of a cardboard blank called a label, after the latter has received an impression, of advertising or other type, on one of its faces and that it has been cut and received the primers of folds. necessary to complete the packaging. The operations concerned by the present invention consist in depositing one or more drops of glue on one or more portions of surfaces of said label, of folding and folding down one or more portions of surfaces or tabs, adjacent to the portions of previous surfaces, on top said portions of previous surfaces and strongly pressing one against the other the portions of folded surfaces in order to constitute one or more new portions of reinforced surfaces, then to deposit by printing a coding on any portion of surface of said label. Subsequently, the label will be resumed to be taken to the packaging machine where the packaging will finally be formed around the packet of cigarettes, this latter operation no longer being part of the method according to the invention.

In the techniques according to the prior art, a machine performing the mentioned operations is generally arranged just before or at the entrance to a packaging machine; this preparation machine is generally consisting of a first part where the labels are stored and from which the labels are removed one after the other and arranged one behind the other on a conveyor belt from where they are removed in front of each work station where they undergo one or the other of the operations mentioned. Due to the numerous movements of the labels, from the conveyor belt to each work station and vice versa, it is difficult to work at high production speed with such a device which generally does not allow the preparation rate of 400 labels / min to be exceeded. On the other hand, since each preparation operation is carried out following the previous one, on a portion downstream of the conveyor belt, the preparation machines according to the prior art are therefore of large dimensions.

A device described in Patent Abstract of Japan, vol 14 no.3 (M-915) (3946), JP-A-1253430, shows an apparatus making it possible to carry out one of the operations mentioned above. The blanks are taken one by one from a package and are transferred to a continuous belt in continuous movement where they are maintained and where the presence of each blank is detected. These detection means control the application of a drop of glue on a portion of the blank, after which the blank is transferred to another box manufacturing unit by a separate conveyor, the box being folded and assembled in said box manufacturing unit. The blank is transported as indicated by a continuous strip, a single operation being carried out during its transport, the other assembly operations being carried out downstream of the device. In the event that it is necessary to carry out more operations during this transport, the continuous strip should be lengthened by as much which increases the dimensions of the device unwanted.

In order to limit the size of the device, two other documents, DE-A-3 930 720 and CH-A-326 980, resolved the problem by replacing the continuous strip with a rotating drum on which the blanks are held, an operation folding along a fold parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum being performed during a rotation of a half-turn of the drum, by means of operating levers, the production rate of these devices is relatively low.

Application FR-A-2,333,136 shows a device for manufacturing matchboxes on a drum-shaped part from which the boxes are folded in folds perpendicular to the axis of rotation; since in this case at least four folds are made, the means used for this purpose are relatively complex, requiring in particular several moving parts on the drum. A piece (26) in particular is placed inside a fold formed, making it impossible to obtain a fold at an angle greater than 90 °. Due to the complexity of this device, the production rate can only be relatively low.

None of the above documents describes or suggests a device making it possible to carry out a plurality of manufacturing operations, as proposed in the introduction, on the same device of reduced dimensions.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a method and a device for preparing packaging, in particular for preparing cigarette labels, which can work at high production speed, ie at a rate much higher than 400 labels / min, said device being considerably less bulky than the preparation machines according to the prior art, the synchronization of the various operations to be performed while being simplified.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a device making it possible to control the presence or absence of a label as well as its correct positioning, in order to control the running of the packaging machine, thus making it possible to reduce losses. production due to jams and causing machine stops.

In order to achieve these aims, the process for preparing packaging according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 1 to 7, while the packaging preparation device according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 8 to 30.

The method and the device according to the invention have been developed and will be described below, applying to the cardboard labels of cigarette packs; it is understood that all that is described below can apply just as well to cardboard packaging or having a certain rigidity and intended for any other use than the packaging of cigarettes.

• la figure 1A représente une vue en plan d'une étiquette, vue du côté verso,
• la figure 1B représente la même étiquette, vue du côté recto, une portion de surface ayant été repliée,
• la figure 2A représente une partie du dispositif de préparation vu en bout,
• la figure 2B représente une partie du même dispositif vu en long,
• la figure 2C représente une partie du dispositif vu en long comportant une autre forme d'exécution des moyens d'acheminement,
• la figure 3 représente les moyens de transfert du dispositif vus en perspective,
• la figure 4A représente les moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif, vus en perspective,
• la figure 4B est une vue schématique des moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif,
• la figure 4C est une vue en plan des moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif montrant une disposition préférentielle des cellules photo-électriques,
• la figure 5 représente les moyens de pliage du dispositif, vus en perspective,
• la figure 6A représente les moyens d'impression du dispositif, vus en perspective,
• la figure 6B représente une portion des moyens d'impression à plus grande échelle, vus en perspective, et
• la figure 7 représente une forme d'exécution des moyens de retrait du dispositif, vus en perspective.

