EP1585089B1 - System and apparatus for marking smoking articles - Google Patents

System and apparatus for marking smoking articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1585089B1
EP1585089B1 EP04008493A EP04008493A EP1585089B1 EP 1585089 B1 EP1585089 B1 EP 1585089B1 EP 04008493 A EP04008493 A EP 04008493A EP 04008493 A EP04008493 A EP 04008493A EP 1585089 B1 EP1585089 B1 EP 1585089B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
marking
smoking
cigarette
pocket
products
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP04008493A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1585089A1 (en
Inventor
Bernd Rabenstein
Bernd Limmer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Original Assignee
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British American Tobacco Germany GmbH, BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH filed Critical British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Priority to AT04008493T priority Critical patent/ATE415682T1/en
Priority to PL04008493T priority patent/PL1585089T3/en
Priority to EP04008493A priority patent/EP1585089B1/en
Priority to DE502004008525T priority patent/DE502004008525D1/en
Priority to RU2005109947/12A priority patent/RU2365316C2/en
Publication of EP1585089A1 publication Critical patent/EP1585089A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1585089B1 publication Critical patent/EP1585089B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/60—Final treatment of cigarettes, e.g. marking, printing, branding, decorating
    • A24C5/601—Marking, printing or decorating cigarettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
    • G09F23/10—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on paper articles, e.g. booklets, newspapers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a device for identifying one or more smoking articles. Further, it relates to a smoking article package with one or more labeled smoking articles.
  • smoking articles in particular cigarettes with and without filters, can carry inscriptions on the wrappers, the cigarette paper or the tipping paper of the filter.
  • the labels can serve the information of the consumer or advertising purposes. Examples of this are, for example, in the WO 00/41581 , of the DE 198 39 982 A1 , of the FR 1.541.984 or the JP 082 38 083 to find.
  • all cigarettes of a pack are printed, especially the same printed. This can be achieved in a simple way so that the cigarette paper is printed before the cigarette is produced.
  • the US 2002/0046079 A1 which discloses all features in the preamble of claim 1, describes a method of varying the packaging of like products.
  • a method is described for packaging cigarettes, wherein the cigarettes are placed in individual packages made of paper, which are slightly longer and denser than the cigarette paper, whereby the individual packages can be individually printed. These individual packages are prepared in advance to then place the cigarettes in them.
  • the WO 00/41581 A describes a cigarette with advertising. The printing takes place during the production of the paper, long before the cigarettes are produced for one pack.
  • the DE 299 22 718 U1 describes a cigarette, cigar or cigarillo, wherein the paper sleeve of the cigarette or the outer or cover sheet of the cigar or cigarillos consists of a colored with a food coloring or outside coated cigarette paper, outer or cover sheet.
  • the marking should be incorporated into the normal production process and carried out at normal production speeds.
  • the labeling in the packaging process is only applied to the smoking article (s) when the smoking articles have already been selected for packaging.
  • the printing of the smoking article or cigarette takes place as short as possible before the final actual packaging.
  • a place and time in the packaging process makes sense on which the smoking article or cigarettes are already defined for a particular pack, so that according to the invention advantageously ensures that only and just a certain and defined number of smoking articles with the desired label in a package gets into it.
  • the application of the label may preferably be made after the smoking articles have been assembled for packaging in the smoking article or cigarette packaging machine. After the sorting unit, a corresponding identification means would then also be arranged.
