Cigarette production and packaging unit and method and device for control thereof

• US 20050145259A1
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Focke & Company
• Original Assignee: Focke & Company
• Inventors: Meyer, Kurt, Tengen, Thomas, Focke, Heinz, Focke, Doris, Focke, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/283
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/228 Preparing and feeding blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/28 Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/001 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/02 Arrangements to enable adjustments to be made while the machine is running
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/025 for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/003 Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels

Abstract

A production and packaging installation with a control arrangement (33) and production units having respectively adjustable mechanisms, such as, a (cigarette-) production machine (maker 10), a packaging machine (packer 11), possibly a film-wrapping machine (12), possibly a multipacker (13) and possibly a carton packer (cartoner 14), for the production and ready-to-dispatch packaging of, in the first instance, products—cigarettes and cigarette packs—of a first type and, thereafter, products of a second type each comprising starting materials, such as paper blanks, film and the like, and also specifies the control arrangement itself and a method of controlling the line, it being the case that at least a first set of parameters (61) associated with products of the first type and a second set of parameters (62) associated with products of the second type are stored in a selectable manner in a memory of the control arrangement (33) and, upon selection of a set of parameters (61, 62), a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism can be transmitted to the or each production unit by the control arrangement (33), by way of the selected parameters.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A production and packaging installation having a control arrangement (33) and production units having adjustable mechanisms for the production and packaging of, in the first instance, products of a first type and, thereafter, products of a second type, each comprising a plurality of starting materials, comprising:

a) at least a first set (61) of parameters associated with products of the first type and a second set (62) of parameters associated with products of the second type are stored in a selectable manner in a memory of the control arrangement (33), and

b) upon selection of a parameter set (61, 62), a manipulated variable for adjusting at least one of the adjustable mechanisms is transmitted to at least one of production units by the control arrangement (33) on the basis of the selected parameters.

36. The production and packaging installation according to claim 35, wherein:

a) the production units have at least one cigarette production machine (maker 10) and at least one additional machine selected from the group consisting of a packaging machine (packer 11), a film-wrapping machine (12), a multipacker (13), and a carton packer (cartoner 14), for the production and packaging of, in the first instance, cigarettes and cigarette packs of a first type and, thereafter, cigarettes and cigarette packs of a second type, and

b) the mechanisms adjustable in accordance with the selected parameter set (61, 62) are selected from the group consisting of a label apparatus for the application of revenue strips to cigarette packs, folding members of the packer (11), heating and/or pressure-exerting elements of the film-wrapping machine (12), a CCD, and an optic transmitter.

37. The production and packaging installation according to claim 35, wherein:

a) at least one product-type-related parameter set (74) for linking starting materials is stored in the memory, and

b) upon selection of a set of parameters (61, 62), a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism is transmitted to the or each production unit by the control arrangement (33) by way of the selected parameters and/or of the product-type-related set of parameters (74).

38. The production and packaging installation according to claim 37, wherein the product-type-related set of parameters (74) comprises specified or specifiable links between starting materials and, for each link, at least one manipulated variable for adjusting an adjustable mechanism.

39. The production and packaging installation according to claim 35, wherein:

a) the first and second parameter set (61, 62) stored in the memory of the control arrangement (33) encompasses at least one code (65) for each starting material,

b) the starting material supplied at the production units is assigned an individual, ascertainable material code,

c) in the selection of a parameter set (61, 62) the material code of the starting material provided at the production units concerned is compared with the corresponding code taken from the selected parameter set (61, 62).

40. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein an error signal is generated if at least one identified material code does not correspond to the corresponding code (65) from the selected set of parameters (61, 62).

41. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein each parameter set (61, 62) contains a number of necessary starting materials and at least one code (65) for the or each necessary starting material.

42. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein:

a) each production unit has electronic data carriers associated therewith for the purpose of recording in each case a material code of the or each respectively fed starting material, and

b) upon determination of a code (65) from the set of parameters (61, 62) that matches a material code, a manipulated variable, for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism, which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to the respective production unit by the control arrangement (33).

43. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein:

a) the or each starting material provided with a material code is fed to each production unit, with account being taken of a comparison between code (65) and material code,

b) a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism and which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to each production unit by the control arrangement (33).

44. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein:

a) at least one product-type-related set of parameters for taking account of dependencies between individual starting materials is provided for each product type, and

b) instead of a manipulated variable which is associated with a starting material which is dependent on another starting material, a manipulated variable which is associated with a corresponding parameter of the product-type-related set of parameters is transmitted to the respective production unit.

45. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein a relative position of the adjustable mechanism is changeable in relation to a reference position.

46. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, wherein, as determined by the selected parameters (61), rotatable elements with projections (57) are adjusted with respect to at least one of the members of the group consisting of the relative position, the folding elements, the heating members relating to temperature, the pressure-exerting members relating to pressure, and optical and optoelectronic sensors relating to response behavior.

47. The production and packaging installation according to claim 39, characterized in that prior to the adjustment of the or each adjustable mechanism, the hitherto valid settings of the or each production unit and/or of the or each adjustable mechanism can be stored for possible subsequent re-use.

48. The production and packaging installation according to claim 36, wherein:

a) the first and second parameter set (61, 62) stored in the memory of the control arrangement (33) encompasses at least one code (65) for each starting material,

b) the starting material supplied at the production units is assigned an individual, ascertainable material code, and

c) in the selection of a parameter set (61, 62) the material code of the starting material provided at the production units concerned is compared with the corresponding code taken from the selected parameter set (61, 62).

49. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein an error signal is generated if at least one identified material code does not correspond to the corresponding code (65) from the selected set of parameters (61, 62).

50. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein each parameter set (61, 62) contains a number of necessary starting materials and at least one code (65) for the or each necessary starting material.

51. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein:

a) each production unit has electronic data carriers associated therewith for the purpose of recording in each case a material code of the or each respectively fed starting material, and

b) upon determination of a code (65) from the set of parameters (61, 62) that matches a material code, a manipulated variable, for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism, which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to the respective production unit by the control arrangement (33).

52. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein:

a) the or each starting material provided with a material code is fed to each production unit, with account being taken of a comparison between code (65) and material code, and

b) a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism and which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to each production unit by the control arrangement (33).

53. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein:

a) at least one product-type-related set of parameters for taking account of dependencies between individual starting materials is provided for each product type, and

b) instead of a manipulated variable which is associated with a starting material which is dependent on another starting material, a manipulated variable which is associated with a corresponding parameter of the product-type-related set of parameters is transmitted to the respective production unit.

54. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein a relative position of the adjustable mechanism is changeable in relation to a reference position.

55. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein, as determined by the selected parameters (61), rotatable elements with projections (57) are adjusted with respect to at least one of the members of the group consisting of the relative position, the folding elements, the heating members relating to temperature, the pressure-exerting members relating to pressure, and optical and optoelectronic sensors relating to response behavior.

56. The production and packaging installation according to claim 48, wherein prior to the adjustment of the or each adjustable mechanism, the hitherto valid settings of the or each production unit and/or of the or each adjustable mechanism can be stored for possible subsequent re-use.

57. The production and packaging installation according to claim 35, wherein:

a) the first and second parameter set (61, 62) stored in the memory of the control arrangement (33) encompasses a code (65) for each necessary starting material,

b) the starting material supplied at the production units concerned has an ascertainable material code, and

c) upon selection of a parameter set (61, 62) the appropriate starting material is fed to the production units associated with the code (65) of the selected parameter set (61, 62).

58. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein an error signal is generated if at least one identified material code does not correspond to the corresponding code (65) from the selected set of parameters (61, 62).

59. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherien each parameter set (61, 62) contains a number of necessary starting materials and at least one code (65) for the or each necessary starting material.

60. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherien:

a) each production unit has electronic data carriers associated therewith for the purpose of recording in each case a material code of the or each respectively fed starting material, and

b) upon determination of a code (65) from the set of parameters (61, 62) which matches a material code, a manipulated variable, for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism, which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to the respective production unit by the control arrangement (33).

61. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein:

a) the or each necessary starting material provided with a material code is fed to each production unit, with account being taken of a comparison between code (65) and material code, and

b) a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism and which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to each production unit by the control arrangement (33).

62. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein:

a) at least one product-type-related set of parameters for taking account of dependencies between individual starting materials is provided for each product type, and

b) instead of a manipulated variable which is associated with a starting material which is dependent on another starting material, a manipulated variable which is associated with a corresponding parameter of the product-type-related set of parameters is transmitted to the respective production unit.

63. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein a relative position of the adjustable mechanism is changeable in relation to a reference position.

64. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein, as determined by the selected parameters (61), rotatable elements with projections (57) are adjusted with respect to at least one of the members of the group consisting of the relative position, the folding elements, the heating members relating to temperature, the pressure-exerting members relating to pressure, and optical and optoelectronic sensors relating to response behavior.

65. The production and packaging installation according to claim 57, wherein prior to the adjustment of the or each adjustable mechanism, the hitherto valid settings of the or each production unit and/or of the or each adjustable mechanism are stored for possible subsequent re-use.

66. The production and packaging installation according to claim 36, wherein:

a) the first and second parameter set (61, 62) stored in the memory of the control arrangement (33) encompasses a code (65) for each necessary starting material,

b) the starting material supplied at the production units concerned has an ascertainable material code, and

c) upon selection of a parameter set (61, 62) the appropriate starting material is fed to the production units associated with the code (65) of the selected parameter set (61, 62).

67. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein an error signal is generated if at least one identified material code does not correspond to the corresponding code (65) from the selected set of parameters (61, 62).

68. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein each parameter set (61, 62) contains a number of necessary starting materials and at least one code (65) for the or each necessary starting material.

69. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein:

a) each production unit has electronic data carriers associated therewith for the purpose of recording in each case a material code of the or each respectively fed starting material, and

b) upon determination of a code (65) from the set of parameters (61, 62) that matches a material code, a manipulated variable, for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism, which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to the respective production unit by the control arrangement (33).

70. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein:

a) the or each necessary starting material provided with a material code is fed to each production unit, with account being taken of a comparison between code (65) and material code, and

b) a manipulated variable for adjusting the or each adjustable mechanism and which is associated with this code (65) or material code is transmitted to each production unit by the control arrangement (33).

71. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein:

a) at least one product-type-related set of parameters for taking account of dependencies between individual starting materials is provided for each product type, and

b) instead of a manipulated variable which is associated with a starting material which is dependent on another starting material, a manipulated variable which is associated with a corresponding parameter of the product-type-related set of parameters is transmitted to the respective production unit.

72. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein a relative position of the adjustable mechanism is changeable in relation to a reference position.

73. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein, as determined by the selected parameters (61), rotatable elements with projections (57) are adjusted with respect to at least one of the members of the group consisting of the relative position, the folding elements, the heating members relating to temperature, the pressure-exerting members relating to pressure, and optical and optoelectronic sensors relating to response behavior.

74. The production and packaging installation according to claim 66, wherein prior to the adjustment of the or each adjustable mechanism, the hitherto valid settings of the or each production unit and/or of the or each adjustable mechanism can be stored for possible subsequent re-use.