In order to better understand the invention, reference can be made to the appended drawing, representing a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, with the figures where:

• FIG. 1A represents a plan view of a label, seen from the back side,
• FIG. 1B represents the same label, seen from the front side, a portion of surface having been folded back,
• FIG. 2A represents part of the preparation device seen at the end,
• FIG. 2B represents a part of the same device seen in length,
• FIG. 2C represents a part of the device seen in length comprising another embodiment of the conveying means,
• FIG. 3 represents the transfer means of the device seen in perspective,
• FIG. 4A represents the means of control and bonding of the device, seen in perspective,
• FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the means for checking and bonding the device,
• FIG. 4C is a plan view of the control and bonding means of the device showing a preferential arrangement of photocells,
• FIG. 5 represents the means for folding the device, seen in perspective,
• FIG. 6A represents the printing means of the device, seen in perspective,
• FIG. 6B represents a portion of the printing means on a larger scale, seen in perspective, and
• FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the means for removing the device, seen in perspective.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is an example of a cardboard label 1 intended for a pack of cigarettes, as prepared to be introduced into the preparation device according to the invention. One side 10 of the label, the front side was first printed with any pattern or text, while the back side 11 was left unprinted. Then the label 1 was cut to the desired format, the cut also comprising a certain number of cutouts 12 internal to the format, shown in bold lines, intended to facilitate the subsequent shaping of the package. Simultaneously, a number of fold primers 13, shown in finer lines, have been made on said label and which will correspond to the subsequent folds of the package. The labels arranged in this way, or in another comparable way, are supplied to the distribution means of the device in the form of stacks, all the superimposed labels being turned and oriented identically.

• saisie d'une étiquette à partir d'une pile de stockage,
• dépose d'un ou plusieurs points de colle 14 sur une portion de surface 15 du verso 11 de l'étiquette 1,
• pliage d'une portion de surface 16 ou languette, adjacente à la portion de surface 15, autour d'un pli 13A,
• application de la portion de surface 16 sur la portion de surface 15 et collage des deux dites surfaces l'une sur l'autre, afin de renforcer une portion de l'emballage qui servira ultérieurement de point de saisie pour l'ouverture du paquet de cigarettes,
• impression d'un code 17 sur une portion de surface 18 du recto 10 de l'étiquette 1,
• envoi de l'étiquette ainsi préparée vers la machine d'emballage.

The operations to be carried out by the preparation device are:

• entering a label from a storage stack,
• depositing one or more glue dots 14 on a surface portion 15 of the back 11 of the label 1,
• folding of a surface portion 16 or tongue, adjacent to the surface portion 15, around a fold 13A,
• application of the surface portion 16 on the surface portion 15 and bonding of the two said surfaces to each other, in order to reinforce a portion of the packaging which will later serve as a point of attachment for opening the package of cigarettes,
• printing of a code 17 on a surface portion 18 of the front 10 of the label 1,
• sending of the label thus prepared to the packaging machine.

It is obvious that the operations described above relate to the chosen example of the preparation of a well-defined cigarette packet label; one can just as easily design other folding operations, with or without gluing, as well as other printing operations. Likewise, one or other of the operations mentioned may be omitted; the preparation device described below will therefore be adapted according to the operations to be carried out.

FIGS. 2A and 2B represent two partial views of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said device being seen at the end in FIG. 2A and by the longitudinal side in FIG. 2B. There are, particularly in FIG. 2A, the main elements constituting the device according to the invention: the distribution means 2, which include the storage means 20 as well as the transfer means 21, the drum 3 around which the means are arranged. 4 and glue 5 control, both symbolized by block 4/5, the folding means 6, as well as the printing means 7, and the label removal means 8 comprising the withdrawal device 80 and routing means 81 to the packaging machine, as well as the drive, suction and control means 9.

The main element of the device according to the invention is the drum 3, of which FIG. 2B represents a preferred embodiment. It consists of a longitudinal shaft 30, supported by two bearings of the machine, (not shown) and driven in sequential rotation, for example, from a motor 90, preferably an electric motor, on the axis of which is mounted a drive box 91, of known technique, whose outlet axis has a discontinuous rotational movement, composed of portions of turns between which said outlet axis is stopped. The drive box 91 is indexed, so that its output shaft performs portions of a turn equivalent to one sixth of a turn, in the case of the application example considered, between which the longitudinal shaft 30, respectively the drum 3 are stopped. The shaft 30 supports a plurality of discs 31, 32, 33 and 34, arranged coaxially and along planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30 and generally spaced apart. The disc 31 is a support disc, while the discs 32 and 34 are retaining discs and the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc as will be seen below. The support discs 31 and 33 have an identical external diameter, relatively large, the external cylindrical surfaces of the two support discs 31, 33 defining, by their extension, the cylindrical support surface of the drum 3, on which the labels will be arranged. In order not to load FIG. 2B, the labels normally placed on the drum 3 have not been shown. In the space separating the support discs 31 and 33, we finds two retaining discs 32, while a third retaining disc 34 is disposed outside of said space, near the disc 33. The outside diameter of the retaining discs 32, 34 is smaller than that of the support discs 31 and 33. Suction nozzles 35, six for each of the retaining discs 32 or 34 according to the embodiment shown, are arranged on the periphery of each of said retaining discs, regularly spaced, every 60 ° in the illustrated example (see Figure 2A). The diameter of the retaining discs 32 and 34, as well as the height of the suction nozzles 35, are such that the suction surfaces of said nozzles are tangent to the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3, defined by the surfaces of support of the support discs 31 and 33 as mentioned previously. The suction nozzles 35 of each of the retaining discs 32, 34 are aligned with each other on generatrices of said cylindrical bearing surface.