  • An advantageous place for the application of the marking is the area of the pocket chain of a cigarette packaging machine. There, the smoking articles or cigarettes are already sorted in the defined number for a pack.
  • the labeling can be done by a printing process, so for example by inkjet printing or laser printing, but it is also possible to choose a removal process, so for example to install a laser, the material of the envelope of the smoking article ab staff and thus allows labeling.
  • the application of the label is carried out when pushing out the smoking article from a pocket of the bag chain, in particular by means of a relative to the bag stationary identification means.
  • the identification means can be arranged particularly advantageous because it does not have to be moved, and the Ausschiebeterrorism generates the necessary linear feed for the progress of the label, so for example for the application of a label.
  • a single or multiple tags may be used to identify multiple smoking articles.
  • at most 50% of the smoking articles are labeled for packaging, specifically at most three and more specifically only one smoking article.
  • Cigarettes are assembled in packs to form so-called cigarette blocks before being packaged and transported in pocket chains within the packaging machine.
  • a cigarette block 1 is shown in a bag 2 in side view.
  • the cigarettes are shown in three layers with 8, 7 and 8 cigarettes.
  • FIG. 2 the bag chain of a cigarette packaging machine is shown schematically in plan view.
  • the cigarette blocks 1 are transported, in the illustrated example according to the direction of the arrow from right to left.
  • the cigarette blocks arrive in a position of the machine in which the cigarette blocks are pushed out of the pockets by an aid in order to be enveloped by another machine part, eg a transport wheel and then wrapped with a first envelope, the inner liner.
  • the pushing-out aid is shown as a movable punch 4.
  • FIG. 3 shown machine position the cigarette block has just been pushed out of the pocket and the movable punch 4 returned to its rest position. This movement is common in commercially available machines.
  • FIG. 4 shows the printing unit 5 can be seen here above the pocket.
  • the actually effective print head 6 is represented by the circle.
  • the printhead is above the Abschiebepfad a particular cigarette 7 that exactly this cigarette can be printed.
  • the position of the print head is adjustable, so that even with other numbers of cigarettes per layer a cigarette can be selectively printed. It is also possible in this way to determine whether a cigarette should be printed in the middle of the uppermost layer or at its edge.
  • FIG. 5 the expulsion of the cigarette block 1 from the bag 2 is shown.
  • the movable punch 4 moves forward and dives into the pocket 2. This is shown by the dashed representation of the partially hidden stamp.
  • the stationary printhead uses the movement of the cigarette to print an inscription with an adjustable text or other characters on the cigarette 7 over an adjustable length.
  • the movement of the cigarettes which is anyway necessary for the packaging process, is therefore advantageously used for the advance of the printing.
  • the machine cycle can be used, as well as special sensors (not shown in the figure) which detect the position of the cigarette.
  • the labeling method according to the invention can be carried out at the normal speeds of the packaging machine during production. No special handling of the cigarettes is necessary and can therefore be integrated directly into existing packaging machines. Above all, no additional movements of cigarettes or printing units are required at the high production speeds.
  • Additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention are feasible for transporting the cigarettes during transport of the not yet enveloped cigarette block, e.g. also in the pocket chain, to be printed. For this, e.g. also the printheads are moved.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
  • Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
  • Measuring Or Testing Involving Enzymes Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

