Apparatus for turning (cigarette) packs

In an apparatus for turning elongated cuboid packs (10) which are transported in a conveying direction along a pack track (18) in spaced relationship and with their longitudinal dimension directed transversely relative to the conveying direction, and which are turned by conveyor belts which are driven at different speeds and laterally engage the packs, the improvement wherein:

• a) said apparatus comprising a plurality of upper and lower pack-conveying conveyor belts which engage each pack at pack faces thereof that are directed vertically upwardly and downwardly, respectively;
• b) said plurality of conveyor belts comprises two upper and two lower pack-conveying conveyor belts that also function as upper and lower pack-turning belts (21, 22, 23, 24), said pack-turning belts being disposed in such a manner that they engage the upwardly and downwardly directed pack faces at two respective opposite sides regions thereof;
• c) said upper and lower turning belts (21, 22, 23, 24) are oppositely located and convey the packs (10) by engaging opposite elongated longitudinal sides (13, 14) thereof that face upwardly and downwardly, each pack being turnable about a vertical axis thereof;
• d) said turning belts (21, 22, 23, 24) have conveying strands (25, 26) which engage the packs (10), said apparatus comprising means for moving said conveying strands at different speeds;
• e) said plurality of conveyor belts also comprises a pair of additional upper and lower conveyor belts (37, 38) which do not turn the packs and which exclusively convey the packs in the conveying direction at least in a region which adjoins said turning belts (21 . . . 24);
• and
• f) for completing the turning of the packs (10), said apparatus further comprises lateral guide means disposed in the region of said additional conveyor belts (37, 38).