Preferably, the shaft 30 is hollow, its hollowed-out central part being occupied by a plurality of suction pipes 36, six in the example considered, and of which only two of them, the pipes 36A and 36B have been completely shown in Figure 2B, so as not to unnecessarily load the figure. Note that the line 36A is connected to three suction nozzles 35, arranged on the same generator, while the second line 36B is connected to the three nozzles 35 arranged on another same generator; it should be understood by this that each of the nozzles 35 disposed on the same generator is connected to the same independent suction pipe. The other ends of the pipes 36 are connected to a distributor 92, of known technique, responsible for controlling the suction of the nozzles 35 disposed on a given generator, depending on the operating steps of the label preparation device, as will be seen below. The distributor 92 is connected to a suction installation 93, of known technique. In this way, the suction can be selectively controlled for each row of nozzles 35, thus making it possible to maintain a label 1, by the depression created by three nozzles 35 aligned on a generator of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3.

The storage means 20 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A and 2B; they are arranged exactly above the drum 3, vertical to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30. They preferably consist of four angles 20A arranged vertically at the four corners of the stack of labels 1 in stock, said stack of labels being only retained by the bottom by inclined wall portions 20B, so that the stack is held in the storage means 20, but that the label disposed under the stack can be removed therefrom by removing it by said pile bottom. The labels 1 are arranged in the stack, all having their front 10, respectively the printed side, facing down, and the surface portion to be folded 16 disposed to the left relative to FIG. 2B, so that the fold 13A is located slightly outside the vertical alignment of the outer circular face of the cylinder 3, respectively of the support disc 31.

The transfer means 21 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A. These transfer means consist of a shaft portion 22, pivoting about its longitudinal axis around an axis 23 disposed parallel to the axis of the shaft 30 on the rear side of the preparation device and approximately between the storage means 20 and the drum 3. The shaft portion 22 is provided, on its side facing the drum 3, with a plurality of gripping fingers 24, four in the example illustrated, projecting perpendicular to the axis 23, and being able to penetrate inside the space occupied by the drum 3, respectively between the discs 31, 32 or 33. As can be seen in FIG. 2B, a first gripping finger can pass between the bearing disc 31 and the first retaining disc 32, a second gripping finger can pass between the two central retaining discs 32, a third gripping finger can penetrate between the second retaining disc and the second support disc 33, while the fourth finger gripping pass outside the last retaining disc 34, which is close to the support disc 33. Any other respective arrangement of the discs and fingers is also possible depending on the operations to be performed. Each of the gripping fingers 24 is provided at its end with a suction nozzle 25, similar to the nozzles 35, and turned upwards. The suction nozzles 25 are connected by a single flexible pipe to a sequential suction center 93A, of known technique (see FIG. 2A) which may be the same as the suction center 93 seen above.

The oscillation movement of the gripping fingers 24, about the axis 23 is provided, as can be seen in FIG. 2A, by the general drive motor 90 of the device, to which a transmission box 94, of known technique and transforming the continuous rotational movement of the output axis of the motor 90, respectively of the input axis of the box 94, into an angular oscillation movement of the output axis of said box. A crankpin 95 being mounted on the outlet axis of the box 94, transmits this oscillatory movement to a rod 26, connected to a lever arm 27, projecting from the shaft portion 22, in the opposite direction to that of the gripping fingers 24. The connection between the crankpin 95 and the rod 26, as well as between said rod and the lever arm 27, is made by pivoting couplings of known technique. Thus, the rotational movement of the motor 90 is transformed into an oscillatory movement of the crankpin 95, an oscillatory movement which is transmitted to the gripping fingers 24, via the rod 26 and the lever arm 27, the oscillating movement of said gripping fingers being thus absolutely synchronized with the rotational movement of the motor 90 and being such that the gripping fingers 24 rise and fall once every sixth of a revolution of the drum 3.