A system for selective marking of cigarettes during packaging has the cigarettes collected in set numbers in a holding grip (2) in which the groups are moved along a process line. Each group of cigarettes are pushed out of the holder by a ram (4) and into the first wrapping stage of the packaging. During the transfer at least one cigarette of each group is marked by a movable printing head (5) without disrupting the packaging process.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Kennzeichnen eines oder mehrerer Rauchartikel. Ferner betrifft sie eine Rauchartikelverpackung mit einem oder einzelnen gekennzeichneten Rauchartikeln.The invention relates to a method and a device for identifying one or more smoking articles. Further, it relates to a smoking article package with one or more labeled smoking articles.

Aus dem Stand der Technik ist bekannt, dass Rauchartikel, insbesondere Zigaretten mit und ohne Filter, auf den Umhüllungen, dem Zigarettenpapier oder dem Belagpapier des Filters, Beschriftungen tragen können. Die Beschriftungen können der Information des Konsumenten dienen oder auch Werbezwecken. Beispiele hierfür sind z.B. in der WO 00/41581 , der DE 198 39 982 A1 , der FR 1.541.984 oder der JP 082 38 083 zu finden. Soweit dies angesprochen wird, sind jedoch alle Zigaretten einer Packung bedruckt, insbesondere gleich bedruckt. Dies kann auf einfache Weise so erreicht werden, dass das Zigarettenpapier schon vor der Zigarettenherstellung bedruckt wird. Sollen jedoch nicht alle Zigaretten bedruckt sein, wäre es möglich, die Bedruckung in entsprechenden Abständen auf dem Zigaretten- oder Belagpapier aufzubringen, dass z.B. nur jede dritte Zigarette bedruckt ist. Beim weiteren Produktionsverlauf durchmischen sich die bedruckten und unbedruckten Zigaretten jedoch so stark, dass bei der Verpackung nicht mehr sichergestellt werden kann, dass exakt die gewünschte Zahl an bedruckten und unbedruckten Zigaretten in jede Packung gelangt. Des Weiteren wäre eine getrennte Herstellung von unbedruckten und bedruckten Zigaretten vorstellbar und ein Zusammenführen der entsprechenden Anzahlen für eine Packung. Dieser Ansatz ist jedoch extrem aufwändig und nicht in die normalen Produktionsabläufe integrierbar.It is known from the prior art that smoking articles, in particular cigarettes with and without filters, can carry inscriptions on the wrappers, the cigarette paper or the tipping paper of the filter. The labels can serve the information of the consumer or advertising purposes. Examples of this are, for example, in the WO 00/41581 , of the DE 198 39 982 A1 , of the FR 1.541.984 or the JP 082 38 083 to find. As far as this is addressed, however, all cigarettes of a pack are printed, especially the same printed. This can be achieved in a simple way so that the cigarette paper is printed before the cigarette is produced. However, if not all cigarettes should be printed, it would be possible to apply the printing at appropriate intervals on the cigarette or tipping paper, for example, that only every third cigarette is printed. However, as the production progresses, the printed and unprinted cigarettes are so mixed that it is no longer possible to ensure that the exact number of printed and unprinted cigarettes in each pack reaches the packaging. Furthermore, a separate production of unprinted and printed cigarettes would be conceivable and a merger of the corresponding numbers for a pack. However, this approach is extremely complex and can not be integrated into normal production processes.

Die US 2002/0046079 A1 , die alle Merkmale im Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 offenbart, beschreibt ein Verfahren zum Variieren der Verpackung an gleichartigen Produkten. Beispielhaft wird ein Verfahren zum Verpacken von Zigaretten beschrieben, wobei die Zigaretten in individuelle Verpackungen platziert werden, die aus Papier bestehen, wobei diese etwas länger und dichter sind als das Zigarettenpapier, wobei die individuellen Verpackungen individuell bedruckt werden können. Diese individuellen Verpackungen werden vorher hergestellt, um dann darin die Zigaretten zu platzieren.The US 2002/0046079 A1 , which discloses all features in the preamble of claim 1, describes a method of varying the packaging of like products. By way of example, a method is described for packaging cigarettes, wherein the cigarettes are placed in individual packages made of paper, which are slightly longer and denser than the cigarette paper, whereby the individual packages can be individually printed. These individual packages are prepared in advance to then place the cigarettes in them.

Die WO 00/41581 A beschreibt eine Zigarette mit Werbemitteln. Die Bedruckung erfolgt bei der Herstellung des Papiers, lange bevor die Zigaretten für eine Packung produziert sind.The WO 00/41581 A describes a cigarette with advertising. The printing takes place during the production of the paper, long before the cigarettes are produced for one pack.

Die DE 299 22 718 U1 beschreibt eine Zigarette, Zigarre oder Zigarillo, wobei die Papierhülse der Zigarette oder das Außen- oder Deckblatt der Zigarre oder Zigarillos aus einem mit einer Lebensmittelfarbe eingefärbtem oder außenseitig beschichtetem Zigarettenpapier, Außen- oder Deckblatt besteht.The DE 299 22 718 U1 describes a cigarette, cigar or cigarillo, wherein the paper sleeve of the cigarette or the outer or cover sheet of the cigar or cigarillos consists of a colored with a food coloring or outside coated cigarette paper, outer or cover sheet.