It is therefore now possible to carry out the first operation consisting in grasping the label 1 disposed far below the stack disposed in the storage means 20 and bringing it to the drum 3. For this, said drum is for the moment stopped, so that a row of suction nozzles 35 is in the high position. The gripping fingers 24 are brought into the high position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the suction nozzles 25, in contact with the underside of the label 1 located just below the stack; the suction 93A is switched on, which causes said label to adhere to the nozzles 25, while the gripping fingers begin their movement downward, as shown in FIG. 2B, which has made it possible to remove the label 1 from the bottom of the battery. The gripping fingers 24 continue their downward movement and are inserted between the discs 31, 32, 33 and 34 as indicated above, until the underside, respectively the front 10, of the label 1 reaches the contact of the nozzles 35 arranged in the high position, as shown in FIG. 3A. At this time, the switch suction 92 starts the suction of the nozzles 35 of the row placed in the high position, while the suction 93A of the nozzles 25 of the gripping fingers 24 is stopped. The gripping fingers 24 still continue their way down for a short distance in order to free themselves entirely from the label 1, which is now retained by the suction effect of the nozzles 35. The transmission box 91 then imposes a rotational movement of 60 ° to the drum 3, in order to bring the label 1 opposite the control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5, as shown in FIG. 4A. As soon as this position is reached, the drum 3 stops again and the gripping fingers 24 go back to the high position in order to grasp a new label 1, in the same manner as described above.

It can be seen in FIG. 4A, that the control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5 are formed in a single block, arranged at 60 ° with respect to the vertical and fixed to the frame of the device in a known manner. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4A, and as also seen in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the block passes over the label 1 placed on the nozzles 35, respectively over the discs constituting the drum 3: preferably , this block will be detachably or pivotally attached to the frame of the device, in order to be able to access the drum 3 in the event of a device failure.

The control means 4 comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of emitter-receiver photoelectric cells 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, shown schematically in FIGS. 4B and 4C, each emitting a ray, respectively 40A, 41A, 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A, towards the reverse side 11 of the label 1, ray which is reflected against said face and returns to the receiving cell corresponding.

The cell 40, disposed opposite an approximately central position of the label 1, is intended to determine whether the label 1 is correctly oriented, that is to say whether its back 11, that is the unprinted side, is well directed upwards. In this case, the ray 40A, emitted by the cell 40, and reflected by the back 11 generally of white color, returns to the receiving part of the said cell with an amplitude greater than what it would be if the said ray was reflected against the printed front 10, since printed front 10 reflects less light than back 11. In the case of a misaligned label, cell 40 will stop the machine, in order to remove the misaligned label and allow the operator to check whether the following labels in the stack placed in the storage means 20 are correctly or badly oriented and to correct their position if necessary.

In the context of the present description, a label oriented correctly on its back 11 facing outwards while its front 10 is in contact with the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3; there can be no orientation error around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the label 1, since the asymmetrical shape of said label makes it possible to provide angles 20A of shape adapted to receive only correctly oriented labels with respect to this axis.

The cell 41 can be placed at any place where its radius 41A can be reflected by the face 11 of the label; it is simply intended to detect the presence of a label and controls the adhesive depositing device 5 as will be seen below.

The cells 42, 43, 44, and 45 are arranged on two parallel lines spaced a distance very slightly less than the width of the label 1; in this way, if a label 1 is slightly crooked, two of the spokes 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A will not be reflected towards the corresponding cells. A fault of this type also causes the device to stop.

It is obvious that the control device 4, described here with six emitting-receiving photoelectric cells, can be arranged in any other suitable manner, with cells of another type or arranged differently or with less or more cells.

The adhesive depositing device 5 which, in the described embodiment of the preparation device is mounted on the same block as the control device 4, is located opposite the portion of the label 1 comprising the surface 15 on which two glue points 14 are to be deposited, respectively outside of the support disc 31. It comprises in particular an injection device 50, supplied by a pipe 51 coming from a glue tank (not shown) , and injecting cell 41 on command as seen previously, two jets of glue 52, 53 through the nozzles 54, 55 towards the two points 14 to be glued. It is obvious that the adhesive depositing device could comprise a number of nozzles other than two, just as it could deposit a line of adhesive instead of one or more points 14.

As soon as these control and glue removal operations are carried out, the drum 3 resumes its rotation and it is during this second rotation of 60 ° that the folding of the tongue 16 around the fold 13A and of bonding of this tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 via the glue dots 14 is made, as is the operation of printing the coding 17 on the surface portion 18.