Es ist die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung bereitzustellen, welche die Nachteile des Standes der Technik überwindet. Insbesondere soll sichergestellt werden, dass garantiert eine definierte Zahl von Rauchartikeln bzw. Zigaretten in einer Packung mit Text oder sonstigen Zeichen gekennzeichnet ist. Die Kennzeichnung soll dabei in den normalen Produktionsablauf eingegliedert sein und bei normalen Produktionsgeschwindigkeiten erfolgen.It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it should be ensured that a defined number of articles of smoking or cigarettes is guaranteed in a pack with text or other signs. The marking should be incorporated into the normal production process and carried out at normal production speeds.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch ein Verfahren gemäß dem Anspruch 1 und eine Vorrichtung gemäß dem Anspruch 8 gelöst. Die Unteransprüche beschreiben bevorzugte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung.This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 8. The subclaims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

Nach der Lehre der vorliegenden Erfindung wird die Kennzeichnung im Verpackungsprozess erst dann auf den oder die Rauchartikel aufgebracht, wenn die Rauchartikel für eine Verpackung bereits definiert ausgewählt sind. Was die Vorrichtung betrifft bedeutet dies, dass erfindungsgemäß mindestens ein Kennzeichnungsmittel an einer Stelle einer Rauchartikel- bzw. Zigarettenverpackungsmaschine angeordnet ist, an der die Rauchartikel für eine Verpackung bereits definiert ausgewählt sind.According to the teaching of the present invention, the labeling in the packaging process is only applied to the smoking article (s) when the smoking articles have already been selected for packaging. As far as the device is concerned, this means that according to the invention at least one identification means is arranged at a location of a smoking article or cigarette packaging machine on which the smoking articles for a packaging are already defined.

Mit anderen Worten findet die Bedruckung der Rauchartikel bzw. Zigaretten erst möglichst kurze vor der letztendlichen tatsächlichen Verpackung statt. Insbesondere ist ein Ort und Zeitpunkt im Verpackungsprozess sinnvoll, an dem die Rauchartikel bzw. Zigaretten für eine bestimmte Packung schon definiert sind, so dass erfindungsgemäß vorteilhafterweise sichergestellt ist, dass nur und gerade eine bestimmte und definierte Anzahl von Rauchartikeln mit der gewünschten Kennzeichnung in eine Verpackung hinein gelangt.In other words, the printing of the smoking article or cigarette takes place as short as possible before the final actual packaging. In particular, a place and time in the packaging process makes sense on which the smoking article or cigarettes are already defined for a particular pack, so that according to the invention advantageously ensures that only and just a certain and defined number of smoking articles with the desired label in a package gets into it.

Die Aufbringung der Kennzeichnung kann vorzugsweise nach dem Zusammenstellen der Rauchartikel für eine Verpackung in der Rauchartikel- bzw. Zigarettenverpackungsmaschine erfolgen. Nach der Sortiereinheit wäre dann auch ein entsprechendes Kennzeichnungsmittel angeordnet.The application of the label may preferably be made after the smoking articles have been assembled for packaging in the smoking article or cigarette packaging machine. After the sorting unit, a corresponding identification means would then also be arranged.

Ein vorteilhafter Ort für die Aufbringung der Kennzeichnung ist der Bereich der Taschenkette eine Zigarettenverpackungsmaschine. Dort liegen die Rauchartikel bzw. Zigaretten schon in der definierten Anzahl für eine Packung geordnet vor.An advantageous place for the application of the marking is the area of the pocket chain of a cigarette packaging machine. There, the smoking articles or cigarettes are already sorted in the defined number for a pack.

Die Kennzeichnung kann durch einen Druckvorgang, also beispielsweise durch Tintenstrahldruck oder Laserdruck erfolgen, es ist aber auch möglich, einen Abtragungsvorgang zu wählen, also beispielsweise einen Laser zu installieren, der Material der Umhüllung des Rauchartikels abträgt und somit eine Kennzeichnung gestattet.The labeling can be done by a printing process, so for example by inkjet printing or laser printing, but it is also possible to choose a removal process, so for example to install a laser, the material of the envelope of the smoking article abträgt and thus allows labeling.

In besonders vorteilhafter Ausgestaltung erfolgt die Aufbringung der Kennzeichnung beim Ausschieben der Rauchartikel aus einer Tasche der Taschenkette, insbesondere mittels eines gegenüber der Tasche stillstehenden Kennzeichnungsmittels. Dabei läßt sich das Kennzeichnungsmittel besonders vorteilhaft anordnen, da es nicht bewegt werden muss, und die Ausschiebebewegung erzeugt den nötigen linearen Vorschub für den Fortschritt der Kennzeichnung, also beispielsweise für das Aufbringen einer Beschriftung.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the application of the label is carried out when pushing out the smoking article from a pocket of the bag chain, in particular by means of a relative to the bag stationary identification means. In this case, the identification means can be arranged particularly advantageous because it does not have to be moved, and the Ausschiebebewegung generates the necessary linear feed for the progress of the label, so for example for the application of a label.

Ein einziges oder mehrere Kennzeichnungsmittel, also beispielsweise ein Druckkopf oder mehrere Druckköpfe können verwendet werden, um mehrere Rauchartikel zu kennzeichnen. Dabei werden insbesondere höchstens 50% der Rauchartikel für eine Verpackung gekennzeichnet, speziell höchstens drei und noch spezieller nur ein Rauchartikel.A single or multiple tags, such as a printhead or multiple printheads, may be used to identify multiple smoking articles. In particular, at most 50% of the smoking articles are labeled for packaging, specifically at most three and more specifically only one smoking article.

Die Erfindung wird im Weiteren anhand einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform und unter Bezugnahme auf die beiliegenden Zeichnungen näher erläutert. Die in den Zeichnungen und hierin beschriebenen Merkmale können einzeln oder in jedweder Kombination verwendet werden. Es zeigen:

Figur 1
eine Tasche einer Zigarettenverpackungsmaschinen-Taschenkette in der Seitenansicht;
Figur 2
eine Taschenkette einer Zigarettenverpackungsmaschine schematisch in der Draufsicht;
Figur 3
einen Teil der Taschenkette mit einem ausgeschobenen Zigarettenblock;
Figur 4
eine Tasche der Taschenkette kurz vor dem erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsvorgang; und
Figur 5
eine Tasche der Taschenkette beim erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsvorgang.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features described in the drawings and herein may be used alone or in any combination. Show it:
FIG. 1
a pocket of a cigarette packing machine pocket chain in side view;
FIG. 2
a pocket chain of a cigarette packaging machine schematically in plan view;
FIG. 3
a part of the bag chain with an ejected cigarette block;
FIG. 4
a pocket of the bag chain just before the marking process according to the invention; and
FIG. 5
a pocket of the bag chain in the marking process according to the invention.

Zigaretten werden vor der Verpackung in Packungen zu sogenannten Zigarettenblöcken zusammengestellt und in Taschenketten innerhalb der Verpackungsmaschine transportiert. In Figur 1 ist ein solcher Zigarettenblock 1 in einer Tasche 2 in Seitenansicht dargestellt. Beispielhaft sind die Zigaretten in drei Lagen mit 8, 7 und 8 Zigaretten eingezeichnet.Cigarettes are assembled in packs to form so-called cigarette blocks before being packaged and transported in pocket chains within the packaging machine. In FIG. 1 such a cigarette block 1 is shown in a bag 2 in side view. By way of example, the cigarettes are shown in three layers with 8, 7 and 8 cigarettes.