We have seen above that the fold 13A is disposed slightly outside the right of the outer edge of the support disc 31; as soon as the drum 3 resumes its rotation after the operations mentioned above, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 16 enters the folding device 6 arranged on the outside of the support disc 31 and consisting first of a guide device 60 in the form of a helix section, in which the tongue 16 is folded upwards, around the fold start 13A, then over the surface portion 15. As soon as the tongue 16, folded over the surface portion 15, leaves the guide device 60, the label l enters between two rollers 61 and 62, in contact with each other by one of their generatrices, and each rotating freely or being driven around a axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3. These two rollers 61 and 62 are located on the outer side of the first bearing disc 31, the contact line of the outer cylindrical surfaces of the two rollers being disposed in the bearing surface cylindrical defined above, and just after the exit end of the guide device 60. Since the two rollers 61 and 62 press firmly on each other, the passage of the surface portion 15, on which the tongue 16 was simply folded down and between which the drops of glue 14 were previously placed, between the two said rollers ensures good bonding of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15. It can be seen in FIG. 2A that the two rollers 61 and 62 have their centers aligned on a straight line passing through the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, said line making an angle slightly less than 60 ° relative to at the drum stop position opposite the block 4/5. Since, in the example of embodiment described, the rotary movement of the drum 3 takes place exactly over a portion of arc of 60 °, the pressing of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 by the rollers 61 and 62 takes place while the drum 3 is moving, towards the end of its rotational movement while the drum is decelerating, so that the excess torque exerted by the braking due to the support of the two rollers on the tongue 16 and the surface portion 15 does not cause an increase in the driving torque of the drum 3, but contributes to its braking.

It has been said above that the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc. For this, it is constituted as seen in Figures 6A and 6B for a first embodiment. The disc 33 comprises, on its external cylindrical surface, a plurality, in the example of embodiment considered six notches 70, distributed every 60 ° around the periphery of the disc; each of said notches being provided with a printing unit 71, which may be composed of block letters or individually separable.

According to another embodiment, not shown, the notches 70 may be larger than shown in the figure, each printing unit 71 consisting of a plurality of small disks whose common axis is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the disc 33, each of these small discs comprising a plurality of printing characters arranged on their periphery. The angular position of these small discs is indexable by known means, so that, in the printing position, a succession of characters, each belonging to this particular small disc, appears on the circumference disc 33.

These characters can be any number, numbers, letters or symbols or can constitute a barcode type code. It is thus possible to dial any code, be it a date, a number or a product name or any useful indication. The printing blocks 71 are preferably identical for each of the notches 70, but can just as easily be different from one notch to another. Each of the printing blocks 71 or each printing character can be removed from the notch and be exchanged for another printing block or another printing character, in order to change the code 17 printed on the label 1 The method of fixing the printing blocks 71 or printing characters inside the corresponding notch is of known technique, and is such that the printing surface of the block or characters is flush with the surface of cylindrical support of the disc 33. The printing blocks 71, respectively the printing characters are self-inking, that is to say that the ink necessary for printing reaches them through the interior of the disc 33, according to a technique known from printing. So that the printing of the code 17 on the surface portion 18 of the front 10 of the label 1 is done correctly, a support roller 72, preferably made of rubberized material, freely rotating about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, presses the surface portion 18 against the printing block 71 when it passes under said roller. Preferably the angular position of the axis of the caster is the same as that of the casters 61 and 62, as seen in FIG. 2A, for the same reasons as explained previously.

So during the course of the second arc portion of 60 °, the folding of the tongue 16 and its bonding on the surface portion 15, as well as the printing of the code 17 on the surface portion 18, could be carried out.

During the next stop of the drum 3, and that the label is in the 120 ° position, no operation is made on the label 1.

The label 1 is removed from the drum 3 when the drum is next stopped at the next position, that is the 180 ° position. For this, one can once again refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B as well as to FIG. 7. The withdrawal means 8 of the device are composed mainly according to the first embodiment described above, of a withdrawal device 80 as well as a discharge conveyor 81. The removal device 80 also consists of a shaft portion 82, pivoting about an axis 83, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3 and located behind said drum , from which a plurality of withdrawal fingers 84, four in the example considered, extend in the direction of the drum, penetrating into the spaces existing between the discs. Each withdrawal finger 84 is provided at its end with a support surface 84A, facing downwards. The shaft portion 82 comprises, on its side opposite to that where the withdrawal fingers 84 project, a lever arm 85, connected by a rod 85A to the lever arm 27 of the transfer means 21, so that the fingers of withdrawal 84 act in synchronism with the gripping fingers 24, respectively with the rotation of the drum 3. When the label 1, on the drum 3, arrives in position at 180 °, the withdrawal fingers 84, respectively the surfaces of support 84A, are in the high position, that is to say that the label 1 is placed under said support surfaces. At this time, the distributor 92 cuts the vacuum supply to the nozzles 35 arranged at 180 °, which releases the label 1, which then falls towards the conveyor belt 81; this movement is accompanied by the withdrawal fingers 84, so that the label 1 separates well from the drum 3 and does not remain stuck there inadvertently.

Referring to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that the treadmill 81 is an endless belt, the upper strand of which runs in the direction indicated by the arrow, preferably in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3. The treadmill circulates around two rollers 86, one of them being driven by the motor 90, via a gearbox 96. The outer surface of the treadmill 81 is provided with lugs 81A, responsible for pushing towards the before the labels 1 placed on said belt, in particular for the label leaving the conveyor belt to penetrate between two drive rollers 87, driven by another drive unit 98, and rotating with a peripheral speed higher than the speed in advance of the conveyor belt 81, so as to accelerate the label leaving said conveyor belt and to send it, for example, to another conveyor belt 88 which will bring it to the machine responsible for packaging the cigars heads, not shown.

FIG. 2C shows another embodiment of the withdrawal means. The label 1 detached from the drum 3 in the same manner as above, falls on a double slide 180 consisting mainly of two flat upper faces, leaving between them a longitudinal empty space. A gearbox 181, driven by the motor 90 actuates a lever device 182, pivoting about its axis 183, and the upper end of which can circulate in the empty space disposed between the slides 180. The gearbox transmission 181 applies to the lever 182 a movement of movement in the direction of the label which has been deposited on the slides 180 such that, the label 1 is accelerated in its longitudinal direction, slides on the slides 180 and comes into position to be gripped between the roller 184 and the strip 185. At this time, the lever 182 can continue to rotate or be brought back, to drive the next label. The strip 185, which is sent by the roller 186, has lugs 187 protruding in the center of the strip, so that the label 1 is then pushed by a projection 187 while it slides on two other slides 188 leaving also a free space between them for the passage of the projections 187. Motorized means 189 drive the rollers 184 and 186.

The control means 9 additionally comprise a control unit 97, which may be a microprocessor card, or a suitable computer, responsible for synchronizing the various stages of the process and for controlling the operation of the device. In particular, the control unit 97 controls the running of the drive motor 90, checks the presence of the labels on the drum via the control device 4 and the cell 41, as well as the correct positioning of the labels by the cells 40, 42, 43, 44, and 45. This control unit 97 also controls the distributor 92, so that the suction of the nozzles 35 is activated between the 0 ° and 180 ° positions of the drum, in order to maintain the label 1 there. , and deactivated between the 180 ° and 360 ° positions. The control unit 97 can also act on the packaging machine located downstream so that, in the event that a label is missing on the preparation device, situation identified by cell 41, or is incorrectly oriented, situation identified by cell 40, the corresponding packet of cigarettes which should be wrapped in said label is retained on the packaging machine and is therefore not lost.

Various variants of embodiments of the device according to the invention can be envisaged; first of all, it could be that one or the other of the operations of depositing of glue, folding of a portion of surface and printing is omitted, or placed in a different place from that described, similarly that one or the other of these operations be produced several times for the preparation of a particular label or blank for packaging. In this case, the described arrangement of the support and holding discs on the longitudinal axis could be different, just as it might be necessary to provide more or less stop positions for the drum 3 than the four positions described. (0 °, 60 °, 120 ° and 180 °) on a half-turn of the drum. In this case, all that has been described above and relating to an angle of 60 ° should be adapted accordingly. For example, in case we need five stop positions, (0 °, 45 °, 90 °, 135 °, 180 °) the rotation sequences of the drum 3 would be 45 ° and we would in particular have eight rows nozzles 35 arranged every 45 ° on the retaining discs 32, as well as eight printing blocks 71. The diameter of the discs, respectively the diameter of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3 would be increased accordingly. On the other hand, it is equally possible to conceive differently of certain mechanical particularities described; in particular, the means for synchronizing the gripping fingers 24 and the withdrawal fingers 84 with the drive of the drum 3 can be envisaged by electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic or other means.

Thus, by the method and the device for preparing blanks for packaging, in particular for labels for packaging cigarette packs, according to the invention, it is possible to feed a packaging machine at a high rate, seen that said blanks or labels do not leave the drum during all the preparation operations. In addition, given the limited dimensions of this drum, the preparation device takes up significantly less space than the devices according to the prior art. Given the compactness and the high degree of integration of the device, as well as by the positioning checks carried out, the synchronization means are simplified, which remarkably limits the waste as well as the machine stops due to jams.

Claims (30)

1. A method of processing a packaging blank,
      comprising
      an entry step during which said packaging blank is withdrawn from a package by transfer means, and is deposited on a longitudinal portion of the cylindrical support surface of a drum in rotation where it is held in place by holding means after said transfer means have ceased their action,
      and an exit step during which said packaging blank is withdrawn from said drum by withdrawal means after said holding means have ceased their action,
      characterized in that said method comprises in addition subsequent steps of processing between the entry step and the exit step,

   - checking the correct presence, positioning, and orientation of said blank by checking means,

   - depositing at least one drop of adhesive on at least a first surface portion of said blank,

   - introducing at least a second surface portion of said packaging blank in the folding means where said second surface portion or portions are lifted up and turned down at an angle greater than 90° and according to a fold or score line perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum,