In Figur 2 ist die Taschenkette einer Zigarettenverpackungsmaschine schematisch in Draufsicht dargestellt. In den Taschen 2 werden die Zigarettenblöcke 1 transportiert, im dargestellten Beispiel entsprechend der Pfeilrichtung von rechts nach links. Die Zigarettenblöcke gelangen dabei in eine Stellung der Maschine, in dem die Zigarettenblöcke durch ein Hilfsmittel aus den Taschen herausgeschoben werden, um von einem weiteren Maschinenteil, z.B. einem Transportrad gegriffen und danach mit einer ersten Umhüllung, dem Innerliner, umhüllt zu werden. In diesem Beispiel ist das Hilfsmittel zum Herausschieben als beweglicher Stempel 4 dargestellt. In der in Figur 3 gezeigten Maschinenstellung ist der Zigarettenblock eben aus der Tasche herausgeschoben worden und der bewegliche Stempel 4 wieder in seine Ruheposition zurückgekehrt. Dieser Bewegungsablauf ist bei kommerziell erhältlichen Maschinen weit verbreitet.In FIG. 2 the bag chain of a cigarette packaging machine is shown schematically in plan view. In the pockets 2, the cigarette blocks 1 are transported, in the illustrated example according to the direction of the arrow from right to left. The cigarette blocks arrive in a position of the machine in which the cigarette blocks are pushed out of the pockets by an aid in order to be enveloped by another machine part, eg a transport wheel and then wrapped with a first envelope, the inner liner. In this example, the pushing-out aid is shown as a movable punch 4. In the in FIG. 3 shown machine position, the cigarette block has just been pushed out of the pocket and the movable punch 4 returned to its rest position. This movement is common in commercially available machines.

Mit der nächsten Bewegung der Taschenkette gerät wieder eine gefüllte Tasche in den Wirkbereich des beweglichen Stempels. Diese Situation ist in Figur 4 dargestellt. Die Bedruckeinheit 5 ist hier schematisch oberhalb der Tasche zu erkennen. Der eigentlich wirksame Druckkopf 6 ist durch den Kreis dargestellt. Der Druckkopf liegt so über dem Abschiebepfad einer bestimmten Zigarette 7, dass genau diese Zigarette bedruckt werden kann. Die Lage des Druckkopfes ist justierbar, so dass auch bei anderen Zigarettenanzahlen pro Lage eine Zigarette gezielt bedruckt werden kann. Es ist auch möglich auf diese Weise zu bestimmten, ob eine Zigarette in der Mitte der obersten Lage oder an deren Rand bedruckt werden soll.With the next movement of the bag chain again a filled bag gets into the effective range of the movable punch. This situation is in FIG. 4 shown. The printing unit 5 can be seen here above the pocket. The actually effective print head 6 is represented by the circle. The printhead is above the Abschiebepfad a particular cigarette 7 that exactly this cigarette can be printed. The position of the print head is adjustable, so that even with other numbers of cigarettes per layer a cigarette can be selectively printed. It is also possible in this way to determine whether a cigarette should be printed in the middle of the uppermost layer or at its edge.

In Figur 5 ist das Ausschieben des Zigarettenblocks 1 aus der Tasche 2 dargestellt. Hierzu fährt der bewegliche Stempel 4 nach vorne und taucht dabei in die Tasche 2 ein. Dies ist durch die gestrichelte Darstellung des teilweise verdeckten Stempels gezeigt. Bei dieser Bewegung wird der Zigarettenblock 1 und mit ihm die Zigarette unter dem Druckkopf 6 vorbeigeschoben. Der still stehende Druckkopf nutzt die Bewegung der Zigarette um über eine einstellbare Länge eine Beschriftung mit einem einstellbaren Text oder andere Zeichen auf die Zigarette 7 aufzudrucken. Die Bewegung der Zigaretten, die für den Verpackungsprozess ohnehin nötig ist, wird daher vorteilhafterweise für den Vorschub der Bedruckung verwendet. Zur Steuerung des Druckbeginns und -endes kann sowohl der Maschinentakt verwendet werden, als auch spezielle Sensoren, (in der Abbildung nicht dargestellt) die die Lage der Zigaretten detektieren.In FIG. 5 the expulsion of the cigarette block 1 from the bag 2 is shown. For this purpose, the movable punch 4 moves forward and dives into the pocket 2. This is shown by the dashed representation of the partially hidden stamp. During this movement, the cigarette block 1 and with it the cigarette is pushed under the print head 6. The stationary printhead uses the movement of the cigarette to print an inscription with an adjustable text or other characters on the cigarette 7 over an adjustable length. The movement of the cigarettes, which is anyway necessary for the packaging process, is therefore advantageously used for the advance of the printing. To control the beginning and end of the print both the machine cycle can be used, as well as special sensors (not shown in the figure) which detect the position of the cigarette.