   - introducing the said turned down second surface portion or portions into compression means where they are pressed against the said first surface portion or portions which have received adhesive,

      said drum being having been actuated with a sequential rotary movement.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said method comprises in addition the printing of a code on at least one other surface portion of said packaging blank.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blanks (1) are deposited side by side on a peripheral portion of the cylindrical support surface of the drum (3) and successively pass through said processing steps during the sequences of rotation or stopping of the drum.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that said drum is stopped in a first angular position during the step of depositing a blank (1) on a portion of the cylindrical support surface of the drum (3), in a second angular position during the step of checking the presence, orientation and alignment of the blank, in a third angular position during the step of depositing adhesive, and in a fourth angular position during the step of withdrawing said blank from the drum.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the second angular position and the third angular position are the same angular position.
6. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drum is rotating during the steps of introducing and folding at least one surface portion (16) in and by said folding means (6), of compressing said surface portions, and of printing a code (17).
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said steps of compressing and printing are carried out while the drum is decelerating.
8. A device for processing packaging blanks (1) according to the method of one of the preceding claims, comprising the following elements:

   - a drum (3) in rotation about its longitudinal axis (30) having a circular cylindrical support surface as well as means (35) for holding said blanks on said cylindrical support surface,

   - transfer means (21, 24, 25) for withdrawing said blanks one by one from one part of the storage (20) in order to dispose them one after the other on said cylindrical support surface of said drum;

      as well as

   - withdrawal means (8) for withdrawing said blanks one by one from said cylindrical support surface of the drum after processing of said blanks in order to dispose them on routing means (81, 87, 88; 180, 182, 185, 188) for transporting them to the following machine,

      characterized in that it comprises in addition:

   - means of processing said blanks composed of the following means:

   - checking means (4) for checking the correct presence, orientation, and alignment of one of said blanks on a portion of said cylindrical support surface,

   - means for depositing (5) at least one drop of adhesive (14) on at least one first surface portion (15) of said blank,

   - means for folding (6) at least one second surface portion (16) of said blank, capable of lifting and turning down said second surface portion or portions (16) at an angle greater than 90° and according to a fold or score line (13A) perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum (30),

      means for compressing (61, 62) of said second surface portion or portions (16) turned down against said first surface portion or portions (15) which have received the adhesive, and

   - control means (9) for synchronizing the operation of said device.
9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises in addition means of printing (7) a code (17) or a text on at least one other surface portion (18) of said blank.
10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said drum comprises:

    - a longitudinal shaft (30)

    - a plurality of circular support disks (31, 32) of equal diameter disposed coaxially on the longitudinal shaft and perpendicular thereto, said support disks being spaced from one another, the elongation of the exterior circular cylindrical surfaces of said disks defining said cylindrical support surface of said drum,

    - a plurality of circular holding disks (32) disposed coaxially on said shaft and perpendicular thereto and parallel to said support disks, certain holding disks being disposed in the space separating said support disks whereas others being able to be disposed outside said space, the outer diameter of said holding disks being less than that of said support disks, and

    - said holding means being comprised of suction nozzles (35), disposed at regular intervals along the circumference of each of said holding disks, the suction orifices of each of said nozzles being tangent to said cylindrical support surface, the suction nozzles of each of said holding disks being aligned along generatrices of said cylindrical support surface

    - and in that said drum is actuated by a sequential rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, said movement comprising portions of a revolution, each of said rotations being followed by a stop.
11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that each alignment of the nozzles according to a same generatrice has a suction duct (36, 36A, 36B) connecting said nozzles aligned on a same generatrice, said suction ducts of each of the said alignments of nozzles being separate and being connected to suction means (93) by switching means (92) activating and deactivating sequentially the suction by said aligned nozzles.
12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that said transfer means (21) comprise a pivoting axis (22, 23) parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drum, a plurality of seizing fingers (24) projecting perpendicular to said axis toward said drum and capable of entering from outside said cylindrical support surface of the drum into the spaces between said disks, means for actuating the pivoting (95, 26, 27) of said axis, thereby imparting a raising and lowering motion to said seizing fingers, synchronized with the rotational movement of the drum, the end of each of said seizing fingers being provided with a suction nozzle (25), which is activated from the raised position of said fingers, where a blank is seized in the part of the storage (20), until a position near the lowered position of said fingers, and corresponding to a position where the blank is deposited longitudinally on said cylindrical support surface of the drum, and which is deactivated from the depositing position until the lowered position and from said lowered position until said raised position.
13. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said checking means (4) comprise a first set of detection cells (41) for detecting the presence of a blank, a second set of detection cells (40) for detecting the orientation according to which the blank is introduced, and a third set of detection cells (42, 43, 44, 45) for detecting the alignment of the blank.
14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that said first set of cells of detection of the presence of a blank control the deposit of at least one drop of adhesive (14) by said means for depositing adhesive (5) when a blank is in position to receive the adhesive.
15. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that said second set of cells of detection of the orientation and said third set of cells of detection of alignment control the stopping of the machine in the case where a blank is not correctly oriented or aligned.
16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that said second and third set of cells control also the blocking, on a packaging machine, of the batch of products intended to be packaged in a blank and corresponding to the blank detected as wrongly turned or wrongly aligned.
17. The device according to one of the claims 13 to 16, characterized in that said cells of detection are photoelectric cells of emission and reception.
18. The device according to claims 8 and 14, characterized in that said means of depositing adhesive (5) comprise an injection device (50) connected to at least one injection nozzle (54, 55) depositing at least one drop (14) or a line of adhesive on said first surface portion of the blank (15), said device being controlled by said first set of cells of detection of the presence of a blank.
19. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for folding (6) comprise a semi-helical guide rail (60) disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (30), and having the function of folding said second surface portion (16) around a preformed fold or score line (13A), on said first surface portion (15) which has received at least one drop of adhesive.
20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that said folding means (6) are made up of means for compressing comprised of two rollers (61, 62) in rotation about axes disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis (30) and between the peripheral surfaces of which said first surface portion (15), on which said second surface portion (16) is folded, is introduced in order that the two said surface portions are pressed one against the other.
21. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said printing means (7) are comprised of a plurality of printing blocks (71) capable of being comprised of indexable discs disposed in notches (70) distributed regularly on the circumference of the support surface of at least one of said support disks (33), the printing surface of said blocks disposed flush with said support surface, the inking of said printing surface originating from means disposed on the interior of said support disk, a pressure roller (72) in rotation about an axis parallel to the longit udinal axis coming to press said surface portion to be printed against the printing block which is situated facing said pressure roller.
22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that said printing blocks are removable.
23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that each character of said printing blocks is separately exchangeable.
24. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said withdrawal means (8) comprise a pivoting axis (82, 83), parallel to said longitudinal axis (30) of the drum, a plurality of withdrawal fingers (84) projecting perpendicular to said axis, toward said drum, and capable of entering from outside said cylindrical support surface of said drum into the spaces between said disks, means for actuating the pivoting (85, 85A) of said axis, thereby imparting a raising and lowering motion to said withdrawal fingers, synchronized with the rotational movement of said drum, the ends of said withdrawal fingers each comprising a support surface (84A), supporting on the right side (10) of the blank from a position near the raised position of said withdrawal fingers, and after the means of holding the blank on the drum have ceased to function, accompanying said blank by their descending movement down to about the low position of said withdrawal fingers where the blank is deposited on the means (81, 87, 88; 180, 182, 185, 188) of routing to the following machine, said withdrawal fingers resuming their climb up to a raised position, thus permitting a new blank to come to slide, by pivoting of the drum, under said support surfaces.
25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that said routing means comprise a first conveyor belt (81), followed by two transfer rollers (87), between the peripheral surfaces of which the blanks pass and whose peripheral speed is greater than the speed of advance of said first conveyor belt, said two transfer rollers being followed by a second conveyor belt (88) whose speed of advance is the same as the peripheral speed of the two transfer rollers.
26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that said first conveyor belt is equipped with blankpushing lugs (81A) on its outer surface.
27. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that said routing means comprise a double slide bar (180) including a longitudinal empty space, a lever (182) whose one upper portion can move in said empty space, actuation means (181) of said lever, such that a blank (1) disposed on the double slide bar (180) is accelerated in its longitudinal direction, and transfer means comprised of a first driven roller (184) and a belt (185) provided with projections (187).
28. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said control means (9, 97) comprise:

    - means for sequentially rotating (90, 91) said drum by portions of a revolution each followed by a stopping interval,

    - first synchronization means (95, 26, 27) for synchronizing said transfer means (21) in order to deposit a blank on said cylindrical support surface of the drum when said drum is stopped,

    - second synchronization means (92) for actuating the holding of the blank as soon as it is deposited on said cylindrical support surface and for deactivating said holding when the blank is position ready to be withdrawn,

    - third synchronization means (41) for depositing at least one drop of adhesive (14) on at least one surface portion (15) of the blank when said drum is stopped,

    - fourth synchronization means (85, 85A) for causing said withdrawing means to accompany the blank during travel thereof toward said routing means,

    - fifth synchronization means (96, 98; 181, 189) for adjusting the speeds of the routing means and the transfer means,

    - first monitoring means (41) for inhibiting said adhesive-depositing means in the absence of any blank in position to receive adhesive, and

    - second monitoring means (40, 42, 43, 44, 45) for stopping said device when a blank is incorrectly oriented or aligned.
29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that said control means further comprise monitoring means for blocking a pack of products intended to be packaged in a blank when said blank is missing in said processing device.
30. The device according to one of the claims 8 to 29, characterized in that said portions of a revolution are sixths of a revolution.

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