Um mehrere Zigaretten parallel zu bedrucken, können in ähnlicher Weise weitere Druckköpfe 6 mit schmalen Druckeinheiten 5 montiert werden. Alternativ können bei der Nutzung von Druckköpfen oder Drucktechnologien, die deutlich größere wirksame Druckbereiche aufweisen, auch mehrere Zigaretten gleichzeitig beschriftet werden.In order to print several cigarettes in parallel, further print heads 6 with narrow printing units 5 can be mounted in a similar manner. Alternatively, when using printheads or printing technologies that have significantly larger effective pressure ranges, multiple cigarettes may also be labeled simultaneously.

Das erfindungsgemäße Beschriftungsverfahren kann mit den normalen Geschwindigkeiten der Verpackungsmaschine bei der Produktion erfolgen. Es ist kein besonderes Handling der Zigaretten nötig und ist daher direkt in bestehende Verpackungsmaschinen integrierbar. Vor allem sind keine zusätzlichen Bewegungen von Zigaretten oder Druckeinheiten bei den hohen Produktionsgeschwindigkeiten nötig.The labeling method according to the invention can be carried out at the normal speeds of the packaging machine during production. No special handling of the cigarettes is necessary and can therefore be integrated directly into existing packaging machines. Above all, no additional movements of cigarettes or printing units are required at the high production speeds.

Es sind zusätzliche Ausführungsformen im Rahmen vorliegender Erfindung umsetzbar, um die Zigaretten beim Transport des noch nicht umhüllten Zigarettenblocks, z.B. auch in der Taschenkette, zu bedrucken. Hierzu könnten z.B. auch die Druckköpfe bewegt werden.Additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention are feasible for transporting the cigarettes during transport of the not yet enveloped cigarette block, e.g. also in the pocket chain, to be printed. For this, e.g. also the printheads are moved.

Claims (13)

  1. A method for marking a smoking product or individual smoking products (7) of a plurality of smoking products which are packaged in a single package, wherein the marking is only applied to the smoking product or products (7) in the packaging process once the smoking products have already been definitively selected for a package, characterised in that the marking is applied after the smoking products (7) have been assembled for a package in the smoking product and/or cigarette packaging machine.
  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marking is applied in the region of the pocket chain of a cigarette packaging machine.
  3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the marking is applied by printing by means of ink-jet printing or laser printing.
  4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the marking is applied by ablating the wrapping of the smoking product (7), in particular by laser ablating.
  5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the marking is applied as the smoking products (7) are ejected from a pocket (2) of the pocket chain, in particular by means of a marking means (5, 6) which is stationary relative to the pocket.
  6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of smoking products (7) are marked by means of one or more marking means (5, 6), in particular at most 50% of the smoking products for one package, specifically at most 3 and even more specifically only one smoking product.
  7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that marking is controlled by the machine cycle of the smoking product and/or cigarette packaging machine.
  8. A device for marking a smoking product or individual smoking products (7) of a plurality of smoking products which are packaged in a single package, wherein at least one marking means (5, 6) is arranged at a point in or on a smoking product and/or cigarette packaging machine, at which the smoking products (7) have already been definitively selected for a package, characterised in that the marking means (5, 6) is arranged downstream of the sorting unit of a smoking product and/or cigarette packaging machine, which sorts the smoking products for the packages.
  9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the marking means (5, 6) is arranged in the region of the pocket chain of a cigarette packaging machine.
  10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the marking means (5, 6) is a printing device, in particular an ink-jet printing head or laser printing head.
  11. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the marking means is an ablating device which ablates material from the wrapping of the smoking product, in particular a laser ablating device.
  12. The device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the marking means (5, 6) is arranged at the ejection end of a pocket (2) of the pocket chain, in particular stationary relative to the pocket (2).
  13. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that one or more marking means (5, 6) are provided, in order to mark a plurality of smoking products (7).
EP04008493A 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 System and apparatus for marking smoking articles Expired - Lifetime EP1585089B1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT04008493T ATE415682T1 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LABELING SMOKING ITEMS
PL04008493T PL1585089T3 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 System and apparatus for marking smoking articles
EP04008493A EP1585089B1 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 System and apparatus for marking smoking articles
DE502004008525T DE502004008525D1 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 Method and device for labeling smoking articles
RU2005109947/12A RU2365316C2 (en) 2004-04-07 2005-04-06 Method of labeling of single product or several tobacco goods, device to this effect and package for tobacco goods containing one or several labeled tobacco goods

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04008493A EP1585089B1 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 System and apparatus for marking smoking articles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1585089A1 EP1585089A1 (en) 2005-10-12
EP1585089B1 true EP1585089B1 (en) 2008-11-26

Family

ID=34896013

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04008493A Expired - Lifetime EP1585089B1 (en) 2004-04-07 2004-04-07 System and apparatus for marking smoking articles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1585089B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE415682T1 (en)
DE (1) DE502004008525D1 (en)
PL (1) PL1585089T3 (en)
RU (1) RU2365316C2 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8171941B2 (en) 2007-02-26 2012-05-08 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Cigarette customization apparatus and associated method
CN103802488B (en) * 2012-11-09 2015-12-16 上海烟草集团有限责任公司 Bar cigarette Turnover Box snap close security code spray equipment
US11832641B2 (en) 2013-02-27 2023-12-05 Philip Morris Products S.A. Smoking article having hidden indicia
EP3127435A1 (en) * 2015-07-23 2017-02-08 Boegli-Gravures S.A. Method and device for applying identification features to a packing strip in order to authenticate the processed packing
KR20240067084A (en) * 2021-09-20 2024-05-16 제이티 인터내셔널 소시에떼 아노님 Laser-etched aerosol-generating article packaging, aerosol-generating article comprising same, and method of making the same

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8308531D0 (en) * 1983-03-29 1983-05-05 British American Tobacco Co Marking of smoking article wrappings
JPH08238083A (en) * 1995-03-03 1996-09-17 Masako Kobayashi Cigarette and wrapping paper therefor
US6180914B1 (en) * 1998-02-17 2001-01-30 Advanced Foliar Technologies, Inc. Laser marking of foliage and cigars
DE29922719U1 (en) * 1998-12-23 2000-03-16 Benkhardt, Axel, 22587 Hamburg Cigarette, cigar or cigarillo and packaging therefor
KR20000050645A (en) * 1999-01-13 2000-08-05 김태건 Cigaret provided with an adverising means
US7047207B2 (en) * 1999-02-24 2006-05-16 Igor Anatolievich Stavrulov Method for customizing consumer product packaging by varying images appearing on packages
IT1320970B1 (en) * 2000-04-04 2003-12-18 Gd Spa MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE PACKAGES AND METHOD OF CONTROL OF THE MACHINE.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL1585089T3 (en) 2009-05-29
RU2365316C2 (en) 2009-08-27
RU2005109947A (en) 2006-10-20
DE502004008525D1 (en) 2009-01-08
EP1585089A1 (en) 2005-10-12
ATE415682T1 (en) 2008-12-15

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